I was wait-listed for my top choice school. Is there anything I can do now?

Answer: I think deferrals and waitlists put students in a very difficult position, as it is very difficult to move on when you are still holding out hope that your top school will come through. That being said, being deferred often offers a slim chance of being admitted, with some schools admitting less than 10 percent of their deferred students. Some schools offer a deferral as a “courtesy” rejection, especially if you are a legacy.

If you remain interested in attending that school, it is in your interest to call the admission office and see if they could possibly share why you were deferred and to ask if there is anything you could do at this point to make your application more attractive. I would put in writing that you continue to be very interested in their school and why you feel that this college is the best fit in light of your academic goals, interests and learning style. I would specify that you would definitively attend — it that is true — if you were offered admission. I would now submit new information that you might not have shared initially such as new accomplishments, awards and test scores. I would also ask if you could send an additional letter or two of recommendation along with setting up an interview if you have not had a chance to do this previously. If you were already interviewed, you might want to let the interviewer know that you were deferred, as they might be in a position to advocate on your behalf.  Sometimes showing this level of commitment to the college can tip the admission in your favor, especially if you believe you are someone who interviews well and can articulate why you believe you belong on their campus.

Joan Franklin is the owner of MI College Support, an independent college counseling practice. She can be reached at (206) 232-5626 or joanfranklin@micollegesupport.org.