Dec 6, 2025
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By Justin Neiman, Former Admissions Officer
New York University Deferral
If you applied Early Decision I to NYU and were deferred, don’t panic. A deferral doesn’t mean your application is over — it simply means NYU will review your file again during the Regular Decision cycle. Here’s what that means for you and how to make the most of this second evaluation.
If you applied ED I or ED II to NYU, the admissions committee may issue one of three decisions:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
A deferral means your application is still active, but NYU wants to review it again within the much larger Regular Decision pool.
NYU’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 7.7%
NYU does not publicly report a separate Early Decision acceptance rate.
A deferral from ED does not mean your application was weak. Instead, it usually means:
• Your file is competitive, but NYU wants more context
• They want to see your senior-year grades or updated academic performance
• They want to review your application in relation to the full Regular Decision pool
• You are no longer bound by the ED agreement
NYU frequently defers strong students, and many are admitted later in the cycle.
NYU allows deferred students to submit updates through their applicant portal. A LOCI is the best way to communicate that NYU remains your first choice. In your LOCI, you should:
• Reaffirm your strong interest in NYU
• Explain why NYU remains your top choice
• Share meaningful updates since you applied
• Keep your tone positive and forward-looking
Upload relevant achievements or developments, such as:
• New academic awards
• Updated or improved test scores (if you choose to submit them)
• Progress on research, creative projects, or competitions
• Leadership roles or major extracurricular achievements
NYU receives tens of thousands of Regular Decision applications, so meaningful updates help your file stand out.
NYU will review your midyear transcript as part of the second evaluation. Strong first-semester grades can significantly strengthen your profile.
While your NYU application is still in play, make sure you:
• Revisit your essays for other schools
• Strengthen school-specific supplementals
• Update your activities list
• Confirm that your college list is balanced
This ensures you’re in the best position for all your Regular Decision outcomes.
If you’d like support with your LOCI or your Regular Decision applications, feel free to reach out.
New York University Deferral
If you applied Early Decision I to NYU and were deferred, don’t panic. A deferral doesn’t mean your application is over — it simply means NYU will review your file again during the Regular Decision cycle. Here’s what that means for you and how to make the most of this second evaluation.
If you applied ED I or ED II to NYU, the admissions committee may issue one of three decisions:
• Accepted under Early Decision
• Deferred to Regular Decision
• Denied
A deferral means your application is still active, but NYU wants to review it again within the much larger Regular Decision pool.
NYU’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 7.7%
NYU does not publicly report a separate Early Decision acceptance rate.
A deferral from ED does not mean your application was weak. Instead, it usually means:
• Your file is competitive, but NYU wants more context
• They want to see your senior-year grades or updated academic performance
• They want to review your application in relation to the full Regular Decision pool
• You are no longer bound by the ED agreement
NYU frequently defers strong students, and many are admitted later in the cycle.
NYU allows deferred students to submit updates through their applicant portal. A LOCI is the best way to communicate that NYU remains your first choice. In your LOCI, you should:
• Reaffirm your strong interest in NYU
• Explain why NYU remains your top choice
• Share meaningful updates since you applied
• Keep your tone positive and forward-looking
Upload relevant achievements or developments, such as:
• New academic awards
• Updated or improved test scores (if you choose to submit them)
• Progress on research, creative projects, or competitions
• Leadership roles or major extracurricular achievements
NYU receives tens of thousands of Regular Decision applications, so meaningful updates help your file stand out.
NYU will review your midyear transcript as part of the second evaluation. Strong first-semester grades can significantly strengthen your profile.
While your NYU application is still in play, make sure you:
• Revisit your essays for other schools
• Strengthen school-specific supplementals
• Update your activities list
• Confirm that your college list is balanced
This ensures you’re in the best position for all your Regular Decision outcomes.
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.
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