If your student applied Early Action or Early Decision and received a college deferral, take a deep breath. A deferral is not a rejection—it’s an opportunity. Colleges use deferrals to keep strong applicants in the pool while they review the rest of the applicant group. How your student responds NOW can make a real difference.
🎓 What Does “Deferred” Really Mean?
A deferral means:
- The college is still interested in your student
- The admissions committee wants more context or comparison
- Your student will be reconsidered in the regular decision round
What does your student need to do? Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI).
🎙️Listen to this conversation on Letters Of Continued Interest on the Tests and the Rest podcast.
✉️ What Is a Letter of Continued Interest?
A LOCI is a short, professional letter sent to the admissions office that:
- Confirms the school remains a top choice
- Updates the college on new achievements
- Reinforces why your student is a strong fit for the institution
When done well, a LOCI can help your student stand out in a competitive applicant pool.
✅ What a Strong LOCI Should Include
A successful LOCI typically:
- Expresses gratitude for continued consideration
- Clearly states continued interest in the school
- Shares meaningful updates (improved grades, test scores, leadership roles, awards, research, service, etc.)
- Connects new achievements to the school’s programs, values, or opportunities
- Maintains a polite, confident, and concise tone
📌 Most LOCIs are 1 page or less.
🚫 Common LOCI Mistakes to Avoid
- Repeating the original application
- Sounding desperate or emotional
- Complaining about the deferral
- Sending generic letters to multiple schools
- Ignoring school-specific LOCI instructions
🗓 Timing Matters
In most cases, LOCIs should be sent:
- Within 2–4 weeks of the deferral notice
- After first-semester grades are available (if they show improvement)
Always check each college’s admissions website for specific guidance.
🧭 How We Can Help?
At Seeley Test Pros/LEAP, our college advising team helps families:
- Decide whether a LOCI is appropriate
- Brainstorm and select the right updates
- Draft, edit, and polish LOCIs so they sound authentic and strategic
- Build a strong, regular decision plan alongside the LOCI
The weeks after a deferral are critical—and you don’t have to navigate them alone.
📞 Next Steps
If your student was deferred and you’d like expert guidance, we invite you to schedule a free discovery call with our college advising team. Learn more here.
📍 Together, we’ll help your student turn a deferral into a second chance.
📞 Cleveland: 216-965-5162
📞 Cincinnati: 513-754-2240