“Deferral is not a rejection.”
That is a sentence deferred applicants frequently hear as their supporters attempt to console them through their admissions process, and while I was at first a disbeliever of this statement, I now feel it couldn’t be closer to the truth.
The University of Richmond has been my dream school since my junior year. I fell in love with the tight-knit community, gorgeous campus, and rich opportunities it offers its students. So when I received my deferral letter in January, it made me wonder what more I could do. I started researching and implementing strategies that ultimately pushed me to become an admitted student. Here are the strategies I used that helped turn my deferral into an acceptance.
Stay Focused
A huge contribution to my admissions process was my ability to maintain my grades throughout senior year. After being deferred, colleges want to see how students do in the current year. This allows them to see if students are on an upward trend or not, so it is important to stay focused and work hard to show you are a capable student. In order to do this, I implemented a planner into my routine. This allowed me to keep track of every assignment and activity that I had and manage my time wisely. It made the many tasks I had much easier to manage and remember, which helped my grades substantially.
Letter of Continued Interest
Applicants like myself typically submit their applications in October, giving students three months of fresh information that might be valuable to their application. Throughout my three months, I participated in an abundance of activities, such as my various newfound class council activities and my passion project, which I viewed as meaningful and contributed to my story. So I sent the admissions officers a virtual letter, informing them of all my new accomplishments. It allowed me to be seen as a new applicant and allowed colleges to, again, see how I was using my time in senior year.
Have a Support System
After receiving my deferral letter, I found myself turning into a different student from what I used to be. Classes began to feel optional, as did attendance. Thankfully, my friends and family noticed these actions and took it upon themselves to uplift me towards the regular decision cycle. Without them, I would have forgotten that senior year is supposed to be filled with fun and new memories to look back on. It’s important to recognize that these situations do not have to be faced alone.
To those currently waitlisted and those who may face this moment in the future, know that wherever the decision lands, your story is what you make it. Don’t give up.
