Deferred from 1st choice

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi-</p>

<p>My daughter was just deferred from her top choice (EA). I am completely shocked as it it is a very large University with a 50% acceptance rate and her stats are perfect for this school. They are asking for her senior year grades (which are excellent and all AP) so this may help.
On top of this she practically runs her high school! Any advice, letter from Guidance counselor etc?</p>

<p>I think she never wants to go "Over the Top" in her explanations of her accomplishments but this time it may have backfired.</p>

2

<p>Sorry to read about your D’s deferral. My S also got deferred from his 1st choice, and a school we assumed he would get into. I suggest that your D ask her GC to call the school to get an idea why they deferred her. With her good grades it sounds like she will probably get in anyway.</p>

3

<p>One anecdote I have for you follows. A family member -who is currently a college freshman - applied early action to nine colleges last year. She was deferred by 8 of those, into the RD pool. Of those 8, she was admitted RD to 7 of them. so as her stats for her 1st choice are a great match, it seems she still has a good chance of getting in, of course nothing is guaranteed…</p>

4

<p>The general theory is that if there is “new” information that is significant it is OK to send. Check the particular website, sometimes there is info on the web. The deferral letter may have information about what the college will consider. Posters have also said if this a school that the student will absolutely attend if accepted, it can be helpful to let the admissions rep know. If it is a large public where the student doesn’t know who the admissions rep is it is more difficult to express interest. If it’s a school in your home region it might be possible for the GC to put in a pitch since presumably the school is known to the college. Finally, some have said it is beneficial to let them know if you have no financial need. If none of the above is possible or applicable, sometimes it’s better to redirect the student’s interest to schools where there is an acceptance.</p>

5

<p>Fear not, If her grades are that good. She’ll get in. How did she do on SAT or Act? Did you trying calling the admissions office and talking with a couseler at the
first choice shool? You may get to the bottom of the delay by talking with them.</p>

6

<p>I think your daughter is applying to U. Mich and it appears she has excellent stats, at least for U of M. I am also surprised she got deferred. </p>

<p>As mentioned by someone here, I would have the GC call adcom to find out why. College application is a crap shoot, sometimes it is hard to know reason for the outcome. But in your daughter’s case, it does seem very strange to me. I even kind of wonder if they got the right transcript.</p>

<p>If this school is still your daughter’s first choice, I would have your daughter/GC put another packet together - with updated transcript, one or two additional recommendation letters, and a letter to say the school is still her first choice and why.</p>

7

<p>I agree with oldfort that you should ask the guidance counselor contact the regional rep. Perhaps there is a question about something that he or she can clear up.</p>

8

<p>Yes, oldfort- right. SAT 2120 gpa 4.35 #5 in class. The only thing I can see that is probably got her deferred is in her jr. year her perfect GPA went down due to a couple of B+ grades in physics H and AP History. But this year grades are back to A’s.</p>

<p>And as I said she could showcase her accomplishments more.</p>

9

<p>It might help to let them know that it is her first choice. If they know she is ready to commit it might expedite a decision. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>I agree that her GC should call just to make sure that there was not something missing from her admissions packet. It does seem odd - even with a couple of B+s - to have been deferred. She can also send an update (if any new news) and an email just telling them that it is her first choice school and that she will attend if admitted (don’t contact them more than once, though.) And I agree with the others - I’m sure she’ll get in RD round.</p>

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<p>Definitely have GC call. I have heard of cases where there was a typo in the transcript, but it’s possible that she was just on the cusp for ED.</p>

12

<p>UMich deferred many OSS students with spectacular scores and typically have done just that, just read the brutal threads on the UofM forum. Also although this year for the first time they are not refiguring GPAs, historically they have viewed upweighted GPAs. Hang in there, and sure, the GC could call if there is an identified regional rep and you can send a midyear update. If it’s her first choice and money doesn’t matter (UMich is expensive for OSS and aid is scarce) than add that to the info also. UofM is also notorious for last minute acceptances and I’m not convinced that the EA process which was new this year is going to change much except they got a bunch of additional apps because they also went to the Common App, so seems like they are cautious and an indication that the student would attend might hold some weight. Added to that they overenrolled last year and are hoping to have a smaller freshman class this year. They just released another round of acceptances out of the derferred pool I think, but the sample size on CC is too small to tell if it was IS and OSS or just IS. Best wishes for a successful outcome!</p>

