Admissions Decisions

Deferred Decision: You applied early (Early Action or Early Decision), but the college isn't ready to make a final decision yet.

• Your application is moved to the regular decision pool for re-evaluation.

• You’ll receive a final decision later in the spring.

• You’re still in the running—not accepted or rejected yet.
  
  

✅ You may want to send updated grades, achievements, or a letter of continued interest.  Be sure to follow the instructions of your specific college following a deferral.

Deferred Admission: You've been accepted, but you choose to delay your enrollment by a semester or a year.

• Often used if you're planning a gap year, travel, work, or personal reasons.

• Not all schools allow this—some require a formal request.
  
  

✅ You're admitted but starting later than originally planned.

Alternate Admission: You weren’t admitted into your first-choice program or major, but the school offers you a spot in a different program, campus, or semester.

• Admitted to a spring semester instead of fall.

• Offered admission to a satellite campus instead of the main one.

• Placed in a pre-major or exploratory program.
  
  

✅ You’re in, but not exactly as you applied.

Wait List: The college may admit you if space becomes available after accepted students decide.

• You’re not admitted, but not rejected.

• Offers are made after May 1 (Decision Day) depending on yield.
  
  

✅ It's like a backup pool. You should accept another offer just in case.

Direct Admission: Some colleges offer admission to students based on the basic information in their Common Application, including GPA and their school’s GPA scale, without the student actually applying to the college or university. 

• Eight public universities in Illinois now participate in this opportunity

• Other universities across the country are also participating.

If you are offered admission to a school, it will show in your common application notifications.