Much Better to be Waitlisted Than Deferred

calmom
Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:29:14 +0000

But certainly, if stats are equal, they’d pick the ED or EA applicant, as it should help their yield. I’m sure they track the TYPE of applicant (ie: ED, EA, RD)

I can see that logic for the ED applicant – there was a time that applicant clearly viewed that school as their #1 choice, a good sign for yield. But EA is different - students proactively apply EA to schools they view as safeties as well as their top choices – but I don’t think that deferred EA applicant is particularly more likely to enroll than the RD applicant, so I don’t think that would be much of a factor.

My d. turned down the spot at Chicago because the financial aid award was weaker than other schools. I’m sure there are many, many other students whose final decision is impacted largely by financial aid, and so I don’t think it benefits the ad com particularly to treat the deferred student any differently than other RD applicants.

The advantage the deferred student has is simply in knowing she was not rejected.