Princeton didn’t release their admissions statistics in 2021, but based on the 2020 overall acceptance rate (4.38%), it’s safe to say that if you were deferred from Princeton this year you are far from alone. The reasoning for not releasing the stats, by the way, was that having the numbers freak students — and their parents — out and may discourage them from applying.  

Even without Princeton’s numbers, however, we can predict with pretty strong certainty how things played out. Ivy League schools and other high-caliber universities have gained a penchant for deferring the majority of students who apply EA or ED, so more students are deferred to the regular admissions cycle than are let in or rejected. This can be extremely frustrating for students, as they don’t know where they stand. They weren’t good enough to get in, but also weren’t so obviously underqualified as to be rejected. If you’re part of this pool, we have a few steps you can take to increase your chances of getting into Princeton Regular Decision while also preparing you for a successful college admissions outcome even if a Princeton acceptance doesn’t happen for you.

First Steps

When you are deferred from Princeton, they may let you know immediately what steps to take next — but they also might not. Luckily, the FAQ page on the Princeton Admissions website offers some insight into how you should respond to a deferral.

If you are deferred, they do not want you to reach out to a member of the admissions staff directly and they definitely don’t want to be spammed with requests for an explanation. Decisions are made by a committee, and reaching out directly to one person will look pushy at best or, at worst, like harassment. They do, however, let you update them with “significant changes since you initially applied” through their Applicant Portal. We call this a letter of continued interest, and we’re really good at writing them with students.

If you don’t have significant changes, you shouldn’t drum something up to send that won’t actually wow them. If Princeton is your dream school, though, this is an opportunity to do something (quickly) that may make them spend a bit longer on your application when they re-read it. Taking on an internship or independent study, winning an award or recognition, or being voted in a leadership position are the types of things you should focus on if you’re looking for “significant changes” to alert the Princeton Admission team to.

Reassess as Needed

After you’ve processed your deferral and decided to tackle the “significant changes,” it’s time to zoom out a bit and consider how this turn of events may impact your college application strategy. The good news is that you weren’t rejected by Princeton, which means you have enough of what they want for them to say “eh, maybe?” The bad news is that you didn’t fit precisely what they think they need. That could be for a myriad of reasons ranging from something as annoying as that too many kids with your prospective major are applying this year to something as substantive as they have concerns about your academic or personal record. The problem is that you have no idea. Frustrating much, right?  

Instead of throwing out your college list and screaming to the sky that you aren’t enough, take a more relaxed and accepting approach by adding a few more target schools that you’d be happy to attend onto your list.

Put Your Nose to the Grindstone

Once you’ve tweaked your college list, it’s time to get back to work. Supplements aren’t going to write themselves, and it’s likely you haven’t worked on much other than Princeton yet (if you have been working on other schools, you get a gold star). If you need a boost to get started, we have in-depth supplement-specific blog posts that walk you through how to approach each question for most of the top schools in the country. We can also help you directly.

Take Breaks

As you continue your college admissions journey, remember to give yourself moments of time for reflection, rest, and self-care. This process is stressful. It puts stress on student’s time, academics, family bonds, and friendships, and it’s extremely important that you don’t let that stress take too tight a hold of you. Go for a walk, call up a friend, watch a movie, or do a puzzle (on your table, not your phone). Take opportunities to unplug and reconnect, and your supplements will thank you for it.

If you’re struggling to represent yourself on paper, send us an email. We help students like you craft compelling applications.