In the context of college admissions, the term “deferred” signifies a decision outcome wherein an applicant’s admission status is postponed. Instead of receiving an acceptance or rejection during the early application period (Early Action or Early Decision), the application is moved into the regular decision pool for further consideration. As an example, a student who applies Early Action in November might be notified in December that their application has been deferred. This means the college will re-evaluate their application alongside the regular decision applicants.
Deferral is important because it indicates the applicant possesses potential that warrants further review. Colleges may defer applications when they require a broader context of the overall applicant pool to make a final determination. This allows admissions committees to compare the deferred student against a larger set of applicants, potentially highlighting strengths or achievements that were not as apparent initially. Historically, deferral rates have fluctuated based on institutional needs and application volume; however, the process provides a second opportunity for consideration that outright rejection does not.
