The 'Official' Deferral Thread: Why it's great & what you should be doing RIGHT now!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>So after looking around here and the Internet, as well as thinking about it and talking to my parents, I came up with an “action plan,” something to do between now and April 1. I think I speak for most of us when I say that the news of deferral was rather disappointing, but I hope most of you have realized by now that it really, truly should not be – we’re sort of lucky if you think about it. </p>

<p>For those of you who still are not convinced of your deferral as a good thing, I found these two posts really useful and encouraging:</p>

<p>-Nick017, <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/616824-any-chance-deferred-acceptance-rate-will-increase.html[/url]:”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/616824-any-chance-deferred-acceptance-rate-will-increase.html:</a>

</p>

<p>-MagiTF, <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/616906-deferrement-whats-deal.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/616906-deferrement-whats-deal.html</a>

</p>

<p>So what should you do between right now and April?</p>

<li><p>Have you spoken to your regional rep yet? I advise you to do so, if you haven’t yet. Email your regional rep and politely introduce yourself. Do not ask why you were deferred, it can annoy him/her. Establish that you have been deferred and express your continued interest in Yale, and ask him/her what you should do if you need to send additional materials such as essays and some more extra curricular activities. They will most likely tell you to bring it to their attention. I contacted my rep and he was very nice, and told me that if I needed to make any “changes” to my application, I should be contacting him. Find your rep here: [Staff</a> Directory | Contact Us | Office of Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.yale.edu/admit/contact/staff.html]Staff”>http://www.yale.edu/admit/contact/staff.html)</p></li>
<li><p>The midyear report is due late January/early February, meaning that Yale will want to know about how you are doing in your senior year. If you need to do so, bring up your grades so you could have a good semester 1 report. In classes you may not be doing so well in, speak to your teachers. They can be understanding, sometimes. Explain your situation, and your deferment, and how much effort you are willing to put into your work. Some teachers will give you the opportunity to bring up your grade by doing extra work. Others will not. C’est la vie. My transcript, the one I sent to Yale in November without any grades from senior year, shows three B’s in semester 2 of junior year that were not there in semester 1. It occurred to me that Yale might have thought that I slacked off towards the end of the year and so decided to apply to Yale early so they would not get to see my senior year grades. I know that is not true, but Yale has no idea. I am going to use the midyear report as a chance for me to show them that I am still working hard.</p></li>
<li><p>Test scores are not as good as you want them to be? Continue testing. Yale will notice that you are still working and trying to achieve more, which is always a plus. I am taking the ACT in February. Go to [ACT:</a> Resources for Education and Workplace Success](<a href=“http://www.act.org%5DACT:”>http://www.act.org) and [::</a> College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements](<a href=“http://www.collegeboard.com%5D::”>http://www.collegeboard.com) - find test dates that are suitable for you. Register. </p></li>
<li><p>Has anything significant happened to you ever since you applied to Yale? In my case, the Student Council “president” we had was overthrown. Well, no, not really “overthrown.” The student body decided that it was not fair that the student council members got to vote for the executive board. Some students took the initiative of speaking to the SC advisor who agreed to a school-wide voting process. I ran for president, and won. But the process was much more complicated than anyone had anticipated, and I truly learned a great lesson. Bottom line: this gives me two I can present to Yale. My “presidency,” and also, an experience (oh the drama - I won’t even start talking about it) that has certainly changed the way I view others and life – so that’s a new essay to tell them more about who I am.</p></li>
<li><p>Do something new. Get a job. Start a new club at school. And do something you are truly passionate about. Show Yale that your activities are not merely excuses to fill some spaces up on a college application. Many seniors display decreased motivation; you should not. Waiting until April 1 without doing anything will not do you any good. In fact, if you do not plan on doing anything at all, consider yourself rejected. Stand out, give the admissions committee a reason to look at your application again, with renewed genuine interest.</p></li>
<li><p>IB students: Start studying for your IB exams, now! I know this may seem a little irrelevant, the exams being in May and all, but really, I feel you, I am one of you, and by telling you all to start now, I am encouraging myself to do so as well. START! If you have already, that’s really great, you’re my hero.</p></li>
<li><p>Revised/new essays: They can either make you, or totally break you. In my case, I am certain that they would be a good thing, because the ones I initially submitted were sloppy (I wrote them an hour before the deadline. Yeah.) Concentrate your essay on something that tells a story of who you are and what you aspire to be, something that tells something about your personality, something the admissions officers can’t get “elsewhere on your application.” Essays can really make all the difference. If you feel like you can write an excellent essay that would genuinely show the committee why they should reconsider you, do it.</p></li>
<li><p>Another recommendation–granted that it’s the best of the best, something the admissions committee will absolutely love, and written amazingly and truly shows what a great student you could be for Yale–can really make you. A recently selected (2008) Yale World Fellow will hopefully be writing mine. Can you imagine how, if wonderfully written and is clearly a reflection of you and your abilities, a recommendation like that can boost you up the applications pile? Dream big. Maybe a president can write you a recommendation. Just give them a reason to do so. Be amazing. </p></li>
<li><p>Remember, continued interest. Sure, you got deferred, I got deferred too, but no need to get all “Oh, Yale didn’t want me now, I won’t go even if they want me later on.” That’s just childish, and really not the way to view your deferral. Yale will not defer you for nothing. You meant something to them, but perhaps they were unsure what. Show them what. Don’t just sit there. Express your ‘continued interest,’ show them that Yale is still your first choice (if it actually is, that is.) </p></li>
</ol>

