By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer

Deferred by Yale Early Action?

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As a former Ivy League Admissions Officer, I often hear from students and parents about their deferral experiences from top universities. While everyone hopes for an acceptance letter, the reality is that only a small percentage of Early Action applicants are admitted to Yale (9.02% last year).

Yale stands out from some of its peer Ivy institutions by deferring a smaller percentage of applicants. For the Class of 2027, only 21% of applicants were deferred. This is a change from past admissions trends coming out of Yale. The Yale Daily News reported on this change last year through an interview with Jeremiah Quinlan, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, who shared that starting with the class of 2025, the admissions office started making more final decisions in the early application round in part because of feedback from “colleagues in high schools across the country that it is useful to offer final decisions earlier.”

This is significantly lower than a peer institution like Harvard, which defers around 80% of applicants. So, if you were deferred from Yale, this is a positive sign. It indicates that fewer applicants were moved to the regular decision process, increasing your chances of ultimately gaining admission.

If you've been deferred, I understand how disappointing it can feel. You've poured your heart into your application, and it's natural to feel disheartened. However, a deferral doesn't mean your chances are over.

Here's what you need to know:

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3 Early Action Outcomes at Yale

If you applied Early Action to Yale this fall, there are three possible outcomes:

1. Admitted
2. Deferred
3. Rejected

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What Does Deferred Mean?

In practical terms, your application is still under consideration. The admissions committee wasn’t ready to offer you a spot but wants to review your candidacy alongside the full Regular Decision pool. Your application will undergo another evaluation and you may be offered an admissions spot in the spring.

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What Can You Do To Improve Your Chances Of Admission?

In a popular Yale Admissions podcast last year, a Yale admissions representative shared some helpful tips. See below for an excerpt from the podcast:

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So we want to see if you are still enrolled in your senior year of high school. That you’ve been continuing to do well in your classes. So make sure we get some record of your first term, semester, trimester, whatever it is. Those first grades that are available, we will want to have those when we’re reviewing your application and regular decision.

The second piece is optional. If you have new information, essentially like breaking news that’s just happened in your life between November 1 when you applied and let’s say the middle of February or beginning of March, you can put together one nice, concise application update. Use your portal to send it together just to give us the latest and greatest. You don’t need to go back into your drawers and essentially say, what are the things I didn’t include in the application from five years ago that I should have put in there? I’ll just start throwing things at the wall now.

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Next Steps to Take

1. Submit a Letter of Continued Interest/Deferral Letter:
   Reiterate your strong interest in attending Yale. If Yale is still your first choice, let that be known. A letter of continued interest signals that you remain enthusiastic and ready to enroll if accepted.
2. Share Significant Updates:
   There may be relevant updates or new information that have come to light since you first submitted your application in October. Some possible information to share:
   • A major award or recognition.
   • A paper or project that gained new traction or publication opportunities.
   • Leadership roles or community initiatives that have grown significantly.‍
3. Submit Your Midyear Report:
   Strong grades can strengthen your candidacy. Make sure your midyear transcript reflects your continued academic success.

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What About Your Other Applications?

Although you can’t change your Yale materials, you can update applications for other schools. A deferral offers a chance to reassess and make last minute changes before early January deadlines.

• Review your essays: Could your Common App essay be stronger or more compelling? Does it highlight the most important aspects of your candidacy? Are supplemental essays tailored to each school and filled with specific details?
• Revisit your college list: Is it balanced, with a range of target, reach, and safety schools?
• Make strategic updates: Are there additions you can make to your application to increase its competitiveness and quality?

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Stay Positive and Focused

A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an invitation to stay in the game. Keep excelling academically, remain proactive, and use this as an opportunity to refine your strategy. Remember, many successful students use setbacks as fuel for future success.

I like to share this quote from a past student to just offer some perspective:

“If I hadn’t been deferred in the early round, I wouldn’t have realized how much my application needed improvement. I made changes and ended up getting into all of my top schools during regular decision. It was a blessing in disguise.”

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Need Help or Advice?

If you have questions or need guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you through every step of the process!

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About the Author

Justin Neiman served as an undergraduate admissions officer at Harvard University and as an Assistant Dean at Stanford University. With over a decade of experience working at two of the nation’s most competitive universities, Justin brings a unique understanding of the selective admissions process.

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