The college application process is taxing for students and families alike, particularly if an applicant has compiled their materials and put in the effort in the fall to apply for Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). 

Each year, a number of students apply to top schools like Harvard, NYU, and Duke, and the ED or EA applicant pool tends to be even more competitive for students applying to competitive schools like these. A deferral indicates that an applicant was strong enough to progress into the next consideration phase but was not accepted in the early round of applications.



If deferred, the application moves into the pool of Regular Decision applications and students who applied early are no longer bound to attend that school if admitted. On the one hand, this allows students to put additional consideration into what they want in a school. When deferred, students should ask themselves, “do I still want to pursue the school I applied to ED or EA, or have I learned something new about another school on my list that increased my interest?”

Letters of continued interest share any updates to a student’s application with the admissions office and reiterate the value they would add to the campus community. These letters are short and succinct (typically no more than one page) but should still meaningfully and compellingly convey the student’s new achievements and interest in the school.

Like college essays, these letters should capture the student’s voice and personality, so students should embrace their quirkiness and uniqueness when writing. The goal is to stand out and give the admissions office a lasting impression.

Finally, keep in mind that yield rate is an essential metric that colleges consider. It will reflect well on a student’s application to communicate that if accepted, they will attend.

Students should send letters of continued interest to the admissions offices of their top schools sooner rather than later. Students who do not send these letters promptly indicate that they are not committed to the school or are not interested in continuing the application process with them.