So you've been deferred...

[Taken from our admissions Tumblr, Fuck Yeah Brown University]It’s 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14th. There you are, sitting at your computer already logged into Banner, waiting for the page to load to unleash your future. As the page begins loading, you feel your body tense up waiting for the moment of truth. Rather than seeing the “Congratulations!” you’ve been dying for, you scan the page and see one word: Deferred.To those of you who had this experience, I know exactly what you’re thinking/feeling. (No, I wasn’t deferred. I was wait-listed, which is like being deferred, except you actually have to commit to a different school. Regardless, I can still empathize.) It sucks. You put so much time and effort into making sure your application was flawless; you yelled at teachers/coaches/parents to make sure that everything was sent it; you routinely checked to make sure Brown had all of your application materials. And then you waited. The time from pressing send on your application to receiving your letter is nothing compared to what you’re about to endure in the next coming months. But let me tell you something: it is completely worth it.So, what can I do about being deferred?First thing is first, remember you were deferred, not denied. Although both start with d, they have completely different meanings. Here’s the thing about early decision and being deferred. The admissions office has a set number of applicants they can allow in for early decision. So they sift through their endless piles of applications, pick the ones they know they for sure want, toss away the ones they don’t think are matches, and then set a side a specific pile for “maybe”. Maybe they liked you but wanted to see more. Maybe they liked you but they didn’t have room. Keep in mind, both of these phrases say “they like you”. You still have a chance. Also keep in mind that there are people who were flat out denied. Unlike you, they don’t get that second chance. Their dream to go to Brown for the fall of 2013 has ended. Yours, on the other hand, has not.But I poured my heart and soul into my application.. How can they want to know more?See, college admissions are very cookie-cutter-like. They have an idea of the kind of students they want, and they, in a way, choose applicants based on that. You can have a perfect score on tests/perfect GPA/ an incredible amount of extracurriculars/etc. and still be denied from Brown. It has happened numerous times, and it will continue to happen. There are also plenty of people who are deferred from Brown but are later accepted, so don’t get discouraged. They just need to compare you against a larger population to get a better feel for if you’re going to fit in with the class they’re forming.So what should I do? How can I show them that I want to go so badly?You can email your Admissions Officer and tell them that although you’ve been deferred, you’re still interested. You can also mention upcoming things that you’re doing or send in additional material if you’d like. They will take it all into consideration, along with your initial application, for regular decision.Should I just give up? Is all hope lost?Unfortunately, this answer is up to you. If you truly think you belong at Brown, I would definitely give it another go. Remember that being deferred means you can assess how much you really want to go to Brown versus other schools. I don’t think all hope is lost for you. Wherever you end up going will be the place you’re meant to be. The people I know who were rejected from their dream schools don’t feel like they’re missing out by not attending those dream schools. Instead, they absolutely love where they go and can’t imagine going elsewhere. Be positive! You still have a shot.Image via.