<p>Our college counselor told students to let the colleges know that you were still interested after an ED deferral, but didn't really say how to do that. What do you suggest?</p>
<p>I told S to maybe send a poem or writing sample since he's interested in creative writing or a picture from his photography class. What are some other ideas?</p>
<p>Tell them specifically that if accepted you would matriculate there.</p>
<p>Isn’t that what originally applying ED indicates?</p>
<p>yes but now his application is no longer ED. If accepted, he could go elsewhere. So ONCE again , it would not hurt to re-declare that if accepted, he would matriculate there.</p>
<p>I like the idea of a creative piiece. All of the adcoms I have heard say that memorable and unique communication helps them to differentiate candidates. Also be sure to contact your regional rep from the admissions office. That individual is responsible for presenting an individual applicant to the committee. Be sure your regional rep knows about your high level of interest and any updates you can offer to swing the decision in your direction</p>
<p>More obviously, he should let them know of any additional awards or honors, including any competitive scholarships. I also strongly agree with the suggestion that he let them know that ‘if accepted, I will come.’</p>
<p>Agree with all the above information, additionally S should think of any typoe of recognition, award, test grade etc. and send it in with his own note (email is acceptable). Get good 2 or 3rd qtr. grades scan report card in & send it w a note. (Grades will be considered unoffical - it’s just an excuse to reach out & demonstrate interest). Write a Letter to Editor of local newspaer about something- send it ad com. Visit school again & send a fellow up note to tour guide & to admissions affirming school. A few touch points are key.</p>
<p>I wish he had some new awards or recognitions, but there’s nothing. I will pass along all your suggestions - they’re good ones.</p>
<p>He keeps going back and forth as to whether to send something, but I think it’s really important. Otherwise, he’ll just get lost among all the other applicants. The admissions officer for his area actually knew him by name because he went to an Open House and attended her visit at his school. I just don’t want her to forget him.</p>
<p>I would definitely send your regional reader a letter, stating that the school remains your strong first choice and that you would definitely attend if admitted, and in that letter I would spell out in detail exactly what you would bring to the college (" the thing that most attracted me to X College is… While on my visit last March I met Professor A or two students involved in CD Cause and I wanted a chance to do that with him/them, and since then I have always imagined myself doing X and Y there specifically…for the past two years, I have done this activity in my local community and I have looked forward to bringing my expertise, experience and energy to your campus…"</p>
<p>I would also highlight any recent achievements and continuing excellent grades in this letter.</p>
<p>You want to give a reason for them to pick up your student’s application out of the pile…give them a chance to say what your student will bring to the campus that another equally academically qualified student may not. Because you have to assume that all of the students in the deferred pile/under consideration in the RD round pile are academically qualified. The ones who were not qualified academically were placed in the deny pile. So you need to provide a reason for them to pick YOUR application.</p>
<p>One additional thought…I might highlight an area that the campus might like to strengthen, not the area that it already highlights, because it has a lot of students already wanting to come there to do that. Not necessarily a weakness, but more of an area that is a secondary strength. For example, my nephew was deferred from a very selective school last year, very well known for its premed research…when he wrote his letter, he focused on a scientific political advocacy group on campus that he wanted to be involved in as an extension of his work on a campaign he had been involved in, and also mentioned how he had loved an improv performance he had attended while visiting a friend at that campus, and how he also wanted to be involved in the improv group.</p>
<p>I think that this letter helped him get in during the regular round, because all academic things being equal, the admissions committee could envision what he would do FOR the school…they could see him on campus, not just as a transcript.</p>
<p>boysx3 - thank you so much for those comments! They were really helpful.</p>
<p>Good luck Megan! I’m rooting for you…please let us know how you do!</p>
<p>Check out this thread where an adcom addresses this issue for UChicago</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1261060-advice-deferred-students.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1261060-advice-deferred-students.html</a></p>