Hearing “deferred” from Northwestern is tough. You put everything into that application, hit submit, and imagined yourself walking through the Arch in the fall. Instead of the clean “yes” you were hoping for, you got “not yet.” And while it can feel like a rejection in disguise, it isn’t. Northwestern didn’t close the door on you; they’re keeping you in play. It’s not over!
Deferred Early Decision by New York University 2025-2026
Let’s be real: opening your NYU portal and seeing “deferred” is a gut punch. You put so much energy into that ED application, probably even pictured yourself grabbing coffee in Washington Square Park or studying in Bobst, and now you’re without a firm answer. Not an acceptance, not a rejection – just the waiting room of admissions. It feels anticlimactic and frustrating, and you’re allowed to be upset about it. Take a pause, eat something comforting, or go for a run if that’s your thing. Then, when you’re ready, let’s figure out how to move forward.
Deferred Early Decision by Carnegie Mellon 2025-2026
Getting deferred stings. You worked hard on your Carnegie Mellon ED application, poured energy into every section, and hit submit with hope. And now, instead of a yes or no, you’re in the maybe zone. It’s not what you were hoping for, but it’s also not the end. A deferral doesn’t mean rejection; it means “hold tight.” And that gives you a chance to regroup and make a strong second impression!
Deferred Early Decision by Amherst 2025-2026
Getting deferred from Amherst isn’t easy to hear – especially after everything you put into that application. You wrote, edited, revised, and hit submit, imagining what life might look like on the First-Year Quad. Now you’re sitting in limbo. Not accepted. Not rejected. Just… waiting. It’s confusing, frustrating, and yes, disappointing. But here’s the thing: Amherst didn’t say no. You’re still being considered. And that counts.
Deferred Early Decision by Boston University 2025-2026
We get it, hearing “deferred” from BU stings. You poured your time, energy, and hope into crafting an application that showed why you belonged in Boston. You clicked submit dreaming of a clear yes, and instead, you landed in limbo. It's easy to feel like this is a rejection in disguise. But it’s not. BU didn’t close the door – they said, “hold on, we need a little more time!” And that means you’ve still got a shot.
Deferred Early Decision by Barnard 2025-2026
We know, getting deferred from your top-choice school stings. You gave everything to your Barnard ED application, hit submit, and hoped for a win. And now? You’re in limbo. It’s not a no, but it’s not a yes either. You’re stuck in the “maybe” zone, which is hard. But before you spiral, let’s pause. Take a breath. This isn’t a rejection – it’s a delay. A deferral just means they need more time to decide. You still have a shot.
Deferred Early Decision by Penn 2025-2026
Being deferred from Penn is a gut punch. You spent months building an application that showcased your academic strengths, your personal growth, and why you saw yourself thriving on their campus. You hit submit with hope, and now you're left in limbo. It’s disappointing. But a deferral isn’t the end, it’s a pause. Penn hasn’t closed the door. In fact, they’re still considering you!
Deferred Early Decision by Duke 2025-2026
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.
Early Decision Strategy for NYU (New York University) 2025-2026
Located right in the middle of Manhattan, New York University (NYU) isn’t your typical college campus – in fact, there isn’t really a “campus” at all. NYU is famous for their programs in everything from business and film to international relations and neuroscience, and they’re also known for their network of 13 global campuses located everywhere from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Abu Dhabi. And they’re selective: the Regular Decision acceptance rate in 2025 was 7.7%, the lowest it’s ever been, but the Early Decision acceptance rate is around 30%. Which means if you’re serious about NYU, there’s really only one move to make.
Early Decision Strategy for Carnegie Mellon University 2025-2026
Carnegie Mellon University, or CMU, is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. a research university experience in a manageable undergraduate environment of just over 7,700 undergraduate students and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. There are a lot of options, too. CMU has 90 majors and minors across six undergraduate colleges alongside an interdisciplinary culture and philosophy that celebrates cross-pollination. Instead of “,” CMU encourages students to break down walls. CMU also has a strong international student community — and a big one — with 23% of undergrads qualifying as international students as of the fall of 2023.
Early Decision Strategy for Dartmouth University 2025-2026
Dartmouth is a highly-respected university in Hanover, New Hampshire, and member of the Ivy League. The college is best known for bringing together the triumvirate of college good times: exceptional academics, a fun culture that centers celebration and athleticism, and a close-knit community. Students who attend Dartmouth aren’t afraid of being hours away from an international airport, or of a good time. What they graduate with, though, is an iconic degree that kickstarts an outstanding future.
Early Decision Strategy for the University of Virginia 2025-2026
Early Decision Strategy for Barnard 2025-2026
Barnard is an iconic all-women’s college in New York City and part of its next-door neighbor, Columbia University. Students at Barnard benefit from the perspective of a women-first learning environment while also having access to, and often full integration with, the Columbia undergraduate experience. Clubs, classes, and athletics are nearly entirely integrated, but Barnard offers a unique learning environment — and a notably higher between 8 and 9%. This doesn’t mean Barnard is easy to get into, though. Nine out of a hundred applicants is not optimistic, so a Barnard application strategy is necessary if you want to get in.
Early Decision Strategy for Columbia University 2025-2026
Columbia is an iconic Ivy League university in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. The school has some of the most renowned academic programs in the world, paired with astonishing opportunities. Students often pick Columbia College or Columbia Engineering for their undergraduate education because of exactly this combination. They know that they can earn a valuable degree in a vibrant setting with outstanding resources.
Early Decision Strategy for UChicago 2025-2026
The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private research university located in, you guessed it, Chicago, Illinois. UChicago is one of the most popular colleges amongst our clients, and it’s one of the best places to study things like econ, public policy, business, and math. UChicago is considered an “Ivy+” school, which means we categorize it along with other highly selective non-Ivies like Stanford, MIT, and Duke because of their rigor and exclusivity. If you’re serious about UChicago, we implore you to apply early, and we’re going to make the case for why.
Early Decision Strategy for UPenn 2025-2026
The University of Pennsylvania, often called UPenn or Penn, is one of the eight schools of The Ivy League. It is one of the oldest colleges in America. It boasts a historic campus, a world-renowned business school, the only undergrad nursing program in the Ivy League, and a spirited undergraduate community. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Penn offers a great mix of city and campus living. While it isn’t the most competitive of the Ivies, make no mistake, it is still an extremely hard-to-get-into and elite institution. Applicants who are serious about getting into Penn need to consider applying early decision.
Early Decision Strategy for Cornell 2025-2026
Early Decision Strategy for Duke 2025-2026
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private research institution known for academic excellence, strong school spirit, and sports teams with a serious following (hello, Cameron Crazies). The university has built a reputation as one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Duke is especially well-regarded for its programs in public policy, biomedical engineering, and pre-law, and with acceptance rates dropping each year, it’s only getting more competitive. In 2025, their regular decision acceptance rate was under 5%, while ED acceptance sat at 12.8%. These stats put Duke fully in competition with Ivies, with schools like Yale having almost identical numbers.
Early Decision Strategy for Yale 2025-2026
Rejected Early Decision from Williams College 2024-2025
Williams is a small, highly-selective school that attracts some of the top students in the country. Being rejected Early Decision can be a gut punch, especially if the rejection comes from a dream school like Williams. What you do now, though, can turn your application experience around. First, statistics.