The Big Fat Deferral

<p>I was recently deferred by 2 schools, including my top choice. I'm doing my best to try to take advantage of the situation and heighten my application to the best of my abilities. I understand that mid-marking period grades are the most important. However, I am debating whether or not I should retake the SATs in January for the third time. Also, I now have a part-time job that I will mention.</p>

<p>Is there anything else I can do from this point on for them to know my seriousness about going to their school?</p>

<p>Not really, except maybe adding another teacher recommendation that might give them another perspective on your character and work ethic. Moreover, know you are not alone in this process. Been there, done that with my D two years ago. In the end, while some kids will be plucked from the obscurity of deferral rolls, it is also very wise to start focusing on match and safety schools and ensure all your RD applications are completed and as SHINY as the EA or ED applications you submitted. I have to tell you, that in the annals of college admissions there are ten times the number of students who "ended up at their match or safety schools" who are happy, thriving and outperforming, than there are kids who "got into their dream schools". Embrace your match and safety schools. They are "your best friend right now." Look forward, not backwards. One of your dream schools may come through and you will have a decision to make (hopefully based on "fit" and not "prestige"). But the heart of the matter is that your match and safety schools are likely going to be where you end up and where you find your heart's desire longer term. Its hard to understand this now. But its so true. </p>

<p>It happened to us. And that "epiphany" that occured in April 07 for us was monumental, when my D said, "this is ME!" and took the plunge at her match school. She is now happy, thriving, outperforming and having the experience of her life.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>First of all, please don't fret over your deferral to either school. It doesn't mean that you are doomed to rejection. Think of it as another chance! In a way, you have an advantage over other RD applicants. Now you know that you are very close to acceptance, but might need just a bit of polishing on your application. Certainly go ahead and submit any additional achievements and extracurriculars that you might want to add to your resume. As for the SATs, I say why not? Even if you were to perform at the same level, or worse, than you did previously, you are at least showing the schools that you are making an attempt to boost your chances at admission. Best of luck!</p>

<p>scribistan, as soon as school is back in session, ask your HS guidance counselor to call the admissions offices, ideally expressing a little surprise that a great candidate like you wasn't accepted immediately, and ask what could be done to strengthen your application. Sometimes they'll get very specific with a GC, more so that with a student or parent, and that way you can find out exactly what they're looking for from you. Good luck!</p>

<p>Thank you all so much for the advice. I have many "back up" schools that I applied to so now it is a matter of chasing after what I want. </p>

<p>As far as the reason why I was deferred...I know my stats are a little below GPA and SAT wise which is why it came to no surprise, however I feel like I've been given a chance to prove myself and want to show my enthusiasm.</p>

<p>Spend your time finding a safety/match school that you would be happy attending. Don't get emotionally attached to your deferred schools because the reality is that chances are slim that deferred applicants later become accepted applicants. It does happen and it's wonderful when it happens but more times than not, it means a rejection later on.</p>

<p>You could send additional information to the admission's office. Send them information on any new awards or leadership positions. It's great that you have a part-time job now but I seriously doubt that is going to sway the admission's office. I'm not trying to kill your dreams of getting that much anticipated and hopeful future acceptance letter from these two schools but you need to be realistic. Focus more on your safeties and matches now and narrow those down to the 2 that you can see yourself happily attending.</p>

<p>nysmile, idk what schools you are speaking of, but getting deferred doesn't really mean much, especially the 2 places I was deferred from. UGA, which tends to defer 2/3 of early applicants, and GaTech, which accepted 30% of their class in EA this year.</p>

<p>If you want to believe that getting deferred doesn't really mean much, go right ahead and keep believing that. The reality is, with the competitiveness of the applicant pools in recent years, it is very wise for deferred applicants to focus on an alternative plan. Too many kids have spent too much time wishing and hoping for an acceptance after being deferred without having a solid backup plan in place. If a student is deferred and his/her stats are below the 50% range for accepted students at that particular college, chances are very slim that a deferral is going to change to an acceptance. I hope things work out and scribistan becomes one of the lucky ones who later gets accepted after being deferred. It does happen but it's something that shouldn't be counted on.</p>

<p>In my opinion, it's not worth retaking the SAT in January. Decisions are most often made with the GPA/test scores/accomplishments/EC's of the student through the end of Junior year. Sometimes an improved SAT/ACT score in the fall of Senior year as well as additional awards/Leadership positions can help but anything after Jan. of senior year is seldom taken into account. If grades drop after Jan. of Senior year however, an acceptance can be rescinded.</p>

