logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
15m 28s

S4E3: What's The Deal With Deferrals?

Thomas Caleel
About this episode

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel dives deeper into deferrals. He breaks down what deferrals are, why schools do it, and what it means for YOU!

Key Takeaways:

Deferrals Are NOT Rejections: Understanding what it means to be deferred is critically important to your application process if you’re applying Early Action or Early Decision.

Yield Management is a Big Factor: Schools act in their best interest, and have ideal yield margins to hit each year. Yield is the number of students who accepted an offer over the number of offers given out and can be a big indicator of how selective schools are.

You Can Make a Difference: Letters of continued interest and other supplementary information may be requested from you. This can have a large impact on your chances of being accepted during regular decision.

Deferrals Went Up This Year (And Thomas Has Thoughts): Listen in for Thomas’ personal theory as on why this year we experienced a spike in deferrals.

Being deferred is not ideal, but it does not mean you lost your chance at being accepted. If you have thoughts, want to share your experience, or have questions about this episode, drop a comment on Instagram or TikTok at @admittedlyco.

For more expert insight on college admissions, follow Thomas on Instagram and TikTok at @admittedlyco!

Visit www.admittedly.co to find out more about what we at Admittedly can do to help you aim for top colleges.

Up next
Jul 4
S4E20: The Additional Info Section—What to Say (and What to Skip)
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel dives into one of the most misunderstood parts of the college application: the Additional Information section. With the word count now reduced from 650 to 300 words, this section is no longer a free-for-all—it requires ... Show More
12m 33s
Jun 28
S4E19: Don’t Write Your Essay Yet (Start Here Instead)
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes a step back from structure and word count to focus on what matters most when writing your college essay: the story itself. It’s that time of year when the pressure to write “the perfect essay” starts to build—but ... Show More
25m 31s
Jun 20
S4E18: Sophomore Year Done Right (Q&A for Rising 10th Graders)
You made it through freshman year—now what? In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel tackles the real questions rising sophomores are asking: What should I focus on? How many activities is enough? Do I need APs? Is it too early to think about college? Whether ... Show More
39m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
What Is Demonstrated Interest And How Does It Impact College Admisssions?
Demonstrated interest refers to the ways a student indicates interest in a specific school. This includes visiting campuses, reaching out to admissions officers, participating in prospective student events, and even interacting with the school’s online resources.Let’s face it: th ... Show More
10m 29s
Jul 2024
Forget "Comprehensive" School Counseling
Welcome back to the School for School Counselors Podcast! In this episode, Steph Johnson dives deep into the often unrealistic expectations placed on school counselors. After wrapping up the wildly successful "Best Year Ever!" event, Steph shares her heart and wisdom from the fin ... Show More
32m 17s
Oct 2024
Grades, Rakes, and Reflection: Helping Kids Do Less To Do Better - With Teacher & Writer Tim Donahue
In this episode, I sit down with Tim Donahue, a seasoned high school English teacher and a writer, to dive into the pressures of grade inflation, the impact on student resilience, and why kids today feel overwhelmed by academic and extracurricular demands. Tim’s unique perspectiv ... Show More
49m 52s
Sep 2024
A Surprising Secret Weapon Against Chronic School Counselor Stress
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and burnt out as a school counselor? Discover game-changing strategies to not only manage- but also thrive- amidst the unique stressors you face daily. Join me, Steph Johnson, on the School for School Counselors Podcast as we navigate the comp ... Show More
31 m
Feb 2025
The Fat-Free Fix That’s Failing School Counselors
As busy school counselors, we often find ourselves reaching for quick-fix solutions to help our students. But are these convenient resources truly serving our students' needs? In this episode, I challenge the effectiveness of "print and pray" materials that have become way t ... Show More
22m 25s
Nov 2024
Are You Chasing the Right School Counseling Goals?
In this episode of the 'School for School Counselors' podcast, host Steph Johnson discusses a major misstep she nearly made by trying to follow someone else's advice rather than staying true to her authentic style. She explores the unrealistic expectations placed o ... Show More
22m 33s
Nov 2024
When Less is More in Your School Counseling Program
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind to build a "stress-less" career In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson addresses an issue many school counselors face: the overwhelming number of "urgent" student requests. She argues tha ... Show More
32m 27s
Sep 2024
Habits for School Counselor Hustle
Ready to Tame the School Year Chaos? In this episode of School for School Counselors Podcast, host Steph Johnson dives into the power of building habits that stick—even in the whirlwind of school counseling life. Discover how to manage your ever-growing to-do list using James Cle ... Show More
28m 23s
Aug 2018
EP030: How to Get in to Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley or Yale Ft. Marcella De Laurentiis
Episode 030: How to Get in to Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley or Yale Ft. Marcella De Laurentiis Featuring: Marcella De Laurentiis, College Admissions Specialist Mentor Bio: Marcella started her career working in the admissions office at the University of Chicago, her alma mater. Lat ... Show More
38m 11s
Dec 2024
A Super-Simple Challenge to COMPLETELY Change Your Year
⭐️ Join the School for School Counselors Mastermind to finally feel supported in your career In this episode of the School for School Counselors podcast, host Steph Johnson addresses the end-of-semester doubts many counselors feel about their impact. She emphasizes that the true ... Show More
14m 33s