Yale's 2021 Deferral Rate: What It Means for Deferred Applicants and How to Move Forward

Yale University, one of the Ivy League colleges, has a much lower deferral rate than other colleges that offer early admission paths. In 2021, only 31% of early applicants were deferred, which is significantly lower than other Ivy League schools. If you were deferred from Yale, this is good news as it means you still have a chance of being accepted.

It's important to understand that being deferred does not mean there is something wrong with your application. Yale's admissions office explicitly states that a deferral simply means they need more time to consider your application. This is good news, as it means your application is strong enough to be seriously considered by the admissions committee. It's important to resist the urge to try and prove yourself to the admissions office immediately. Yale will request and receive your mid-year grades, and you can submit one letter of update if necessary, but it's not required or suggested.

Here’s advice Yale provides directly:

“Here’s the deal. A deferral from Yale means one thing and one thing only: We need more time to consider your application. It’s important to understand this. You were not deferred because there is something wrong with your application. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: if you were deferred it means your application is strong enough to continue to be seriously considered by the admissions committee.”

It's important to process the disappointment of being deferred before moving on. Once you've done that, take a serious look at your college list. Being deferred from Yale doesn't mean you aren't Ivy League material, but it's important to be strategic in your approach. Make sure your list of schools includes a few targets and safeties, and give yourself time to ace those applications.

As you continue working on your applications, remember that your academic profile is the most important piece. All of the schools you applied to early and were either accepted by or deferred by will receive a mid-year report, so it's important to keep working hard. If there's an opportunity to improve your grades or add an impressive item to your resume, take advantage of it.

Overall, being deferred from Yale is not the end of the world. It's important to understand that a deferral simply means they need more time to consider your application. Take the time to process your disappointment before moving on and focusing on other schools. Make sure your college list includes a few targets and safeties, and give yourself time to ace those applications. Keep working hard on your academics and take advantage of any opportunities to improve your grades or resume. With these steps, you still have a good chance of being accepted to a great college.