Deferred From College? What to Do Now (And What Happens Next)
- Thinque Prep
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Ouch.
So, earlier this admissions cycle, after weeks of waiting, after ten minutes of being too nervous to click that email from your dream school, and after two seconds of scanning the beginning of the message, your eyes quickly latched on to that fateful phrase:
“…there were many competitive applicants, and we regret to inform you that your application has been deferred for the Class of 2026.”
Ugh. Literally the worst.
In some ways, it almost felt like a “no” would have been better. A rejection is clear-cut and unambiguous. But a deferral? What does that even mean? It feels vague, mysterious, and unhelpful, like if you just asked someone for directions and they responded by saying “spaghetti.”
And now it’s February.
If you were deferred from college earlier this cycle, you may have already submitted updates or met any deferral-related deadlines. Some colleges have moved further along in the process, while others are still reviewing deferred applicants. Either way, you might now find yourself stuck in this strange middle space: not rejected, and not accepted either. The feeling stinks!
Well, have no fear.
The team and I are here to help you make sense of what a college deferral actually means, and, more importantly, what to do after being deferred at this point in the process.
We can’t offer false hope, but we can offer clarity and a plan.
What Does It Mean to Be Deferred From College?
No matter what university you were deferred from, the core reason is the same: the school needed additional time or information before making a final decision.
Sometimes, deferrals happen because a school wants to learn more about you. They may want to see fall or midyear grades. They may want confirmation that you’re continuing a rigorous course load. In some cases, they may want additional context about a dip or gap in your academic record.
Other times, college deferrals happen because of university-side factors beyond your control. Schools can be flooded with applications and simply need more time to review everyone carefully. Large universities like UT Austin, the University of Michigan, and similar high-volume schools have historically used deferrals this way.
In some cases, schools defer applicants to manage enrollment uncertainty: in other words, they need to figure out how many admitted students will actually enroll before making additional offers. Colleges may also be waiting to understand how their financial aid budget will play out for the year.
And at some highly selective schools, deferral is simply part of the standard process. MIT, for example, is well known for deferring a very large portion of its early applicants.
Now, I want to be perfectly clear: a deferral does not mean you have been (to borrow a popular phrase) “politely rejected.” College admissions offices are not that passive-aggressive.
Okay, so I've been deferred from college. What do I need to do?
First step: go back and check your deferral email.
Seriously, read it again.
Even if you already looked at it weeks ago, it’s worth double-checking to make sure you’ve done everything the school invited you to do on your end to support your deferred application.
Sometimes, a couple lines after the whole “we regret to inform you” section, the admissions office provides instructions for deferred students.
Sometimes, schools invite students to submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI), where you can share updates and reaffirm your interest. That might include fall grades, new awards, leadership roles, or confirmation that you’ve maintained the same level of rigor and involvement you described in your application.
Other times, schools ask students to submit updates directly through the applicant portal in the form of short responses instead of a formal letter. The format is different, but the purpose is the same.
It’s worth noting that different colleges provide different guidelines for deferred students, which is why it’s extremely important to follow the instructions from each school carefully.
And if you’ve already submitted what they asked for? Great. That means you’re now in the waiting phase.
Should You Send a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) If the College Doesn’t Ask for One?
There are different schools of thought on this. Some people encourage deferred students to always send a Letter of Continued Interest, even if the admissions office doesn’t ask for one. Other people will tell students not to send anything unless invited.
The Thinque Prep team and I fall into the second camp.
But wait, you might be thinking, wouldn’t sending something help me, even if the university didn’t ask for anything?
Not necessarily.
In our experience, if a school doesn’t request additional materials, they usually don’t want them.
Remember, sometimes schools defer students simply because they are overwhelmed with applications. In those situations, an unsolicited LOCI may just become another document in a very large pile. And as mentioned earlier, some deferrals happen because of institutional factors unrelated to the individual student — meaning a LOCI wouldn’t really change anything.
At this point in the cycle, the most helpful thing you can do is follow the instructions you were given. No more, no less.
Yes, I know that “just wait” is the answer students least want to hear. The urge to do literally anything to improve your chances is completely understandable.
But here’s the important reminder:
A deferral does not mean “no.” It just means the university needed more time.
By the time you were deferred, you had already done what you could: filled out applications, submitted essays, and met every deadline.
What’s left now is to stay steady, keep your grades strong, and let the process play out.
What Happens After a College Deferral? (Including Waitlists)
Over the next several weeks, more and more colleges will begin releasing Regular Decision results.
For some students, that will mean an acceptance. For others, it may mean a denial. And for many — especially those who were previously deferred — it may mean landing on a waitlist.
If that happens, don’t panic.
A waitlist is its own separate process, with its own rules and timing. Being deferred earlier does not doom you, and being waitlisted later does not erase your accomplishments. It simply means the college is still managing space in its incoming class.
In other words: admissions decisions often unfold in stages. Deferral is one stage. Waitlist can be another.
Neither stage is a judgment of your worth.
The Hardest Part: Waiting Without Control
Right now, you may feel like you should be doing something more. Checking portals. Refreshing email. Replaying your application in your head. Wondering whether you should have written one more sentence or joined one more club.
That feeling is normal.
But it’s also important to recognize something:
You’ve already shown who you are academically. You’ve already shared your story. You’ve already demonstrated your effort and commitment.
Colleges are now making decisions based on timing, space, priorities, and institutional needs. These are things that students cannot see from the outside.
And that uncertainty is uncomfortable. But it’s not personal.
What You Should Be Doing Right Now
Instead of trying to reverse-engineer admissions decisions, focus on the things that still matter:
Keep your grades steady.
Stay engaged in the activities you care about.
Follow any instructions colleges gave you.
Continue exploring the schools that have said yes (or will soon).
Momentum matters: not because colleges are watching your every move, but because you deserve to finish strong regardless of the outcome.
Final Reminder: A Deferral Is Not the End of the Story
Being deferred is frustrating. It sits in that awkward space between hope and uncertainty.
But it is not a final verdict.
Some deferred students are later admitted. Some are waitlisted. Some ultimately enroll somewhere entirely different, and end up thriving.
College admissions is not a single doorway. It’s a hallway with many doors, most of which you can’t see yet.
If you submitted updates when invited, followed instructions, and continued doing your best, then you’ve done your part.
Now the process has to do its part.
And whatever decisions arrive in the coming weeks, they do not define your intelligence, your potential, or your future.
If You Want Support, We've Got You
Each year, we work with students navigating this exact stage of the admissions process. We help with everything from interpreting deferrals to deciding how (or whether) to send updates, to responding to waitlist offers later in the spring.
If you’d like help interpreting a deferral, planning updates, or preparing for possible waitlist decisions, our team works with students one-on-one throughout this stage of the admissions process.
