It is that time of the year! You may have started to hear back from some early admissions decisions. Congratulations if you got good news! However, you may have received notice that you were deferred, and, regardless, you are probably receiving notice that it is time to send mid-year updates.

I know a deferral can be frustrating and even mid-year updates can be stressful. That is why I am here to help you move forward with your best chance of getting into your dream college.

1. Decide who needs an update letter

Remember that a deferral is not a rejection! It is important that these schools know you are interested in attending. That is where the update letter will come in handy. Many schools will start to request these in mid-January, but now is a perfect time to get prepared. Make a list of all of the schools you will want to update at the beginning of the year.

2. Start brainstorming

Start thinking about everything you have done since you submitted your application. Have you won any awards? Volunteer projects? Taken relevant classes? Other achievements? Speak to multiple people to help you brainstorm things you may be overlooking. Make a list of all of these items so you are ready.

3. Re-prioritize your list

Not every school is going to give you notice or ask for a mid-year update. It is important that you are clear on what your top schools are. If you have been accepted into your top school then obviously you can call it there. If you have been accepted into your top safety school you can leave other safety schools off your to-do list. However, if you haven’t received any acceptances yet it might be time to add in some less competitive schools. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you and your student handle deferments and rejections. If you have any last-minute questions, feel free to contact me at jessica@impresstheivies.com.

And if you want ongoing support from me then join the Impress the Ivies Membership HERE.