So you got deferred from Brown. Take a deep breath. We know it is hard. You fell in love with Brown and were probably already dreaming of the next four years in Providence, Rhode Island. It's easy to get discouraged, but you aren’t out of the running yet, and there are a couple of steps you need to take. If you do them right, you will not only maximize your chances of getting into Brown during regular decision, but also set yourself up for a top-tier backup.
Can we start by giving you a little pep talk? We think you might need it. Being deferred is impressive. If you weren’t a Brown-level candidate, you would have been rejected. A deferral means they saw something in your application that they liked. These numbers are a little old, but in 2024, Brown deferred around of students from ED to RD, and they denied 61% during ED. You are part of a select few whom they want to consider further. That’s something to be proud of in our books.
Just so we are all on the same page, let’s talk some numbers. Brown’s ED acceptance rate was around 18%. That said, ED is the round where most schools admit their recruited athletes, high-power legacies, and the like. The takeaway here is that, for the average student, this number is lower in practice. However, you are now dealing with a new rate since a deferral means your application is going into the regular decision pile. Last year, Brown’s RD rate was about 4.8%. We don’t say this to scare you; rather, we want you to know where you stand and how competitive you need to be for the next steps of this process.
You don’t need to do it alone. We help students every application cycle put their best foot forward after a deferral. Contact us today to maximize your chances during RD.
We know you are probably anxious to talk about Brown, but we need to take a couple of calculated steps first to make sure you are set up for success more generally.
Review Your College List
It’s probably been a couple of months since you have really looked at your college list, and you might have neglected it a little because you were optimistic you would be going to Brown. It is nothing to be ashamed of; we see this all the time. Still, it needs to be remedied.
You still might get into Brown or other top schools, but you need to make sure your list is balanced with academically viable options. You now have data to show that Brown was a reach school. Check to make sure you have at least 3 targets and 3 foundationals (sometimes also called safeties). This can’t just be based on a feeling of hope. You need as much data as possible. Check out use tools like Naviance, and speak with a counselor (either a private counselor like us or your high school’s college counselor).
This is important: you should like every school on your list. It doesn’t help you to apply to schools that you wouldn’t go to. If you are having trouble finding the right fit, we can help.
Reassess Your Common App Essay
Once you've ensured your college list is balanced and working for you, it is time to make sure your Common App is the best it can be. When students come to us after a deferral, we always start by reviewing their Common App, and 9/10 times their Common App Essay needs work.
That isn’t to say these essays are bad. If they were bad, you likely would have been rejected. However, often they aren’t as strong as they could be. If you are applying to elite schools like Brown, a truly standout essay can make the difference. Given that you applied to Brown, we would guess you have some other elite schools on your RD list. Taking some time to reassess your essays can make all the difference for those applications.
We have a guide on how to write an outstanding Common App essay; we recommend reading it over and thinking about your own essay. Do you think it could be stronger? If the answer is yes, it’s time to rework and edit. Trust us: we literally do this every day and specialize in coaching students to craft winning applications.
Press Submit
Once you have finalized your list and reworked your Common App, submit your apps. Sometimes students like to drag their feet after a deferral, but you should get your other apps off your plate. Why? Because once you do, you can turn your eyes back to Brown.
What Brown Wants
If you go to and look at the FAQ about additional materials after a deferral, it says:
You may certainly let us know if there is a significant accomplishment or a noteworthy change in your circumstances, but it is not necessary to amend your application as a matter of course. Remember that a deferral does not mean that an applicant has fallen short in terms of qualification for admission. Make sure that your counselor submits the Midyear Report form along with your Midyear transcript so we are able to review your fall term grades and any updates your school would like to provide. You are also welcome to submit a letter of continued interest during the Regular Decision admission process if Brown remains your college of choice. You may upload your letter through the Brown Applicant Portal.
It’s a lot of words, so let’s break it down. You should make sure Brown gets two things before they reassess your application.
Mid-Year Grades
Brown will 100% need your mid-year grades. This will be part of a Mid-year report submitted by your school’s college counselor. They should already know to send this and will do so automatically, but we suggest checking in with them to ensure that this critical step has happened. Also, we shouldn’t need to say this, but you need those grades to be exemplary. No senioritis just yet!
Letter of Continued Interest
Don’t waste this opportunity. This is your single most important play at this point in the process. But what goes into a Letter of Continued Interest? We are so glad you asked!
Our first rule of LOCIs is that they are around the length of an email (even though this one is uploaded through a portal). The entire thing should really only be around 300 words. Short and sweet.
After a formal intro, they usually have two parts. The first goes back to the “significant accomplishment or a noteworthy change in your circumstances” that they mentioned above. A lot can change between when you submitted your application in October (or even earlier) and what you are up to in December.
This is your chance to talk about your recent achievements. Ideally, you want to include 1-3 solid updates. However, look at what they say; these achievements should feel “significant.” You might be asking yourself, "Wait, how do I know if my updates are significant?” It’s an important question. Let’s use some examples. Students we have worked with in the past have included things like:
Taking on a leadership role in a club where they were previously just a member
Getting a research paper published or presenting their published research at a conference
Starting a new educational opportunity like taking a course at a local community college
Beginning a new internship or job
Receiving an award
Completing a successful project through the charity they started
Remember, they already have a lot of information on you. Your update needs to add to that information. This entire section should also ideally be around 200 words. Don’t just add every little thing you have done. Trust us, Brown doesn’t care that you got an A on your most recent in-school history assignment. They already have your full transcript.
The second part is a reaffirmation that you are coming to Brown. RD isn’t binding, so you need to make sure they know it is still your top choice and that if accepted, you will attend in the fall.
It really is that simple. Include a respectful sign-off, and you have your LOCI. People mess up LOCI more than they get them right—we can help you ace it.
Some Quick Don’ts
Now that you know what to do, there are some things you shouldn’t do:
DON’T send a bunch of unasked-for information, including but not limited to additional recommendations, a 1,000-word LOCI, or an email full of links to your work online that “they just need to see” (they will not click them). They do not want to be spammed.
DON’T pester them for a reason why you were deferred. They will not tell you and will just reject you.
DON’T try to resubmit your application.
DON’T randomly show up on campus.
If you do any of these, you run a very large risk of turning them off your application. Deferment is a process that happens to hundreds of students every year. You need to play by their rules and have some confidence in yourself.
Getting deferred is no fun, but remember it is better than being rejected. You are still in the game; you just need to make sure you play your cards right. Take a deep breath and then follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting into Brown during RD. If you need help, we have you covered (check out our It’s Going to be Ok package for more info).
Let us help you navigate deferment and RD. Reach out to talk to a counselor today!