<p>^Of course they consider SAT scores. Most people get their highest score in October or November.</p>

<p>I really appreciate the input. The school that deferred me accepted around 1000 applicants that were deferred last year. Half of them were admitted in the fall and the other half in the spring. Although it'd be nice to anticipate an acceptance, I do very well understand I should have my mind set on a safety or a match.</p>

<p>Nocousin, do you have any insight as to timing on resubmitting new application materials, i.e. should the new rec letters and new essay etc. go out to schools ASAP or best to wait after Christmas?</p>

<p>ThisCouldBeHeavn, you are correct. As I stated in my post, higher scores achieved during the fall SAT's of senior year can make a difference. This OP was questioning the value of retaking the SAT in January of his senior year---a time when many decisions have all ready been made by college admission's offices. In my opinion, January is too late. By then, college admission's offices have all ready seen applications by the most competitive applicants.</p>

<p>True, however the admissions office says the latest SAT scores they receive are those taken in January. Being an EA deferree and knowing my application will be reviewed again, you don't see it as being helpful if I notify them and have my guidance counselor ask them to hold off reviewing until it is submitted? The decisions won't be sent out until march.</p>

<p>It doesn't hurt to try. Deferral is not a rejection yet but if your statistics are on the low end of their profile for accepted students and you do not have a hook, chances are slim that a deferral will turn to an acceptance. If you love this school, take one more crack at sending information that can help such as any new awards or recognitions. You could even try the SAT again or perhaps you might consider the ACT instead. It may be a "better test" for you. Include a short note about your high interest in the school and why you feel this school is important to your future. Then, let it go----solidify a safety school. Find the safety and match school that you would like to attend. Start getting emotionally attached to your safety. Later on, if the deferral of the other school comes back as an acceptance---hooray--celebrate. But, chances are that it won't come with any merit money and this also should be taken into consideration. Things will work out for you. What I'm trying to suggest is that you become more open about the idea of a good safety and match. Many times, the safety school becomes a fantastic fit both socially and academically. Good luck. Remember, things usually work out.</p>

<p>I have a slightly different situation from the OP, and I was wondering if you all would be willing to address it.
I was deferred from Cornell's Human Ecology school ED, but my stats are well above average for Cornell as a whole. My GC and I called admissions, and an admissions officer who reviewed my application cited this as the reason for my deferral:
"We wanted to know more about how his extracurriculars tie into the Human Ecology mission, and how his EC's influenced/developed his interests"
If I send them a letter of interest in January specifically addressing these questions, will I stand a chance for RD acceptance?
The only thing that might be going for me is that the officer said that my grades were perfectly fine, essentially meaning I was not deferred due to weakness of test scores/grades.
I am really keeping up my grades senior year, and not slacking off, and hopefully I'll do well on my midterms.</p>

<p>Any opinions?
Thanks a lot for reading my long rant :P</p>

<p>3 years ago my son was deferred at one public U and private U. These were not first tier Us though. He did nothing further to strengthen his apps. at those schools. He just wrote them off in his head and had other acceptances. He did not fall in love with any one school bc he knew that money played a huge role when it came to decision time anyway. He applied to schools where he could be happy. He was happily surprised to receive acceptances at both schools that deferred him. The private school even offered a generous merit scholarship (go figure). All of this said, I would focus on finding some low match and safeties. My son had several of them and was happy to attend them. Also, my son was not offered admission to 2 schools that had waitlisted him and those were match schools.</p>

<p>I am applying to a few matches/safeties, but my "first-choice" is now Williams College.
Anyone have any opinions on my previous Cornell deferral post? I'm not quite sure what to think.</p>

<p>Chandler, I don't know if Cornell will accept you or not. I would go ahead and focus on other schools. I would take what they say at face value. I would follow up and answer their questions and consult with my GC about it. I would think about anything else that might stregthen my app. I think that is about all you can do. Best of luck!</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm not being hopeful about Cornell. But I'm thinking that I maybe do have a slight chance just because it wasn't a numbers problem, more of a fit issue?
If I can show them my fit with their program (something Cornell is HUGE on), maybe I'll stand a better chance of acceptance.
But right now I'm expecting a rejection in April. If they don't want you ED, they probably don't want you RD, unfortunately.</p>

<p>When do you think it's too late to send in material to a school that requests more from you? Or do you think it varies from school to school?</p>