Hi, I am not speaking about HYP in particular. But it is best not to assume that will happen. One reason is that there could be many other competitive applicants in RD, too, e.g., they may include competitive applicants that are deferred by other competitive schools.
I personally know of legacies and double legacies being rejected outright in Early Applications at HY. In this forum, in previous years, someone also mentioned about
a “courtesy deferral” as a possibility.
I suggest you use the deferral as an encouragement to feel confident about yourself and finish your other applications. It’s good to be hopeful and positive, but be prepared if things don’t work out. Nothing else you could do. Right?
All the best.
D.
(FYI. Karen Richardson had an article a few years ago on the DailyP that I couldn’t locate just now–it explained how it worked for them.)
I also experienced the very painful evening five years ago. My daughter was deferred in EA by Yale. Yale was her dream school. She managed to fight on and later was admitted by Stanford. She had great 3 years (plus 1 year online courses due to COVID) in Stanford. The deferral proves your son is competitive to the top schools.
My child was deferred by Yale during REA last year and didn’t get in RD. But got into Harvard RD. My child is so happy at Harvard and can’t imagine themselves anywhere else. I know it stings now and there is still hope to get in RD at Yale, but maybe there is some other great college waiting for your son.
Hi, for someone who does not work in an admission office, I would’t know! LOL.
For the post I mentioned, I got the impression that the student thought he/she was not such a strong candidate and was surprised he/she got a deferral (rather than a rejection).
But it’s mostly guesses and speculations and (early) admission (deferral) policies have changed the last few years at Yale. It is best to focus on the what you could do and control at this point (i.e., your essays & applications). Don’t stress out but focus for a few more weeks.
Thank you for this encouraging and reassuring post. My DC is deferred. I don’t know what else they could have done. College counselor said they had a compelling application etc with excellent ECs and well written and original essay, but the SAT score and GPA mightvhave been just below 50th percentile at Yale.They don’t really have an ED2 preference. Can advocacy from school counselor help? More letters of rec? Now what to do! Should DC just move on?
I would recommend to move on. If Yale still happens for your DC on Ivy Day then awesome. Just tell your DC not to invest to many emotions into Yale anymore. Find another school(s) that DC would love to be at.
Your DC can do a LOCI in a few weeks if your DC can add more value to their application like new awards, add any new accomplishments your DC hasn’t mention in the original application. My child wrote a LOCI mid January and had some more things to add to their application like a state award for example and a project they completed. But at the end it did not help my child. Sorry, not trying to be a downer here, just being realistic and trying to say to move on for now. There is only a few more weeks left for other schools to apply too (excluding rolling admissions). Make the best out of the remaining time you got to apply to other colleges.
Historically when Yale deferred over 50% of SCEA applicants, it was thought that legacy applicants would get a deferral (but were not really in contention) so as to not ruffle the parent alum’s feathers. I think this has changed with the recent changes in the number of deferred vs denied.
A LOCI is a good idea, and possible a single update if something truly new happens.
But I would agree mostly the applicant’s attitude should be this is an RD application I have already submitted, no more and also no less. Being already submitted, the applicant should now focus on any other RD applications they want to submit, as consistent with their overall application plan.
Hello, just to clarify I believe I am a strong candidate. I was referring to the idea of another poster that many strong legacies are deferred and then admitted RD.
Some are admitted and many are denied. The only assumption that you can make is that as a deferred student (with only 17% deferred), you are a strong candidate whether Yale or any other school you choose. So make sure you have matches and safeties in hand, and give your RD reaches their best shot with no prior expectations.
DC is now working on their applications. What would be Yale like small to medium colleges they could apply to. They are interested in English, Film, Econ. I know Wesleyan is often cited. They are going to apply there, but looking for more suggestions? Also prefers proximity to urban areas. They are queer, so would like LGBTQ friendly places.
So lots of places are good for English and Econ, but a lot of the film schools specifically are sort of focused on that.
But one good all around suggestion is Loyola Marymount in LA, which balances a very serious and reportedly well-connected film program along with strong academics in general.
