<p>Well I got an email saying that I was deferred and on ESTHER it says that I have been deferred, but I got an email entitled Rice deposit about an hour ago. The email goes like this..</p>
<p>Congratulations on your admission to Rice University! We are thrilled that you applied and we look forward to you joining us this fall. To make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your family, we would like to waive your $300 enrollment and $100 housing deposits.</p>
<p>You will still need to accept your offer of admission, by visiting the Esther Admission Status web site at <a href="http://www.esther.rice.edu%5B/url%5D">www.esther.rice.edu</a>. Your waiver is already associated with your name, so complete "Step 1: Response to Offer" to accept our offer of admission. Your response is due by January 1, 2012.</p>
<p>ESTHER login instructions were sent to you under separate cover. Use your University ID (reprinted below for your convenience) and the PIN you created when you first accessed the site. If you did not receive the login instructions email or need further assistance, please email us at <a href="mailto:riceapps@rice.edu">riceapps@rice.edu</a>.</p>
<p>Is this some kind of sick joke or mistake?
Did anyone else get this?</p>
<p>Yeah I’m pretty peeved. I was freaking out about not getting in, and now this? I would cry so many tears of joy if the email is right though…
Did you get in?</p>
<p>Hey wavylays94, I was also deferred and also got the same email. The fact that we both got it makes it seem like a mistake – unfortunately. But definitely call the admissions office tomorrow to see what’s up.</p>
<p>I also got a deferral letter and 3 hours later got that Rice Deposit Email congratulating me for my admission to Rice. It has to be a mistake… but if they tell us that it really was a mistake, it would kill me twice…first the deferral…then the false hope…sigh</p>
<p>wavylays94, there’s some five year old data that says how many deferred applicants later got accepted, but it doesn’t show how many applicants were deferred overall. However, at least from anecdotal accounts, the amount of deferred applicants is very low and being deferred should be taken as a good thing – you’re competitive, but they want to see the rest of the applicant pool before making any decisions.</p>
<p>The same thing happened to me, but I called this morning and apparently the system messed up, and if it says on Esther that you’re deferred you are:( sorry, I feel your pain</p>
<p>In case any people are wondering later… I got this email entitled Communication Error</p>
<p>I am writing to make you aware of an email that was sent to you in error last evening and to apologize for any confusion it may have caused you. Early Decision notifications were sent by email at 5 pm Central Time yesterday, including one to inform you that the Committee on Admission has chosen to defer a final decision on your application until Regular Decision. Beginning at that time, you were also able to confirm this decision by logging in to your Rice ESTHER account. A few hours later, a second email, which was intended for a small number of students who were offered admission, was also mistakenly sent to you and to all others who were deferred. We deeply regret this communication error.</p>
<p>I realize that you may have been disappointed about our decision to defer your application and that the erroneous email likely added confusion and angst. I apologize for this error but want to assure you that your application will receive another thorough review in Regular Decision considerations. There were 1,231 applicants in the Early Decision Plan this year, 306 were admitted and only 127 students were selected for deferral. The rest were denied.</p>
<p>Early next week you will receive an email from Dan Warner, Director of Admission, with some reminders and suggestions of what you can do to supplement your application before it is reviewed again. In the meantime, I’d like to refer you again to the Frequently Asked Questions we have prepared to address some common concerns surrounding our deferral process. A paper copy of the Frequently Asked Questions was also included with your official decision letter, which was mailed yesterday.</p>