Deferral – smth’s fishy

Applying to College
1

<p>About all the statistics I’ve seen about deferred ED students say that their chances of being admitted after deferral are about the same to the general acceptance rate. My last year’s deferral decision from Columbia also states the same thing.
Now, they say that they only defer those who still might have a chance. This implies they were pretty close. A lot closer than I dunno, maybe..let’s say 30% of total applicants from the RD round who really don’t stand a chance. (I guess 30% - screw ups or weak applications is a fair estimate).</p>

<p>So, my question is, since those deferred are better qualified than those 30%, why are their chances the same? Similar percentages imply that either:
1. they lie about statistics
2. they also defer less qualified students
3. they screw over deferred students in the RD round</p>

<p>Or maybe I’m missing something?</p>

2

<p>They defer those who might have a chance. It isn't the same as deferring those who have a strong chance. Some kids who they defer, they defer to be nice - it's an easier letdown than a straight-up rejection.</p>

<p>Some schools, like Yale, reject a lot of people early. Some schools, like Harvard, defer a lot more, but then reject them later. It's up to the individual admissions office, and there's no right way to do it.</p>

3

<p>I don't know about ALL schools, but the ones I've seen had higher acceptances rates of deferrees than normal RD applicants.</p>