Dec 9, 2025
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By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer
Deferred from UPenn Early Decision? This guide covers what a UPenn ED deferral means, how many deferred students UPenn typically admits, and how you can improve your chances of gaining admission in Regular Decision. We’ll walk through the available admissions data to help you understand the UPenn deferred acceptance rate, key UPenn ED deferral statistics, and how to write a strong UPenn LOCI.
If you applied ED to the University of Pennsylvania this fall, there are three possible outcomes:
UPenn’s most recent published numbers for the Class of 2029 include:
• 4.9% overall acceptance rate
• 72,544 total applicants
• 3,530 admitted
• 2,421 enrolled
• 51% of the incoming class was admitted through Early Decision
The University of Pennsylvania has stopped releasing specific admission stats regarding Early Decision, but there is valuable information available from past admissions cycles. Last year, over 8,500 students applied to Penn Early Decision, but the university did not reveal the number of acceptances, deferrals, and rejections. For the Class of 2026, Penn accepted 15.6% of Early Decision applicants, which is the last data they have released. Penn’s overall admissions rate for the Class of 2029 was 4.9%. Out of 72,544 applicants, 3,530 students were admitted.
UPenn no longer publishes current deferral statistics, but the last year with official data was the Class of 2026, when UPenn reported admitting about 9.5% of deferred Early Decision applicants in the Regular Decision round. While not current-cycle data, this remains the best available estimate of UPenn deferral chances.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
A strong LOCI is the most important step. Focus on meaningful updates such as new awards, leadership roles, academic achievements, or major projects. Avoid repeating information already in your application.
Reaffirm your interest clearly. If UPenn remains your first choice, say so. The admissions committee appreciates applicants who demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and continued engagement.
Submit Your Midyear Report
UPenn will review your first-semester grades closely. Strong performance can strengthen your application in the Regular Decision round.
When writing your UPenn Deferral Letter:
• Include only new, relevant updates
• Keep your writing sincere and forward-looking
• Reinforce why UPenn is your top choice
• Highlight academic or personal growth since applying
Your LOCI should add something meaningful to your file, not just restate past accomplishments.
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.
A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an invitation to stay in the game. Students often ask me if being deferred from UPenn is bad? The answer is no. Completing a college application represents years of hard work, and the fact that the admissions committee reviewed your file and chose to continue evaluating your candidacy is a positive sign. Many students who are deferred eventually succeed in the UPenn Regular Decision round or gain admission at other top-tier schools. 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 were deferred from UPenn and want help feel free to reach out.
This article was updated in December 2025 for the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle.
Deferred from UPenn Early Decision? This guide covers what a UPenn ED deferral means, how many deferred students UPenn typically admits, and how you can improve your chances of gaining admission in Regular Decision. We’ll walk through the available admissions data to help you understand the UPenn deferred acceptance rate, key UPenn ED deferral statistics, and how to write a strong UPenn LOCI.
If you applied ED to the University of Pennsylvania this fall, there are three possible outcomes:
UPenn’s most recent published numbers for the Class of 2029 include:
• 4.9% overall acceptance rate
• 72,544 total applicants
• 3,530 admitted
• 2,421 enrolled
• 51% of the incoming class was admitted through Early Decision
The University of Pennsylvania has stopped releasing specific admission stats regarding Early Decision, but there is valuable information available from past admissions cycles. Last year, over 8,500 students applied to Penn Early Decision, but the university did not reveal the number of acceptances, deferrals, and rejections. For the Class of 2026, Penn accepted 15.6% of Early Decision applicants, which is the last data they have released. Penn’s overall admissions rate for the Class of 2029 was 4.9%. Out of 72,544 applicants, 3,530 students were admitted.
UPenn no longer publishes current deferral statistics, but the last year with official data was the Class of 2026, when UPenn reported admitting about 9.5% of deferred Early Decision applicants in the Regular Decision round. While not current-cycle data, this remains the best available estimate of UPenn deferral chances.
Submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI)
A strong LOCI is the most important step. Focus on meaningful updates such as new awards, leadership roles, academic achievements, or major projects. Avoid repeating information already in your application.
Reaffirm your interest clearly. If UPenn remains your first choice, say so. The admissions committee appreciates applicants who demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and continued engagement.
Submit Your Midyear Report
UPenn will review your first-semester grades closely. Strong performance can strengthen your application in the Regular Decision round.
When writing your UPenn Deferral Letter:
• Include only new, relevant updates
• Keep your writing sincere and forward-looking
• Reinforce why UPenn is your top choice
• Highlight academic or personal growth since applying
Your LOCI should add something meaningful to your file, not just restate past accomplishments.
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.
A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an invitation to stay in the game. Students often ask me if being deferred from UPenn is bad? The answer is no. Completing a college application represents years of hard work, and the fact that the admissions committee reviewed your file and chose to continue evaluating your candidacy is a positive sign. Many students who are deferred eventually succeed in the UPenn Regular Decision round or gain admission at other top-tier schools. 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 were deferred from UPenn and want help feel free to reach out.
This article was updated in December 2025 for the 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle.
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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