Oh man, I just got deferred and I am panicking... help

Applying to College
1

<p>I was recently notified that my EA application was being entered into the reg. decision pool at uchicago. It's a great school and I know that it is pretty hard to get into, but I seriously thought that I was going to get in. Now I have to wait longer and I can't stop thinking about what I did wrong and how I will ever have a shot at some of my other school choices. </p>

<p>Are there any consolatory words for me? Thoughts? Opinions? I am quickly loosing motivation to finish my other applications :(</p>

2

<p>I'm on the same boat, looking for the same advice. I feel your pain...</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
Are there any consolatory words for me? Thoughts? Opinions? I am quickly loosing motivation to finish my other applications

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is why you do your other applications BEFORE early decisions come out.</p>

<p>First of all, if you were really relying on getting into UChicago early, then you were deluding yourself, this is a reach school for anybody. I don't care what your numbers and other qualifications were, UChicago is very selective AND relies heavily on the essays, so no one is in for sure.</p>

<p>Second, you were deferred, not rejected, so if you had a realistic list of reaches, matches and safeties to start with, you're still in good shape now.</p>

4

<p>If you want to try to improve your chances for U Chicago, see if you can take the SAT's again or send in another recommendation to up your chances.</p>

<p>All you can really do besides that is wait...Don't get discouraged about your other apps. Try to think about what you love about the other colleges (and you must love something if you're applying!) and how you are still a strong candidate. Don't dote on U Chicago and how you love it so much and how you couldn't get accepted ED. Many people are deferred/rejected at one good school and accepted to other good schools. Oftentimes it's just a crapshoot. Keep moving forward; don't take this as a failure but as an opportunity to learn and grow.</p>

5

<p>In response to Entomom:</p>

<p>I wasn't "relying" on getting into the school, but I did see the school as being a barrier between my safeties and my reaches. Of course, Chicago like other great schools are getting more and more great applicants each year, so I just dont know what to think anymore. Also, I wanted to see the results so that I could could recalculate and change my essays/ applications if need be (for other schools)</p>

<p>With the website saying that they "deferred more people than [they] admitted or denied" I really get the impression that I am being waitlisted more than anything else.</p>

<p>To yourfire_escape</p>

<p>I appreciate the optimistic comments. My SAT scores are already pretty good and from what I know, essays and characteristics are really important at the school which is both good and bad. I cant put in another rec really because I had submitted the optional rec from the start. I couldn't visit the campus, and having submitted the EA app on the deadline, I completely missed the phrase that said I had to apply for an alumn interview within 2 days after that date. Naturally, I have already requested the interview for this second opportunity.</p>

<p>ugh... I just get the feeling that being "deferred" at uchic is like being rejected.</p>

6

<p>seriously thinking you are going to get into UChicago is like thinking you'll get into an ivy, which makes anyone like that a little cocky because you just can never really tell with those schools. Don't be surprised you got deferred because many others like you did as well. Finish your other apps and get it all done.</p>

7

<p>Those weren't exactly the encouraging words I was hoping to hear. I dont want to give people the wrong idea. I am not "cocky" as you would call it. So before you label me, maybe you could be a little more generous in your depictions of others. Apparently, I was misinformed, and I guess that I am not as knowledgable as you about certain schools. I never thought of Chicago as being almost as hard to get into as an ivy (though I did know the education was equal to if not better than the ivys). Ironically, that makes me feel better since it is not so surprising in light of that. I was probably just wrong in my evaluation of the selectivity of the school. So just chill. I was hoping people could give me some ideas as to what I could do to help my condition as it - in a more constructive manner.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
but I seriously thought that I was going to get in

[/quote]
</p>

<p>or "relying on", whichever way you want to say it, it's still the same.</p>

<p>Sometimes it's just hard to hear someone complain about not getting into a reach, as if they have some special right, while there are thousands of other students deferred (not to mention those who were rejected) to selective schools that take it for what is it and move on.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, I wanted to see the results so that I could could recalculate and change my essays/ applications if need be (for other schools)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Looks like you already know what you have to do.</p>

9

<p>Chicago's a quirky school, and my impression is they make quirky admissions decisions. Don't take it personally. They get a lot of highly qualified applicants. You just didn't make their first cut, possibly for no reason more complicated than that you didn't do the alumni interview in a timely way. But they deferred you to the RD pool, they didn't reject you, which signals they probably thought your application was competitive but from their perspective just not at the top of the heap in the EA pool. So just take a deep breath, rub your lucky charm (or whatever it is you do for good luck), sit tight on Chicago, finish up those RD apps at other schools, go back over your list to be sure you've got at least a couple of realistic "matches" and at least one real "safety" in the pool of schools you're applying to, and do what everyone else does . . . wait. If Chicago is realistically within your range---and the fact that they deferred you rather than rejecting you suggests it is, whether you ultimately are admitted or not---then your chances of getting into a very good school are excellent. Provided you're being realistic about your matches and safeties, of course.</p>

