Dec 6, 2025
.webp)
By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer
If you applied Early Decision to Brown and were deferred, take a breath — it doesn’t mean “no.” It simply means your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision pool. Here’s what that actually means and how to move forward.
If you applied ED to Brown this cycle, there are three potential results:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
Brown remains one of the most selective ED programs in the Ivy League. For the Class of 2028, Brown received 6,244 Early Decision applications and admitted 898 students, an ED admit rate of around 14.4 percent.
Brown does not release deferral-specific data, but historically, about 5 to 10 percent of deferred Early Decision applicants are eventually admitted during Regular Decision.
A Brown ED rejection is final. Brown does not allow appeals, and the application will not be reconsidered. The best step is to shift your energy toward your Regular Decision schools and apply what you’ve learned to strengthen those applications.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI):
Reaffirm your interest in Brown and explain why it remains your first choice. Keep the tone sincere and focused.
Share Significant Updates:
If meaningful new developments have occurred since you submitted your application, include them. Examples include:
• Major academic or extracurricular awards
• New test scores
• A research update or publication opportunity
• A leadership achievement or community impact project
Submit Your Midyear Report:
Strong senior-year grades matter. Brown will review your mid-year transcript carefully as part of your continued evaluation.
Although you can’t change your Brown materials, you can update applications for other schools. A deferral offers a chance to reassess and make last minute changes before early January deadlines.
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.”
If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.
If you applied Early Decision to Brown and were deferred, take a breath — it doesn’t mean “no.” It simply means your application will be reviewed again in the Regular Decision pool. Here’s what that actually means and how to move forward.
If you applied ED to Brown this cycle, there are three potential results:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
Brown remains one of the most selective ED programs in the Ivy League. For the Class of 2028, Brown received 6,244 Early Decision applications and admitted 898 students, an ED admit rate of around 14.4 percent.
Brown does not release deferral-specific data, but historically, about 5 to 10 percent of deferred Early Decision applicants are eventually admitted during Regular Decision.
A Brown ED rejection is final. Brown does not allow appeals, and the application will not be reconsidered. The best step is to shift your energy toward your Regular Decision schools and apply what you’ve learned to strengthen those applications.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI):
Reaffirm your interest in Brown and explain why it remains your first choice. Keep the tone sincere and focused.
Share Significant Updates:
If meaningful new developments have occurred since you submitted your application, include them. Examples include:
• Major academic or extracurricular awards
• New test scores
• A research update or publication opportunity
• A leadership achievement or community impact project
Submit Your Midyear Report:
Strong senior-year grades matter. Brown will review your mid-year transcript carefully as part of your continued evaluation.
Although you can’t change your Brown materials, you can update applications for other schools. A deferral offers a chance to reassess and make last minute changes before early January deadlines.
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.”
If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.
Former Admissions Officer, Harvard University
Former Assistant Dean, Stanford University
As a College Counselor I help students navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to help students stand out and get accepted to their top-choice schools.
.webp)