<p>The list goes on. There are so many things you can do between now and April, besides just “waiting.” Yes, they deferred you now, and trust me, they will reject you in April if you don’t do something about it. I’m certain you can do it. No, really. Feel free to suggest more things that can be done.</p>

<p>That’s all. I just thought I would share this with all of you, in hope that you would actually take some of my advice and help yourself make it. But I do have a few rules for this thread:
1 Please don’t start any arguments. Seriously. Find another thread for that.
2 Don’t whine about your deferral. There are others less fortunate than you are.
3 BE HOPEFUL! Contribute something. Help yourself. And help others.</p>

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<p>Thank you! What a great post. You have reignited my motivation to keep trying in this process. And good luck to you in the next round!</p>

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<p>Ah, such truth in this post. I had my action plan before I knew my decision. :]</p>

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<p>This is a great plan. One thing, though: don't neglect the RD applications to all the other great schools that you are applying to--make sure those applications are also as good as you can make them.</p>

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<p>BRAVO! well said. its not over till the fat lady sings!(or something like that) :)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Another recommendation

[/quote]
</p>

<p>A good idea, with this caveat: much more important than the status your recommender is that they know you well enough to address some aspect of your life, abilities, or character in detail that your other writers could not. This could be because they have long known you in some capacity that your other writers have not or that you have done something recently that your past writers could not have cited. An additional recommender should shed new light on you.</p>

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<p>I understand that you're trying to be positive but this is just bombarding them with stuff. XD; If something truly exceptional has happened then you should definitely alert the adcoms to it, but new ECs, new recs, new essays... there's very little you can do in 4 months that would make or break your app, especially if it's something that you just began during that time. I'm not sure about Yale's specific policy but I know Stanford is really against deferees submitting additional materials unless it's hugely substantial. </p>

<p>The point is, they're evaluating you on the student and person that you have been for the past 4 years. In 4 months there's very little you can do to alter who you are as an applicant, and polishes upon the application may be well-intended, but I don't know if they'd help...</p>

<p>Personally, I'm thinking of submitting a rec from my boss to flesh out that aspect, but I only had 2 normal recs RD and I'm going to go double-check on their supplemental rec policy. I know complacence is bad, but overkill isn't good either.</p>

<p>Edit: Oops, just read that "no arguments" clause. So ignore my post I guess if it counts as argumentative, although I don't mean to be.</p>

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<p>I have a question. I recently asked a coach to write a recommendation for me, and he agreed. I do something concerning Track and Field, and when my coach looked at Yale's statistics in the event I take part in, he saw that my bests are very close to those of people on Yale's team. In his rec he is going to stress the progress I have made and how much better I have become. He also said he would try to get into contact with the coach at Yale and put in a good word.</p>

<p>The question is: is this a good idea? My participation in Track & Field is the last thing I've got, the one thing that truly makes me stand out. Should I let my coach write this recommendation, or will the AOs see it as a bother and look down on my application for this addition to it?</p>

<p>Also, Yale's deadline for Regular applications is December 31st. Does this mean that any supplemental materials for Deferred applications should also be in by this day?</p>