10

<p>u really need to stop stressing... if ur applying here u must be smart. + u aint rejected. What i can say is go outside and do something because im in the same boat. My top 2 schools deffered me so im kinda stressed out. make sure u applied to 2 extra schools and go hang with ur gfriend or play a videogame.</p>

11

<p>There have been many deferrals this year (I just got deferred) which is why few ppl are being sympathetic. I'm in the same boat as you are....</p>

12

<p>Thanks for the great advice and sympathies. It does a lot to help my spirits. Never meant to offend anyone if I happened to, but I can assure you that while I do stress too much, I am not a pompous snob expecting straight acceptance letters. I simply have over-achiever syndrome and a lot of pressure from peers, family, etc. as I am sure you all do. </p>

<p>To those that also got deferred from schools, then I hope that my anguish gives some comfort; we are definitely just some of the many I suppose. </p>

<p>I'll do what I can, hope for the best, and enjoy the seasonal cheer while school work is not a factor.</p>

13

<p>Here's a cookie.</p>

<p><em>cookie</em></p>

<p>There, there. Just eat the pain away...</p>

14

<p>I'm an allum who stumbled across this site while helping my sister apply. I'll share my ED story with you - </p>

<p>I knew that I wanted to attend Colorado College as soon as I walked on campus. Beautiful buildings, interesting people, intriguing block system, close to home but far enough away to feel like I was on my own. I finished my application weeks before it was due and waited impatiently for their reply.
I saw that small envelope and I was crushed. Deferred. I hadn't even really thought about other schools I should apply to. My parents were very dissapointed ("you should have studied more for the SAT's"). It took me a few days to start thinking about colleges again, but the fear of not getting in to a good fit forced me to do some research and find some comparable schools.
I got into another small liberal arts college in the midwest, as well as CC. I actually ended up going to the other school because I had some time to reflect on what I really wanted in a college. I ended up having an amazing experience - met my fiance, made great friends, took amazing classes in a variety of departments, got involved in extracurriculars, went to great parties, and got into med school. I guess I'm glad that I was deferred. </p>

<p>I know you really wanted to go to UChicago. But remember that you're gonna get in somewhere, and if you do some soul searching and apply to schools that truly fit your vision of "college," then you'll have an amazing time wherever you end up going.</p>

15

<p>Hey Pelts, buck up kiddo -- deferred is /not/ rejected. It sounds like it's time for some control therapy -- as in, take control over your life again. Here's some motherly advice for you.</p>

<p>First, ask your HS guidance counselor to call the Admissions office and ask what you might do to strengthen your application and get tipped into the admit pool. They may be more frank with a GC than they would be with you or your parents.</p>

<p>Next, armed with that information, start doing what it takes to make yourself more attractive to this school. There's a book called "What colleges don't tell you and other parents don't want you to know" that has a good section on getting off of wait lists and deferral lists -- if you can get your hands on it, you might find some inspiration there.</p>

<p>Next, be realistic and start hedging your bets. Dust off those other applications. Look around a little more to see whether there are other schools that offer the qualities that matter most to you. Find something to love in each of your other school choices -- even at your uber-uber-safety, consider the joy of attending for free, graduating debt-free, and being treated like a god among mere mortals in the meantime. Once you're pumped up about the possibilities (and there really are many, many possibilities for a bright and accomplished student like yourself), pound out those last few essays, put a spit-shine on 'em, and send 'em off. Few things make you feel as good about yourself as taking some time to list your best qualities and make your sales pitch. And few things help you through the wait-and-worry phase so much as taking positive action right now. No matter what this one school decides... you are in control of your future, and your future is bright.</p>

<p>Finally, sit yourself down and write an upbeat letter to the school that deferred you. Include any positive updates that weren't in your original application -- have you received any new awards, gotten terrific grades this semester, accomplished something new? -- and re-affirm your commitment to enroll if you are accepted.</p>

<p>Come spring, either they'll accept you or they won't. Your job now is to make your best case for them to accept you... AND to line up some great alternatives now, so that if they don't accept you in the spring, you really won't give a hoot.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you!</p>