Let’s face it: this isn’t what you wanted. You poured yourself into that Northeastern ED/EA application, imagined co-ops and toughing out Boston winters with your fellow Huskies, and instead of the quick yes you were hoping for, you’ve landed in that awkward middle place. Not rejected, but not accepted either. It feels anticlimactic and, honestly, kind of crushing. That’s okay. It’s normal to be frustrated. Give yourself a moment to be upset. Then remind yourself: a deferral isn’t the end of the line. Your application is still alive in the pool, and you’ve got chances to strengthen it.
Northeastern is one of the most applied-to schools in the country, with tens of thousands of applicants fighting for relatively few seats. Early Action and Early Decision both have slightly better admit rates than Regular Decision, but they’re still selective, and Northeastern doesn’t publish exact stats on how many deferred students make it in later. That uncertainty makes this sting more, but it also means the story isn’t over. We’ve helped countless students get out of no-man's-land and into Northeastern, and we can help you, too. You still have tools you can use, and you still have agency here. Let’s map out your next steps.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If Northeastern was your biggest push this fall and you haven’t finished your other applications, now’s the time to recalibrate. Your list should have balance: a mix of reaches, targets, and safeties. Aim for 8–12 schools total, depending on your bandwidth. Compare your GPA, test scores (if you submitted them), and extracurriculars to admitted-student profiles to be sure your targets and safeties are really what you think they are.
Don’t just fill your list with “big name” schools. Go deeper: what about Northeastern appealed to you? Was it the co-op model? The global campus options? The blend of urban life with serious academic resources? Use those qualities to guide your search. Schools like BU, GW, American, and NYU offer similar hands-on, experiential learning vibes. And depending on your academic interests, you could also consider schools with strong honors programs at larger universities. The point is, don’t just get tied up in clout. You’ve got to build out a smart, intentional list.
Once that’s settled, get serious about your supplements. These essays aren’t afterthoughts; they’re often deal-breakers. They show schools that you’ve done your homework and know exactly why you’re applying. And the earlier you start drafting, the more polished those essays will be when it counts.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
This is the perfect chance to give your Common App essay a second look. Ask yourself: does this essay really sound like me, or could it pass for any other high-achieving student? If it feels generic, that’s a red flag. Plenty of kids get admitted with “safe” or even cliched essays, but the ones who really stand out take risks – telling stories only they could tell.
A few questions to test your draft: Does this essay reveal something not found in your activities list? Would a stranger walk away with a sense of who I am? Do admissions officers get a glimpse into my values, traits, or beliefs?
If your answers don’t hold up, it’s time to revise. Remember, you don’t need a life-altering event or some epic “aha” moment to be compelling. Specific, personal, reflective stories resonate more than polished but impersonal narratives.
Prompt #7 is our forever fave, but any prompt can work if you write with authenticity and depth. Just steer clear of essays that read like resumes, spend more time on external events than your own growth, or sound so polished that your real voice disappears. If you feel like your essay is missing that spark, take the time to rework it – you’ll thank yourself when RD decisions come out.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
We’re in crunch time. If it’s mid-December to early January, the Regular Decision deadlines are right around the corner. Prioritize your Common App essay first, then move on to tightening your activities section. Make sure your descriptions are concise, specific, and highlight impact, and make sure the order is communicating what you want to communicate. If you are applying as a STEM major and you don’t have your STEM extracurriculars right up top, that’s a missed opportunity.
After that, it’s supplement central. Every school has different prompts, and this is where you prove you’ve done your research. Don’t leave them until the last second – submitting at 11:59 p.m. on January 1 is an easy way to invite stress or technical glitches. Finish and submit as early as possible.
Only once your RD applications are locked in should you circle back to Northeastern with an update. You need to take care of your broader list first.
Step Four: Update
Northeastern has this handy on Early Action deferral (but not ED) that gives us some interesting information. Here are two of the most relevant questions (for our purposes), but the whole document is much more revealing than most colleges like to give, so please give it a read:
“What can an applicant expect if they confirm interest in deferring their application?
Students who opt in to defer their application by February 6 will be considered within the context of the Early Decision II or Regular Decision applicant pool and will receive an admission decision by March 1 or April 1 respectively.
