<p>I keep hearing about a “good” deferral and a “bad” deferral. What are they and what’s the difference between the two? Is one really better then the other?</p>
<p>^ I haven’t heard of this…how could you possibly tell?</p>
<p>There is no such thing, it is a myth spread by a couple people on these boards. There have been people accepted who got both kinds of letters.</p>
<p>It is not a myth. The “Good deferral” is the one in which you actually have a realistic second shot, and that the school simply had too many applicants to consider in the first round. The “bad deferral” is the polite deferral - in which your grades or some other aspect of you (very generally grades) are very good, but they really would never accept you (Unrealistic second chance) because you are severely lacking in some other way and not rejecting you directly was their way of being polite.</p>
<p>This type of deferral is given to many ORMs who score at or near the top of their class but have no other outstanding traits to set them apart in order for them to be accepted, and is more prevalent in more selective colleges.</p>
<p>^ if it isn’t a myth, then how do you know which one you got?</p>
<p>It’s not too easy to tell. It’s pretty case by case. However you should have a gist of it - just by reading your own app in context of the school you are applying to. Do you come off as typical or rather unique/outstanding in context of the school you are applying to? It is usually the interesting individuals that do NOT get the polite deferral and therefore has a realistic chance. As it was said before, scores get you to the door but it’s the other aspects that set you apart and push you through. Being deferred means you are right at the door. However, if you only have scores, you will not get through the door.</p>
<p>For example:
An ORM valedictorian with many science extracurriculars, perfect grades and scores, but no state/national level merits - probably a polite deferral from Harvard.</p>
<p>However the case may not be always as clear cut. People may fall somewhere in between. It was mentioned that your guidance counselor, if he has the connections, can check with admissions to see if your deferral is the first type or the other.</p>
<p>Well, I dunno haha.</p>