Deferred vs. Waitlisted: What Does it Mean? College Admissions Explained
Reviewed and Updated: December 4, 2025
After the frantic work of putting together a college application, waiting for an answer can seem to take forever. Most applicants assume they will eventually receive one of two simple outcomes: acceptance or rejection. Yet, there are actually two other possible outcomes that can leave students confused and uncertain: Deferred and Waitlisted.
What do these decisions mean? Should you be concerned? While neither is an outright rejection, they both mean you will have to wait longer for a final decision. Understanding the crucial differences between them is the first step in planning your next move.
What is a College Deferral? 🧐
A deferral is a specific outcome for students who applied under an Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) plan.
Being deferred means the admissions committee has not yet completed its review of your application and is “deferring” their final decision. You have been moved from the early application pool into the Regular Decision (RD) applicant pool for later review.
Why Do Colleges Defer Students?
The reason for a deferral typically falls into one of two categories:
- Need for More Information: The committee believes your application shows potential but wants to see more data before making a final commitment. This often means they want to review your first-semester senior year grades or any new SAT/ACT test scores you may submit.
- Application Strength: Your application was strong, but not quite strong enough to earn an immediate acceptance in the highly competitive early round. By moving you to the larger RD pool, the college ensures it can compare you against the rest of the applicants.
An important advantage of a deferral is that it is non-binding, even if you applied Early Decision. You are now free to consider offers from other schools.
What is a College Waitlist? ⏳
Being waitlisted is unlike being deferred. It means the college has finished reviewing your application (usually during the Regular Decision round) and has made a final decision to put you on a waiting list for admission.
A college waitlist places you in a “holding pattern.” You are qualified, but there is not currently a spot for you in the incoming class.
Why Do Colleges Waitlist Students?
The primary reason colleges use a waitlist is for Yield Management and ensuring their class is full:
- Yield Management: Colleges must predict how many admitted students will accept their offer (the “yield”). If the college expects a lower yield, they may waitlist more students as a backup pool to meet their enrollment goal.
- Space Availability: Waitlist admissions are purely contingent on space opening up after the May 1st National Candidate’s Reply Date, when admitted students must confirm their enrollment.
Waitlist Acceptance Rates
Unlike a deferral, a waitlist decision is based on the college’s need, and submitting new information usually does not change the decision. You can often find a college’s historical waitlist data (the percentage of students they admitted from the list) on their website or in their Common Data Set report. In many cases, waitlisted applicants are rarely admitted, while at other colleges, your chances can be decent.
Which is Better: Deferred vs. Waitlisted?
In general, being deferred is often considered more promising than being waitlisted.
| Status | Timing | Next Steps Allowed | Possibility of Acceptance |
| Deferred | Early Decision/Early Action round. | You are re-evaluated with the Regular Decision pool and can typically submit new materials. | Your application gets a second full review, offering a stronger chance for admission than a waitlist. |
| Waitlisted | Regular Decision round. | You are placed in a backup pool; decisions are based on class size needs. You can submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). | Admission is uncertain and fully dependent on how many accepted students decline their offer after May 1. |
3 Steps for Students Who Have Been Deferred
- Re-Confirm Your Interest: Check your decision letter to see if the college requires you to indicate your continued interest. If so, do it immediately.
- Submit New Materials: Improve your application by submitting stronger first-semester grades or an improved SAT/ACT score (if applicable). Only send what the college explicitly asks for or allows you to submit through the applicant portal.
- Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): This is a formal, one-page letter/email you send to your admissions counselor. The LOCI should briefly but specifically explain why the school is still your top choice, and provide concise updates on any significant new achievements, awards, or academic successes since you first applied.
3 Steps for Students on a College Waitlist
- Accept the Waitlist Spot and Commit to a Backup: You must formally accept a spot on the waitlist to remain in consideration. Simultaneously, you must commit to and deposit at a backup school by the May 1st deadline. Do not wait for a waitlist decision—you need a secured plan.
- Write a LOCI: Similar to deferred students, write a Letter of Continued Interest. Focus this letter on reaffirming your commitment to attend if admitted and providing any major, new academic or extracurricular updates.
- Stay Realistic: Understand that being waitlisted is a gamble based on a college’s enrollment needs. Do your research, focus on the schools that have accepted you, and commit to moving forward with the most secure and best-fit option.
Remember that if you have been waitlisted or deferred, it does not mean you have been rejected. Use this time wisely by improving your grades, securing your backup plan, and demonstrating mature, continued interest.