13

<p>Just another data point for you–DS has a somewhat mixed transcript (two high schools; has done much better at the second one), so when the first four schools he heard from all said they needed to see his first term grades, we were not happy but also not surprised. OTOH, I thought that if his senior grades are in keeping with his junior grades, that might bode well (which, thank heavens, they were). He’s heard from two of those four schools and both have been admits.</p>

<p>Given your daughter’s great performance this year, I really think she’ll be admitted. (Although if for some reason she isn’t, I always keep that “wasn’t meant to be” in my back pocket. The other version of that is “their loss”.)</p>

14

<p>I will speak to her GC tomorrow and have him call. I also may have her update her resume (which she didn’t send on the first go round) and send that in with her mid-year grades. I do agree with MyLB- if it’s meant to be, it will be. BYT- money is an issue…</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the words of wisdom and kindness from all of you!</p>

15

<p>Good luck. If your D is accepted calculate the $$ carefully. UofM is a school where the tuition costs increase as the student rises into the upper classes (separate from normal tuition increases.)</p>

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<p>My son was deferred from an OOS public university even though his stats were in the top range. Much to the surprise of his GC. He was very upset because several of his friends got in. He did get in RD but ultimately decided to go elsewhere. I think sometimes they reach their limit on EAs and just start deferring even very good candidates. I think in my son’s case since it was a stats only EA round, they rank ordered the kids from his school and just took the top 3 and deferred the rest.</p>

<p>It does seem weird she didn’t get in to UMich with those stats but it could be they are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach about how many they admit OOS this year. A lot of public universities ended up with bigger than expected freshman classes last year. Good luck.</p>

17

<p>Last year there was a wonderful article on what to do in such cases. Here are some other articles that might help. </p>

<p>[Deferred</a> College Admission - What To Do If You Get Deferred for College Admission](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/tp/deferred.htm]Deferred”>What to Do When Your College Application Gets Deferred)</p>

<p>*Deferred? What Next?
Steps to Take if Your College Admissions Application is Deferred</p>

<p>By Allen Grove, About.com Guide
See More About:</p>

<pre><code>* deferred admission

  • college applications
    </code></pre>

<p>Many students who applied to college Early Decision or Early Action are finding that they’ve been neither accepted nor rejected, but deferred. If you find yourself in this limbo, here are some guidelines for how to proceed.

  1. Don’t Panic
    Most likely, if you’ve been deferred your credentials are in the ballpark for getting accepted. If they weren’t, you’d be rejected. However, your application wasn’t so far above average that the college wanted to give up a spot in the entering class until they could compare you to the full applicant pool. The percentages vary from college to college, but many students do get accepted after being deferred (I was one such applicant).
  2. Find Out Why You Were Deferred
    Unless the college asks you not to do so, give the admissions office a call and try to find out why you were deferred. Be polite and positive when making this call. Try to convey your enthusiasm for the college, and see if there were particular weaknesses in your application that you might be able to address.
  3. Update Your Information
    Chances are the college will ask for your midyear grades. If you were deferred because of a marginal GPA, the college will want to see that your grades are on an upward trend. Also, think about other information that might be worth sending:</p>

<pre><code>* New and improved SAT or ACT scores

  • Membership in a new extracurricular activity
  • A new leadership position in a group or team
  • A new honor or award
    </code></pre>

<ol>
<li>Send a New Letter of Recommendation
Is there someone who knows you well who can really promote you effectively? If so, an additional letter of recommendation might be a good idea (but make sure the college allows extra letters). Ideally, this letter should talk about the specific personal qualities that make you an ideal match for the particular college that has deferred you. A generic letter won’t be nearly as effective as a letter that explains why you are a good match for your first-choice college.</li>
<li>Send Supplemental Materials
Many applications, including the Common Application, provide the opportunity for sending in supplemental materials. You don’t want to overwhelm the admissions office, but you should feel free to send in writing or other materials that will show the full breadth of what you can contribute to the campus community.</li>
<li>Be Polite
As you try to get out of deferral limbo, you’re likely to correspond with the admissions office several times. Try to keep your frustration, disappointment and anger in check. Be polite. Be positive. Admissions officers are remarkably busy this time of year, and their time is limited. Thank them for any time they give you. Also, make sure your correspondence doesn’t become pesky or harassing.</li>
<li>Have a Back-Up
While many deferred students do get accepted during regular admissions, many do not. You should do all you can to get into your top choice school, but you should also be realistic. Make sure you have applied to a range of reach, match and safety colleges so that you will have other options should you get a rejection letter from your first choice.</li>
<li>Sample Letters
If you have been deferred but have new information to present to the college, you’ll want to write a letter presenting the updates. Below are a few samples letters:</li>
</ol>

