Not sure how to respond to your specific deferral?
You got deferred.
Not rejected. Not accepted.
Somewhere in between — and the clock is still running.
Unsure what your next move should be? Get real answers from a counselor who can evaluate your specific situation.
A deferral means the school hasn't decided yet.
They're moving your application to the Regular Decision pool.
You'll be reconsidered — but you're now competing against a much larger group.
The mistake most families make:
They wait. They assume the school will reconsider on its own. They don't respond at all.
That's the wrong move.
A deferral is not a rejection. Withdrawing eliminates any remaining chance. Don't do it unless you've already committed elsewhere.
Schools receive hundreds of these. A form letter that says "I'm still very interested" does nothing. It needs to be specific and strategic.
It already did — and it wasn't enough to get you in during the early round. Something needs to change or be added.
While you respond to the deferral, your other applications still need attention. Don't let one school consume all your energy.
Step 1
Send a letter of continued interest (LOCI) within 1–2 weeks of the deferral.
It must include:
Step 2
If anything significant has happened since you submitted:
This is your chance to update the record. Use it.
Step 3
Some schools accept an additional letter of recommendation after a deferral.
Check the school's policy first.
If allowed — and if you have someone who can speak to something not already covered — it can help.
If you don't have a strong addition, don't force it.
Step 4
A deferral is not a plan.
Your other schools still need your full attention.
Don't let one deferral distort your entire strategy.
Not sure how to respond to your specific deferral?
Start Counselor Access - $49/moStart Counselor Access — $49/monthMost deferred students don't get in during Regular Decision.
That's the truth.
Deferral-to-acceptance rates at selective schools are often in the single digits.
A deferral is not the end of the process.
But it does require a response.
Not:
But:
Respond generically, wait, and hope
Respond strategically with guidance from someone who knows what actually moves the needle
Only one of those gives you a real shot.
Get a clear, specific response strategy for your deferral.
Start Counselor Access - $49/moStart Counselor Access — $49/monthCancel anytime. No contracts.
A deferral gives you one more chance to make your case.
Make it count.
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