Resources

If your senior has been deferred, please know this: a deferral can actually be an opportunity. Most colleges tend to view Early applicants favorably during Regular Decision, as these students showed their devotion from the smart. Our advice? Focus first on completing any remaining Regular Decision applications, then turn to these tried-and-true steps for how to transform December’s deferrals into great news in April.

Late December: Gather Intel & Strengthen Your Story

Have your student connect with their school counselor immediately—counselors can often get valuable insider feedback about the deferral decision. Consider having an experienced consultant review your student’s application materials to identify any areas that could be strengthened. Focus particularly on three key areas colleges scrutinize:

• Grade trends (positive trends can encourage admissions officers to consider another semester of higher grades to legitimize an upward curve)
  
• The clarity and coherence of a personal narrative showing the positively contributing role your student would play in college and beyond
  
• The depth, impact, uniqueness, and commitment to their extracurricular engagements
  

Mid January: Build Momentum

With their other applications submitted, make a plan to address the above concerns with the target school. In particular:

• Help your student plan or ramp up meaningful winter/spring activities that will strengthen their candidacy. These are great fodder for material to include in an update letter to admissions.
  
• Identify someone to send an additional recommendation letter. A mentor from an important extracurricular is often a great choice; someone who can speak to the student’s recent growth or community impact.
  

Late January: Craft Your Update Letter

Help your student write a formal letter updating the school on their candidacy and send it in by email and mail. A good update should reaffirm interests, reframe your core focus, and highlight any key points you didn’t already cover in your application. In particular:

• Address the admissions officer for your region by name (you can Google or ask your in-school counselor for assistance).
  
• Share concrete updates about extracurriculars, tests, and grades. This is your opportunity to tackle any potential weak points in your application head-on, and to highlight any new leadership roles or project initiatives.
• Reaffirm that you would attend the college if admitted (if you’re not sure, you can say “I’d love to attend”—however, this is less strong).
  
• Reaffirm why you’d love to attend. Speak to past experiences and future goals, as well as any on-campus opportunities you haven’t already discussed in your application.
• Offer to speak to the officer directly by phone or Zoom.
  

Strategic Considerations:

• Emphasize quality over quantity in your updates – focus on meaningful developments.
  
• Consider how each new activity or achievement adds a new dimension to your application.
  
• Keep excelling in your current commitments; strong senior grades can make a significant difference.
  

Remember, a deferral means the college sees potential in your application but needs more information to make a final decision. Many of our students who have approached their deferrals strategically have ultimately been accepted to their dream schools.