Getting deferred is no one’s dream, but it’s not the worst-case scenario. Our students are often sad or even embarrassed when they are deferred from their early decision school. We totally get it, your emotions are valid, but we like to try to refocus our students when they start to get in the dumps about getting deferred. Getting deferred doesn’t mean you didn’t get in. We like to think of it as a second chance and with that second chance, there is a new opportunity to put your best foot forward. Our favorite way to do this is with a letter of continued interest.
You might be asking yourself, ok, but what is a letter of continued interest? It’s an email that you send to your admissions representative restating your interest in the school and updating them on what you have done since you applied. It’s pretty simple to write and we usually have students write about four paragraphs that follow a simple structure. Let’s break it down:
The heading and intro
Your letter should start with “Dear Mx. —---.” Who is Mx. —--? They are your admissions rep. You can find out who is your admissions rep by looking at the admissions website under staff. Admissions reps usually have a specific location that they cover. At small schools, it might be something as big as “the northeast.” But for most schools, it is done by state, metro-area, and even sometimes specific school (usually this is only for boarding, private, or feeder schools, however.) You should look for which rep covers your area. Usually, their profile will have an email, but if they don’t you can send it to the admissions office email with ATTN “their name” in your subject line.
Once you know who the letter is going to, it’s time to introduce yourself. Keep it short and sweet. It can be as simple as, “My name is [Your name] and I was deferred from [the school] during the Early Decision round. I am writing to reiterate the fact that if admitted, I will undoubtedly attend.” You can play around with the language, ie make it sound like you, but you should state your name, that you were deferred, and that you are still interested. That is all you really need for the first paragraph.
Explain why you love the school and make it academic
The next paragraph should be all about why you are excited to go there. You want this paraph to be academic and specific. You should state the major that you want to study as well as some specifics such as classes or professors you are excited about. Your rationale should be as detailed and academic as possible. Adding specifics about the program you want to be in and the academic opportunities you hope to utilize at the school shows you are serious and that you would be a good fit.
Give a little update about what you have been up to since the ED deadline
Since November, you have probably done something, even if it’s just been continuing doing things you care about. It’s time to tell admissions, the latest about you. Maybe you retook the SATs or get a new leadership position in the club you are in. Maybe you started a new after-school job or finished a research internship. It can be as simple as getting your first semester grades back or as impressive as being honored with an award. Whatever it is, take some time to update them on your accomplishments. This paragraph usually starts with something like, “Since I have applied, I have kept pursuing writing poetry, and this month I had my first poem published in my local paper…”
Choose your attachments and wrap up
At the end of this email, most students will add an attachment or two. Here are the ones that we see the most often and love:
Updated transcript with midsemester grades
New standardized test scores
An additional recommendation letter from a teacher or mentor
Other attachments can be great and fully appropriate but these are the classics. You should finish your email by listing your attachments. For example, “I have attached my updated mid-semester grades as well as an additional letter of recommendation for your review.” Finally, you might want to wrap up the email with something to the extent of “I want to restate my commitment to [this school]’s 2026 class and am excited to be considered.” Again wording isn’t that important, but it should leave the reader with the feeling that you are excited, serious, and want the opportunity to be considered again.
Remember the letter of continued interest is an email. It shouldn’t be pages long. You want to get in, make your points, and get out. If your email feels like a slog or a tome, you have done this wrong. While this is also a formal email, it’s ok to show a bit of your personality. We never want you to sound like a robot. As long as you are respectful and hit these four points, it should be great!
Worried about how to start? Feel free to reach out to us here!