<p>EDIT: Track isn't something that I just started; it's something that I've been doing for the past 3 years. So does that help?</p>

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<p>If your track numbers are similar to the ones on Yale's team it seems like you should have a chance at getting recruited? o_o I think you should look into this, even if it's just a rec from your coach, but I would try getting in touch with the Yale coach as well somehow. Although I don't actually do sports so take this with a grain of salt...</p>

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<p>NJBKitty,
I would send an email to the track and field coach....and provide them with your vital statistics.....along the lines of "I have applied and been deferred...I have these scores and this is my GPA and here are my track and field results. Would you be interested in me for the team and do you have any slots left to use on me with admissions?" </p>

<p>Not quite that net, but ask and you shall find out....don't ask and you will never, ever know. </p>

<p>My son was recruited by several IVY's and at one school, we asked "what was the biggest obstacle to 4 yrs of success in schooling and athletics?" and the response was "injuries." So, since your times/results are close to others on the team right now, you might be of great interest to them if your events are injury prone ones. </p>

<p>Practice asking the above "questions for a coach" to your parents or your own coach first so you can be prepared if they shut you down or demonstrate interest. Instead of emailing the questions, you can email and say I will be calling you to discuss your team.<br>
But do it soon as the holiday break is coming and they may not be in the office as much. </p>

<p>You have nothing to lose....and Yale might want to know much more about you.....</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>I e-mailed a regional director regarding this topic, and they told me that they will review my application based "primarily on the information we already have in your file." I was told that I can send a letter regarding any major changes or awards, but I don't think they want more essays or recommendations.</p>

<p>That being said, at least the TONE of this thread is spot on... Don't sulk in your deferral misery! Instead, show interest in Yale by inquiring as to what you can do, by notifying them of any major changes or awards, and by keeping up your grades.</p>

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<p>Submitting a new/revised Essay? Is this allowed?</p>

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<p>Thanks, sartorialiste and maineparent, I really appreciate your answering my question, I definitely plan on giving it a try.</p>

<p>But would you happen to know if my coach would have to contact them by the RD deadline of December 31st, or is it okay for him to call/email during the beginning of the new year?</p>

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<p>NJBkitty,
I would not wait.....especially as you have a lot of other apps to complete yourself now. I would try to have your coach have that conversation asap..... is there a reason why your coach is not available for this conversation now?</p>

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<p>Hieronymus312,
I have never heard of submitting a new or revised Essay. I believe all you can do is add to your portfolio, not revise it.</p>

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<p>maineparent,</p>

<p>I don't think my coach has a problem getting into contact with Yale's coach, I was just asking to satisfy my own curiosity. Also, I have a unique situation: I haven't been able to join the team yet this year due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control, though I plan on joining as soon as the new year begins. I worry that this fact might be detrimental to his conversation with the new coach - the fact that I have not yet participated this year. Do you think that if my coach explains my circumstances and stress how dedicated I have been, that this will still help?</p>

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<p>I disagree with the bit about the recommendations.</p>

<p>I don't think it matters who writes your rec--whether it's your Model UN adviser, track coach, or english teacher. It matters what they say, how clearly they articulate specific, extraordinary qualities of you. A heartfelt recommendation from a tenth grade biology teacher will be more effective than a shallow one from a famous legacy.</p>

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<p>Yale admissions reps have said numerous times that excess recommendations hurt more than help. They say they would only want to see additional recommendations come from someone who can shed a completely diiferent light on you that your teachers and counselors would be unable to provide and they only want one additional rec if you feel the the need to send it.</p>

<p>Do NOT, repeat NOT, send new essays. The only other thing to send them would be something telling them of new awards, honors or something truly significant, nothing more unless you really want to lower your chance of admission.</p>

<p>A current Yale admissions rep told me that the thicker the file the sooner it goes to the bottom of the pile...period. They give very specific instructions about what they are looking for in a completed application. Follow their rules and guidance or it WILL work against you. </p>

<p>In short, they will see you as incapable of following their simplest instructions.</p>

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<p>Don't know about the rest, but my rep said I could "change" my essays if I want.</p>

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<p>wow, those numbers that came out are pretty brutal. how many of us are going to get in out of 25,000 total applicants? like they already looked at us once. how are scea deferrals really gonna get re-read after slogging through 20K more files?</p>