How to pursue a deferral?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>I just found out that I got deferred yesterday, but Stanford is still my #1 choice. How should I brush up my app to make it better for the regular decision round? After looking over my app, I feel like I made some big mistakes. I didn't really like my big essay at all, and I sent in an optional recommendation and a music supplement that either did nothing or hurt me.</p>

<p>Can I tell them to throw out some of those things and submit new essays and stuff for regular decision?</p>

<p>ps. Congratulations to all those who were accepted and good luck to those deferred like me</p>

2

<p>Yup, I'm in the D Club as well...</p>

<p>The way I look at it is this. If they really didn't like our essays, it is unlikely that we would have recieved even a deferral. They obviously see something worthy in our application yet are probably hoping for something to improve from now till April. The only things that can be significantly changed are SATs and Mid-Year School Report. In my case, I'm ranked 1 in the class but my SAT IIs are absolutely atrocious. I doubt if they're concerned about my senior yr performance, which Mr. Shaw cites as being one of the reasons for deferring applicants. He also talks about looking at these early applicants in the context of the larger applicant pool, but I don't know how that will play out.</p>

<p>Anyway, lets just fill in the optional update form and cross our fingers I guess...</p>

3

<p>Well, I really felt like my "attach a picture" essay was one of the weakest points of my application (I actually wrote it about ramen noodles =/). So I want to do it over again and have them throw out my old one. I was just wondering if it's common for deferred applicants to send in new essays?</p>

<p>Besides, I've decided not to take any more SATs (my score was 790m 750v 700w, so that shouldn't be a big problem) and I haven't really had any major accomplishments lately to speak of.</p>

4

<p>----bump----</p>

5

<p>I got deferred as well. It might have been my SAT score (2040), or maybe my Question 9 essay. I had a GPA of 98.68 and it's gone up to around 98.9. I suppose I'll get an extra rec letter, fill in the optional update form and hope for luck...</p>

6

<p>Are a lot of you going to send in extra recs even thought it says additional recs rarely help?</p>

7

<p>I'm going to. I'll try to see what specific weaknesses they deferred me for, so I can get my rec to address those.</p>

<p>Anyone had the guts to call up the admissions office and ask for commentary on your deferral?</p>

8

<p>I'd really like to know the exact reasons I was deferred, but I stongly doubt the adcoms would tell us.</p>

9

<p>I read on a post that someone called Stanford and was told that 20% were deferred. Can anyone confirm that?</p>

10

<p>

  • They state that additional recs rarely help, so in theory there's still a chance. An additional rec doesn't hurt application chances (usually). It also shows that you are determined to get into the university.*</p>
11

<p>I called them to ask about deferalls. The lady was very nice, but said that they could not give specific information. Basically nothing was lost by trying. Also she was from MA, where im from. She made a note that I called.</p>