<p>I guess we differ about who is being "disingenuous" here!</p>
<p>Deferring early admits and admitting them later at a rate far in excess that for "normal" applicants is a tried and true way of disguising the <em>real</em> extent to which a school relies on the early pool to goose the yield rate. The deferees have signalled in advance their willingness to enroll if admitted - that they are "people who actually want to come" as Laura gently put it.</p>
<p>This technique is used because "enrollment management" consultants have advised their clients that when the fraction of the seats filled from the small early pool exceeds a critical mass - usually seen as 50% - that potential applicants to the "regular" pool will be discouraged from doing so.</p>