What to do after receiving a deferral from an EA or ED application

So you’ve received a deferral from your “dream school,” the one to which you applied early because you were ready to sign on the dotted line. What do you do now?

You can simply move on and finish your other college applications or you can let admissions officers know you are still eager to be considered in the next round. 

Here’s some advice on writing a letter of continued interest to a college/university from which you’ve received a deferral:

Read this still timely article from the New York Times college admissions blog, The Choice, “You Got Deferred. Now What?”  Two college admissions deans offer their advice on next steps.

Look over this suggested template for a letter of continued interest from AcademicHelp.Net.

Here are my additional suggestions for drafting a letter:

--Keep it short.  Academic Help suggests a page or less; I think a half page is better.

--Wait to write until you have something new to report—fall semester grades, an award, a completed project, something not mentioned on your college application.

--Don’t wait too late, however.  Time your letter to arrive early in the evaluation period for Regular Decision applicants.

--Be polite, but not stiff.  Make sure your personal voice and passion come through. 

--Be realistic about your chances of selection in the Regular Decision pool.  Many schools defer a large number of candidates from Early Decision, so the likelihood of being selected may be quite small.  Work harder on your remaining applications, making sure the schools you have selected are good fits for you academically and socially.

Good luck!

7 Reasons to Consider Applying to Emory University

We just returned from our Thanksgiving holiday in Atlanta, Georgia, where we had the opportunity to visit the Emory University campus.  Though few of my advisees have considered attending schools in the South, I think Emory deserves strong consideration.  Here are my 7 reasons why:

     

1) First focus of any college consideration should be academics, and Emory has strong programs in many areas including business, psychology, the natural sciences and history.  Pre-meds are particularly attracted to the school as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) is located on campus.

2) Emory’s size of approximately 8,000 undergraduates makes it an appealing medium-sized institution with plenty of variety in courses and majors, a diverse student body, and, though lacking a football team, plenty of school spirit for winning teams in swimming, baseball, volleyball and golf.  Students who want a smaller liberal arts experience can start their Emory career for the first two years at the Oxford campus, located in a small town near Atlanta with a total enrollment of less than 1,000 students.

3) Emory offers generous and attractive merit aid, unusual for a very selective school.

4) When we toured the campus we were impressed by the number of new buildings and the school’s excellent facilities including a state of the art gym, new dormitories, classrooms and laboratories—many in gleaming pink and white marble.

5) The city of Atlanta is at the campus doorstep with many cultural and entertainment opportunities.  It’s truly a sophisticated and interesting city—home to both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coca Cola.

6) Georgia’s climate allows for three comfortable seasons—fall, winter and spring—and who stays for summers anyway?

7) Emory has formed a partnership with the Dalai Lama to offer classes in meditation, Buddhism and Tibetan Art and Culture.  Through this program students can study on campus with visiting monks or study abroad at special summer intensives in Tibet.  Way cool!

I hope you’ll give Emory and colleges and universities in the South another look!