Wesleyan is the most traditional NE LAC choice for Film specifically, but Vassar also has a decent number of majors, proximity to New York, and excellent academics overall. In my circles, lots of people interested in Yale and Wesleyan also look at Vassar.
American University in DC reportedly has a good program as well, and it is certainly pretty popular in terms of majors.
Some of the other traditional ones to look at would include USC, NYU, and BU, but I don’t know if those are too big.
Thank you! I have sibling legacy (though it probably doesn’t do much), so I was wondering what I should take away from the deferral. Good to know that courtesy deferrals are less of a thing now
I’ll respond to a couple of issues percolating at the moment on this thread.
My S24 was deferred REA at Yale and was crushed. He did submit a LOCI but waited until close to the deadline to do so on the advice of someone. In doing so, he was able to submit his fall grades, another award he won and was able to explain to Yale why he was still very interested after a lot of reflection and thought. A lot of deferred students (eg his older brother) immediately send the LOCI shortly after being deferred and we were told this wasn’t a wise idea because it’s done emotionally and not after much more consideration. Did the LOCI make a difference? We’ll never know.
Long story longer, he was admitted RD - but only after we all assumed he wouldn’t get in and we had largely emotionally moved on. He also got into many other great schools including several other ivies and highly rejective schools. His older brother had a much rougher go at it the year before so our expectations were pretty low all around other than for in-state public schools and it led to some great surprises.
But getting deferred allowed my S24 to truly explore all of his options and he ultimately chose Yale - but it was pretty close with another school.
You can absolutely seek financial aid late even though you didn’t seek it initially. I don’t recall as we were out of the country at the time and it was a blur but I vaguely recall Yale sort of insisting he submit a CSS profile in the summer of '24 - only to get offered no aid. But not because he applied late. We know someone else who got aid late.
The upshot to those disappointed by a rejected or deferral is you’ll find your right school. My S23 wasn’t as successful in this admissions process but is very happy where he’s at.
Amherst, I think the NESCACs in general may appeal. Though most are not urban. I don’t know much about film, but schools like Grinnell and Kenyon may also be a fit other than location. I would also consider what schools like Willian & Mary and Emory could offer.
Hi, If you are open to the W Coast: (1) USC is definitely well known for Film (and therefore competitive). My kid’s friends who went there ended up very happy people. (Do your own research and neglect the stereotyping of the school, I would suggest.)
(2) For a smaller school, check out CMC. I don’t have any personal knowledge of CMC, but they do have a Film Studies major; and I have read about their Econ/Business offerings.
(3) Note: the Claremont Colleges offer an intercollegiate media studies program (IMS). Among them, Pomona would be most competitive, but they (CMC, Pomona, Pitzer and Scripps) all have different flavors.
Their locations in S. California may facilitate networking with the Hollywood community.
Thank you to everyone. You all offered great suggestions.
So they like Wesleyan a lot, the CC said Pomona was practically impossible in RD, and only slightly less so in ED2. So will not be applying there. They also did not want to apply to USC, for some weird reason. They are now looking at CMC, but wondering if it is more of a business school, and worried that they will be a “minority” there and not fit, because they are artsy, even if they are good at math too. lol. I quite like Occidental so pushing them to apply there, but concerned that the financial aspect might not work out. Oxy do not seem to give merit scholarships much.
DC got admitted to UVM last week, with a nice scholarship. They are not wild about going there, but it is good to have an acceptance. They also got into Pitt, but no mention of financial aid on the acceptance letter, so maybe they did not get anything?
I suggested Kenyon and they really want to be in an urban/suburban environment.
So they are now also looking at how to submit a LOCI and what to write in it. Thank you for the advice about LOC @Seanincal They did get an award and something else which I cannot say because I will possibly doxx them, but I believe it is a pretty good activity to have for schools like Yale. Relieved that you can still seek fin aid even late and did not seek it initially!
They are now working on their essays for the RD apps. They have 10 schools they are applying to.
Vassar sounds great! I think Vassar would fit them very well. IT does not look like they would give merit aid though. I like it a lot and DC does too. Lovely campus as we can see it depicted on the Max series haha
DC is not willing to apply to LMU, to AU, although would be a great fit for their majors indeed.