Deferrals and Waitlists

Learn how to navigate the deferral or waitlist process and increase your chances of admission to your top college or university.

Decorative frame overlay featuring logos of top universities including NYU Stern, Princeton, USC, University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Caltech arranged in the center of a green circle. Below, a white rounded box contains the text 'We help students get off the waitlist and earn acceptance to the nation's top universities.'

What does being

deferred or waitlisted mean?

Each year, competitive applicants choose to apply through Early Action and Early Decision, but not all of them receive immediate acceptances or rejections; instead, some may get an infamous deferral letter. Similarly, qualified students who apply through Regular Decision may also end up on a waitlist.

There’s no need to panic if you find yourself in these tricky situations. Our experienced college admissions coaches are prepared to help guide you through the entire deferral or waitlist process and help you craft an outstanding letter of continued interest.

What is a

letter of continued interest?

Being deferred or waitlisted doesn’t mean your chances of attending your dream school are over. It’s a second chance to prove you’re a top applicant.

A letter of continued interest is your opportunity to effectively communicate your keen interest in the university to the admissions committee. The letter should highlight your most recent accomplishments and reaffirm that the university is your top choice.

Letter of Continued Interest
college coaching

How Prepory can help you with

the waitlist and deferral process

1 Enroll with prepory

Enroll in live, hourly college admissions advising sessions for a minimum of 2 hours to work through the waitlist and deferral process and write your letter of continued interest.

During the first half hour of your advising session, your college admissions coach will evaluate the application you submitted and discuss what might have been the weaknesses.

Next, you’ll collaborate with your coach to write a purposeful letter of continued interest. Your coach will explain how to construct a winning letter and provide templates and examples of successful letters.

Your coach will then take the time to review your letter of continued interest offline to provide you with comprehensive feedback and critiques on the format, content, and overall message of your letter.

Lastly, you’ll apply the feedback you received to your letter of continued interest and make any final edits together with your coach. Our college admissions coaches will go the extra mile and provide last-minute tips for the remainder of your college application process.

How Prepory can help you with

the waitlist and deferral process

1 Enroll with prepory

Enroll in live, hourly college admissions advising sessions for a minimum of 2 hours to work through the waitlist and deferral process and write your letter of continued interest.

During the first half hour of your advising session, your college admissions coach will evaluate the application you submitted and discuss what might have been the weaknesses.

Next, you’ll collaborate with your coach to write a purposeful letter of continued interest. Your coach will explain how to construct a winning letter and provide templates and examples of successful letters.

Your coach will then take the time to review your letter of continued interest offline to provide you with comprehensive feedback and critiques on the format, content, and overall message of your letter.

Lastly, you’ll apply the feedback you received to your letter of continued interest and make any final edits together with your coach. Our college admissions coaches will go the extra mile and provide last-minute tips for the remainder of your college application process.

college coaching

À La Carte College Counseling for Deferrals and Waitlist

During hourly college admissions advising sessions, students and/or parents engage with a Prepory college admissions expert who will provide tailored guidance to best support the student through the deferral and waitlist process.

Topics addressed within the hour(s) of service may include:

  • Navigating the deferral and/or waitlist process
  • Writing a letter of continued interest
  • Any other niche concerns related to the deferral and/or waitlist process

$ 325

per hour
(minimum 2 hours)
Letter of Continued Interest

Have more questions? Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

How long should my letter of continued interest be?

Your letter should be no longer than one page.

Who you send your letter to will vary based on the school’s instructions. Some will send you detailed instructions and others will send you the opposite. If you’re not sure who to send your letter to, email your regional admissions officer.

A letter of continued interest should inform the admissions committee about your recent activities and achievements since you applied to their institution. It’s important to include your grades from the first semester and other significant accomplishments. Additionally, make sure to express that the school remains your preferred choice and that you would gladly enroll should you be accepted.

​​No, it is not! While it is unethical to have someone write your letter of continued interest, our team does not write essays for students. Instead, we guide students through the whole process and help them write the best college essay they can.

You can enroll in À La Carte advising sessions for $325 an hour for a minimum of 2 hours or purchase our Essay Critique Package which includes unlimited submissions and reviews of college essays for $1,695.

Frequently asked questions

How long should my letter of continued interest be?

Your letter should be no longer than one page.

Who you send your letter to will vary based on the school’s instructions. Some will send you detailed instructions and others will send you the opposite. If you’re not sure who to send your letter to, email your regional admissions officer.

A letter of continued interest should inform the admissions committee about your recent activities and achievements since you applied to their institution. It’s important to include your grades from the first semester and other significant accomplishments. Additionally, make sure to express that the school remains your preferred choice and that you would gladly enroll should you be accepted.

​​No, it is not! While it is unethical to have someone write your letter of continued interest, our team does not write essays for students. Instead, we guide students through the whole process and help them write the best college essay they can.

You can enroll in À La Carte advising sessions for $325 an hour for a minimum of 2 hours or purchase our Essay Critique Package which includes unlimited submissions and reviews of college essays for $1,695.

Letter of Continued Interest

Have more questions? Contact Us