I applied to Early Action because I am committed to Northeastern, but I was deferred—what else can I do?
When considering your application for admission in the Early Decision II or Regular Decision pool, the admissions committee will take into consideration your high level of interest in Northeastern. Students who are deferred from Early Action are advised to send updated academic and extracurricular information when it becomes available.
What else can I send to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for consideration?
Deferred candidates should ask their high schools to send in first trimester, semester, or midyear senior year grades when they become available. If you have any new standardized tests that you would like to be considered, you should self-report new scores in your Application Status Check. While it is not required, you may also submit a letter of continued interest or other supplemental materials, which can be uploaded to the Application Status Check.”
We love it when colleges just tell us what they want and they put their policies and thoughts on paper, online, for us to read. Thank you, Northeastern!!!
The TL;DR of what you need to do/gather/submit:
Accept the Deferral
You can choose to be moved to ED2 (nice!) or RD. Not all schools offer this, and we’re mixed on if it works, but we like the moxie. However, if you’re truly all in on Northeastern, and you have some really strong things to add to your application (like a 35+ or 1550+ test score, huge research, etc.), then it might be a smart move.
Mid-Year Report and Transcript:
Your counselor usually sends this automatically, but double-check.
New Test Scores:
Only if they’re stronger than the ones already on file. If you submitted test-optional and ended up getting a strong score (Northeastern middle 50 for the SAT is 1450-1520, and 33-35 for the ACT, for reference), then go for it.
“Other Supplemental Materials” (optional):
Truly optional if you don’t have them, but if you do, it may look like a recommendation letter (only include if it’s truly groundbreaking), a research abstract, a published paper, etc.
Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) (Optional, but not really):
More on this below.
The Deferral Letter – Letter of Continued Interest
This is the piece that’s still fully in your hands – the letter of continued interest, or LOCI. Think of it as your professional follow-up, your chance to remind Northeastern that you remain committed, demonstrate that you’ve grown since November, and reassure them that you’d be an immediate yes if they let you in.
Your letter needs to accomplish three things. 1) Reaffirm Northeastern as your top choice. Leave no ambiguity: if admitted, you will enroll. 2) Show momentum. Share 2–3 substantial updates that genuinely strengthen your file. And 3) Strike the right tone. Enthusiastic but not desperate, polished but still personal.
The best LOCIs are concise but substantial. Aim for about 300–350 words. Too short and it risks feeling rushed; too long and it starts to read like filler. You want admissions officers to walk away confident that your interest is strong and your candidacy is even better now than it was in December.
Format it like a formal letter. Begin with a respectful greeting, if you know your regional officer, use their name. If not, “Dear Northeastern University Admissions Committee” works perfectly.
Open with clarity: state plainly that Northeastern remains your first choice and that you would absolutely attend if admitted. This is critical. If you were deferred EA, you can back this up by deferring your application to ED2. The admissions team needs reassurance that you’ll say yes, which helps them feel confident about yield.
From there, transition into updates. Highlight what’s new and meaningful, like academic awards, new leadership responsibilities, independent projects, significant extracurricular milestones, or advanced coursework. Quality matters more than quantity; admissions officers don’t want a laundry list, they want evidence. Two or three impactful updates, explained briefly but thoughtfully, is the sweet spot.
Close with gratitude and one more direct confirmation of your excitement about Northeastern. Thank the committee for reconsidering your application, remind them that you would be delighted to join the Husky community, and sign off professionally. Upload the letter through your applicant portal. If you’ve already been in touch with your regional representative, you can send them a polite note to let them know that it has been submitted. And that’s it! No need for repeated emails or extra updates.
Step Five: Wait
And now, the hardest part: waiting. Once your LOCI is in and your other applications are finished, you’ve done all you can. Resist the urge to send more updates, email every week, or stop by campus. One thoughtful LOCI is enough.
Final decisions for ED2 applicants are expected in early March, while RD decisions will be announced in early April. In the meantime, stay focused on your classes, keep your activities strong, and take care of yourself. You’ve shown Northeastern your best – it’s their turn now. You’ve got this!
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.