If you applied Early Decision or Early Action last fall, you’ve probably been refreshing portals and email for weeks. Now it’s mid-winter, the big decisions are arriving, and your next steps depend on one word… So what if your decision says “deferred”?
A deferral signals two things at once. First, your application is still in review, and second, the admissions office wants more information before a final decision (often first-semester senior grades).
Here’s what to do after a deferral, step by step: how to follow the school’s instructions, what updates matter most, and how to write a strong Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) when the college invites one. You’re still in the running, so don’t quit now!
Scenarios you might encounter
First, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. These are the possible scenarios you will encounter when you open that decision letter. Your response will change depending on the notification you receive.
Empowerly Lead Counselor Denard walks you through the possible outcomes here:
Acceptance
- Meaning: You received an offer of admission and enrollment.
- Next step: Review the college portal for deadlines, financial aid steps, and any required forms for first-year students.
- Avoid: Missing a required response form or deposit deadline.
Denial
- Meaning: You were not accepted for this cycle at this school.
- Next step: Keep momentum on remaining applications and protect senior grades.
- Avoid: Sending repeated appeals unless the school outlines an appeal process.
Deferral
- Meaning: Your early application moved into the Regular Decision pool for another review.
- Next step: Follow the college’s instructions and prepare a targeted update, often tied to first-semester grades.
- Avoid: Sending extra materials when the letter says not to.
Nothing yet?
Some schools don’t notify students when they’re officially denied after a deferral. If you haven’t heard by April 1 and your portal shows no status change, you’re likely not admitted. Plan around that silence, don’t wait to build other strong options.
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into the immediate response when the news isn’t what you hoped.
Your 72-hour plan after a deferral
After you receive a direct deferral letter, go ahead and take some time to process the information and your emotions. It’s a serious decision.
Then, once you’re centered again, get moving. The first three days set the tone, so focus on control and speed.
Step 1: Read the decision letter like a contract
Some schools require students to confirm they want to remain active in the Regular Decision pool. If you miss this opt-in checkbox or portal form, your application could be removed from consideration all together.
Look for:
- Opt-in instructions for Regular Decision review
- A portal form
- A deadline for updates
- Rules about extra materials, including letters of continued interest
- A preferred submission method, often a portal upload
Follow explicit directions and notes; some colleges require opt-in or invite a statement of continued interest or updates.
Step 2: Alert the school counselor immediately
Senior grades matter more now, but official documentation takes time. Inform your counselor quickly so the grades are sent.
Step 3: Build a one-page update list
Open a document. Start a simple “since I applied” log. Most importantly, avoid fluff. Aim for 4 to 8 strong items; you can skip brief or repetitive updates, like “I’m still passionate” or “I joined a new club.”
Examples:
- Quarter or semester grade improvement in rigorous courses
- New leadership role with scope, such as team captain, section leader, club officer
- A measurable outcome, such as funds raised, tutoring hours delivered, research milestones, competition placement
- New coursework, certification, or academic program acceptance
- A new test score only if the college accepts scores at this stage and the score improves the file
As you write, keep language concrete. Numbers beat adjectives.
Step 4: Decide who sends what
Some updates belong with the counselor:
- Midyear report or transcript
- A fresh counselor note if something major changed
Some updates belong with the student:
- A short written update through the portal
- A Letter of Continued Interest, if invited
Clarity on these tasks will help you stay organized and understand your responsibilities.
Your 2-week plan: turn deferral into a stronger file
What larger, multi-week steps can you take to utilize your deferral for the best possible outcome?
Week 1: Tighten your academic story
Deferral often equals “show sustained performance.” Take that message seriously, and focus on building strong senior grades in core courses.
Action checklist:
- Meet teachers during office hours once per week in tough classes
- Set a weekly study schedule aligned to quizzes and tests
- Ask the counselor when midyear grades release and confirm the send date
Week 2: Expand your impact story
If you have been deferred, keep in mind that admissions officers skim for change since submission. How will you showcase growth in your extracurriculars?
Good updates share three traits:
- New information
- Proof
- Relevance to academic direction or campus contribution
Concrete examples reduce vague updates.
Week 3 and beyond
If senioritis has crept in, now’s the time to reverse it. Admissions teams can (and do) deny students in the Regular Decision round, if they see sliding performance after a deferral. Don’t let that be your downfall.
