Let’s be honest: a deferral isn’t what you were hoping for. You shot your shot with Duke, and now you're in the uneasy limbo of “maybe later.” It’s not a no, but it’s definitely not the early and easy “yes” you envisioned. If you’re feeling disappointed, that’s completely fair. Take a moment. Be mad. Be sad. Eat your favorite snack. Then, when you’re ready, let’s talk about where to go from here.
First, don’t let this derail your momentum. A deferral says nothing about your intelligence, your potential, or how hard you’ve worked. It’s a symptom of how competitive Duke has become. Their ED admit rate is significantly higher than RD (although that ED acceptance rate shrinks every year), but even in the early pool, Duke turns away plenty of strong applicants. And like most selective schools, they don’t publicly share how many deferred applicants make it through in the spring, although estimates put it at around 10%. It’s simply the reality of applying to a school that receives tens of thousands of applications for a limited number of spots. Duke’s Early Decision pool is competitive, and Regular Decision will be even more so. That’s not meant to scare you – it’s meant to motivate you. You don’t have a ton of things you can control right now, but we want to help you tackle the things you can.
You applied ED for a reason. Maybe you saw yourself joining the tight-knit Duke community, exploring one of their unique academic programs, cheering courtside at Cameron, or digging into undergrad research. That dream isn’t over. But now, you’ve got some work to do.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If your list was heavy on Duke and light on everything else, now’s the time to fix that. Look at where you stand: Do you have a balanced mix of reach, target, and safety schools? Do your grades, test scores (if submitted), and extracurriculars align with the ranges at those schools? If not, expand. Most students apply to around 8–12 schools, and yours should be diverse enough to give you options – without sacrificing fit.
Also, think critically about what drew you to Duke. Was it the interdisciplinary opportunities? Research access? Campus culture? If so, seek out other universities that offer those same traits. Maybe Emory, Vanderbilt, Rice, or even a strong liberal arts college with big-school energy. Prestige is fine, but compatibility is better.
Once you have a list in place, check out our blog; we have tons of guides on how to write a bunch of specific school supplements and general advice on how to tackle a lot of the common question types.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
Now is the moment to look at your Common App essay with fresh eyes. Be critical. Does it sound like you, or just like someone trying to get into college? Does it actually reveal something meaningful about you, or does it skim the surface?
Plenty of students lean on common themes (growth through challenge, big wins or big losses, etc.), and you run the risk of it sounding like everyone else’s. And we’ll be honest, tons of kids do get into college with these kinds of essays, but it will not help you stand out in regular decision. If your essay falls into the “generic but decent” category, it’s not too late to strengthen it.
Some questions to ask yourself: Does this essay say something that isn’t in my activities section? Would someone who doesn’t know me understand what drives me? Could anyone else I know have written this exact essay? If the answers don’t feel great, consider a revision or even a full pivot. The best essays don’t try to impress, they reveal something intangible about you.
We always recommend Prompt #7 for the Common App, she’s so broad and allows you to write about anything without the constraint of a prompt. But, if you do need a prompt, you can write a good essay with any of the questions out there.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
If it’s between mid-December and early January and you’re reading this… buckle up. This is prime time for college applications, and every hour counts. Your first priority, of course, is to give your Common App essay one last, critical pass. But once you do, you need to turn your focus to your application overall and school supplements.
Once your essay is in solid shape, go back and comb through your activities list and additional info section. Are they clear, compelling, and typo-free? Does the order make sense? Are you prioritizing the activities that support your academic interests? Once that’s done, turn to the supplements. These short-answer prompts may seem smaller, but they matter just as much – sometimes more. So don’t leave them for the final hour. We’ve seen too many students flirt with midnight deadlines and lose everything to a tech issue or internet hiccup. Don’t let that be you. Hit submit as soon as a school’s app is ready.
Only after all your Regular Decision applications are out the door should you circle back to that deferral. Before you send a deferral letter, wait until your new materials are finalized. Then you can send an update that’s strategic, well-written, and grounded in substance, not stress.
Step Four: Update
Duke, for some reason, has nothing on their admissions site about deferrals. This is super annoying, and we hate it. If you’re here, follow our guidance on the situation – don’t go to Reddit to ask other deferred kids what they’re doing.
Talk to your school counselor, as you may need to gather a few things to submit:
Mid-Year Report and Mid-Year Transcript
Your school counselor should have this covered, but doesn’t hurt to follow up
Updated Test Scores
If you take a test again and get an improved score, feel free to share
Additional letters of rec (optional!)
We only recommend this if the letter is extremely personal, tailored to you, or if the person writing it has a significant connection to Duke.
Your deferral letter, a.k.a., the letter of continued interest.
The Deferral Letter—Letter of continued interest
Now it’s time to update Duke and send in your final plea. The deferral letter, sometimes called a letter of continued interest or LOCI, is the last thing you can control.
Your goal here is to reconnect with the admissions committee, make it clear that Duke is still your first choice, and show how your profile has grown since your application. You don’t need to retell your entire story or repeat information they already have. Instead, focus on what’s new, what’s meaningful, and what reinforces the strengths of your application. Try to keep your letter concise – ideally around 300 words. Only go longer if you truly have significant, standout updates to share. Like, published important research or sold your start up type updates.
You’ll be asked to either upload this letter to your Duke applicant portal or email it to the admissions office. If you have your regional officer’s contact information, and you’ve communicated with them before, it’s okay to send them a copy directly. If not, uploading to the portal is perfectly fine.
Start your letter with a respectful greeting, and if you know who your regional rep is, feel free to address them by name. In your opening lines, make your intentions unmistakably clear. Let them know that Duke remains your top choice and that you would absolutely enroll if offered admission. Be as direct as that. This kind of clarity matters, especially now that your ED status has shifted to Regular Decision, and your enrollment as an applicant is no longer guaranteed. Duke cares about their yield rate, and you want to convince them you’ll positively impact that rate.
The core of the letter should focus on what’s changed since you first applied. Think about academic achievements, major milestones, leadership developments, new initiatives, or any other updates that help strengthen your application. You don’t need to include everything, just the most impactful 2–3 updates that reinforce your candidacy.
End with another clear statement that Duke is your first choice, a thank you for their time and continued consideration, and a professional sign-off. Keep the tone confident and respectful! There’s no need to sound desperate or overly emotional. You've already made a strong case; now you're showing continued interest and momentum.
Step Five: Wait
Yeah, we get it, this part sucks. Sitting in limbo after giving so much of yourself to the process is frustrating. But now is not the time to keep refreshing your inbox or scrambling to find something else to send. One strong letter of continued interest is enough. Please don’t fire off multiple emails or swing by campus hoping for a face-to-face.
You’ve done your part. You built a thoughtful college list, crafted a strong application, and followed up with a focused, well-written update to Duke. That’s everything within your control. The rest is up to them.
You’ll hear back by the RD notification date, so for now, give yourself permission to exhale. Shift your energy to finishing your other applications and taking care of yourself. You’ve shown Duke the best version of who you are. Best of luck!
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.