<pre><code>* Sample Letter #1: Caitlin writes to the University of Georgia to explain a new award.

  • Sample Letter #2: Laura writes to Johns Hopkins to present new test scores and a new leadership position on campus.
  • Sample Letter #3: Brian writes to Syracuse University but would have done better not writing. See his letter to learn about mistakes to avoid.
    </code></pre>

<p>Remember that the advice above is general and that every college and university has its own policies when it comes to sending in additional documents.*</p>

18

<p>To add to the previous post, this is the link to the third letter which tells you what not to do.</p>

<p>[Deferred</a> College Admission Decision - Here’s What Not To Do If Your College Admission Decision is Deferred](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/a/deferred-college-admission.htm]Deferred”>Sample Responses to a College Deferral Letter)
*
Deferred College Admission Decision? Don’t Make This Mistake
A Letter Like This Will Steer Your Application Towards the Reject Pile</p>

<p>By Allen Grove, About.com Guide
See More About:</p>

<pre><code>* deferred admission

  • college applications
    </code></pre>

<p>A deferred college admission decision can easily make you feel angry and frustrated. If you applied to college early decision or early action and then received a letter of deferral, be careful to avoid the mistakes in the letter below (check out a sample good letter and read these 7 tips on what to do if deferred).</p>

<p>The letter below illustrates what you should not do. Brian asks to have his application reconsidered, but he does not present any significant new information for reconsidering the decision. The increase in his GPA from a 3.3 to a 3.35 is fairly trivial. His newspaper has been nominated for an award, but it has not won the award. Moreover, Brian writes as if he has been rejected, not deferred. The university will look at his application again with the regular pool of applicants.</p>

<p>The biggest problem with the letter below, however, is that Brian comes across as a whiner, an egotist, and an ungenerous person. He clearly thinks very highly of himself, placing himself above his friend and making much ado about a modest 3.3 GPA. Does Brian really sound like the type of person the admissions officers will want to invite to join their campus community? To make matters worse, the third paragraph in Brian’s letter essentially accuses the admissions officers of making a mistake in admitting his friend and deferring him. The goal of Brian’s letter is to strengthen his chances of getting in to college, but questioning the competence of the admissions folks works counter to that goal.
Office of Admissions
Syracuse University
100 Crouse-Hinds Hall
900 South Crouse Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2130</p>

<p>To Whom It May Concern:</p>

<p>I am writing in regards to my deferral for admission to Syracuse University for the fall semester. I received a letter earlier this week informing me that my admission had been deferred. I would like to urge you to reconsider me for admission.</p>

<p>As you know from my previously submitted admissions materials, I am a very strong student with an outstanding academic record. Since I submitted my high school transcript in November, I have received another set of mid-year grades, and my GPA has gone up from a 3.3 to 3.35. In addition, the school newspaper, of which I am assistant editor, has been nominated for a regional award.</p>

<p>Frankly, I am somewhat concerned about the status of my admission. I have a friend at a nearby high school who has been admitted to Syracuse through early admissions; yet I know that he has a somewhat lower GPA than mine, and has not been involved in as many extracurricular activities. Although he is a good student, and I certainly do not hold anything against him, I am confused about why he would be admitted while I have not been. Frankly, I think that I am a far stronger applicant.</p>

<p>I would very much appreciate it if you could take another look at my application, and reconsider my admissions status. I believe I am an excellent student, and would have much to contribute to your university.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>Bryan Anystudent*</p>

19

<p>UofMich deferred a lot of qualified applicants this year. I have seen a lot of 2250+ SAT and near perfect gpa get deferred. (with good EC’s as well.)</p>

20

<p>Is it for engineering?</p>