The LOCI: how to write a letter of continued interest
A Letter of Continued Interest, often called a LOCI, is a short message to reaffirm interest and share meaningful updates.
Before writing, check one rule first: if the decision letter asks students not to send additional materials, stop. Following instructions is the move.
- The college invites or allows continued interest statements
- New information exists since submission
- The college remains a top choice
If that sounds like you, then let’s discuss how to create one!
What a strong LOCI includes:
A clear opening
Name, applicant ID, application round, intended major if declared, and one sentence on continued interest.
Two to four specific updates
Focus on outcomes. Examples:
- First-semester grades with context for rigor.
- New leadership role and measurable results.
- A major academic milestone, such as research poster acceptance or state-level award.
Two school-specific reasons
Avoid generic praise. Use details tied to fit:
- A program, lab, clinic, institute.
- A course sequence.
- A student org aligned with ongoing work.
- A campus initiative connected to goals.
A direct close
A sentence on enrollment intent if admitted, and a thank-you line.
Length target
250 to 400 words works for most schools. If a portal text box limits length, follow the limit.
Timing
Send after midyear grades post or when a meaningful update exists, unless the college sets an earlier deadline in the letter. NACAC highlights senior grades as a core piece of added information for deferred review.
Which updates matter most after a deferral
Families often ask: “What counts as new?” If you’re unsure whether your updates are meaningful enough to send a LOCI, ask your counselor or a trusted advisor to gut-check it. A vague or generic letter can hurt more than it can help.
High-value updates
- First-semester senior grades in rigorous courses, especially upward trends in core subjects
- A new leadership role with scope and results
- A competition or academic award with a clear level, such as state, national, international
- Research milestones with proof, such as poster acceptance, lab contribution, or manuscript progress
- A meaningful community impact result, such as volunteer program outcomes or funds raised
Medium-value updates
- A new part-time job responsibility tied to maturity or skill development
- A new certification tied to intended major
- A short additional explanation if a new circumstance affects performance, submitted only through an allowed channel
Lower-value updates
- Extra recommendation letters, unless the college requests them
- A second essay, unless the college requests one
- More awards from the same activity without new scope or level
- Daily “check in” emails
The safety net: how to readjust your Regular Decision list
A deferral often signals one practical task: strengthen your college list for a firm “yes.”
Aim for balance in your final list:
- 2 to 4 likely-admit options based on academic profile, also known as “safety” schools
- 4 to 6 target options where admission odds match the student profile, also known as “match” schools
- 2 to 4 selective options for ambition, also known as “reach” schools
Use a fast evaluation method:
- Check each college’s required coursework and fit with the current transcript
- Compare academic profile to the college’s published ranges when available
- Use net price calculators before adding colleges, so finances stay realistic
This step protects mental health and outcome quality. A deferral means uncertainty remains. A smart list reduces risk.
Common deferral mistakes
This video walks you through the most (and least) helpful things you can do after you’ve been deferred:
Here are some of the most common mistakes we see.
Mistake 1: Sending a LOCI when the college says no updates
Admissions offices track instruction-following. NACAC advises deferred applicants to follow explicit directions, including opt-in steps and update rules.
Mistake 2: Writing a second personal statement
Admissions offices asked for updates, not a rewrite of identity.
Mistake 3: Turning the LOCI into negotiation
Avoid complaints about fairness, pressure, or comparisons to other students.
Mistake 4: Treating a deferral as a free pass
Senior grades still matter, and deferral leaves no guarantee. Keep your momentum rolling.
Finding your best-fit path
A deferral feels like limbo. But in this case, limbo still offers choices. The strongest response follows three themes:
- Follow the school’s instructions with precision.
- Send meaningful updates with proof.
- Strengthen the Regular Decision plan so a great option stays on the table.
And while you might not want to hear it now, it’s also true that your top-choice college is not always a best-fit college. Admissions officers aim to build classes where students thrive, not only classes with strong numbers. When a deferral or waitlist happens, take the signal for what the signal is: the search continues.
Keep moving. Keep grades strong. Keep the list balanced. Focus on the opportunities in front of you and move forward as much as possible. And ask for help, if you need it. The right outcome often arrives from steady steps, not from frantic ones.
