Larry receives numerous questions about college admissions from applicants and their families. This week he responds to a timely question about an admissions deferral.
Q: I got deferred from an Ivy League, and I sent a letter of continued interest. Then, my admissions officer responded warmly. Is this normal? Does this happen to everyone who sends a letter of continued interest after deferral?
A: That response means the admissions officer had the time and inclination to be nice. Nobody gets an obnoxious response to a letter of continuing interest.
Your application is now part of a much larger pool of candidates awaiting consideration, from which a percentage at least 1/3 less than were admitted in the early round will be chosen. So, think of that deferred application more as a lottery ticket than an investment with a likely return awaiting you. Put it aside and look for a fine new path into your future. If the ticket pays off, well then you are lucky indeed.
If you have questions about college admissions or would like to learn more about our services, please contact larry@learningassoc.com.