Pomona ED deferral - what comes next?

[Anonymous]

My kid applied ED to Pomona and was deferred. Information from Pomona says that fewer than 10% of ED applicants deferred and "Admissions Committee found strong potential in your early application and would like to consider your application again among those in the regular decision round."

We understand that kid should submit LOCI in early 2026. Anticipating that the kid will have strong first semester grades to report but not much new for ECs/awards. Any other things that should be included to strengthen application for RD consideration?

Any insight into what fraction of Pomona ED deferrals are accepted RD?

Kid is revisiting planned RD list based on acceptances from EA/rolling applications (removing safeties that are less desirable than acceptances). Does Pomona deferral tell us anything about where this kid may have a chance in RD? Also, can we assume that application is generally ok, and no need to totally revamp essay, etc.?

thanks for any insights!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid applied ED to Pomona and was deferred. Information from Pomona says that fewer than 10% of ED applicants deferred and "Admissions Committee found strong potential in your early application and would like to consider your application again among those in the regular decision round."

We understand that kid should submit LOCI in early 2026. Anticipating that the kid will have strong first semester grades to report but not much new for ECs/awards. Any other things that should be included to strengthen application for RD consideration?

Any insight into what fraction of Pomona ED deferrals are accepted RD?

Kid is revisiting planned RD list based on acceptances from EA/rolling applications (removing safeties that are less desirable than acceptances). Does Pomona deferral tell us anything about where this kid may have a chance in RD? Also, can we assume that application is generally ok, and no need to totally revamp essay, etc.?

thanks for any insights!

No experience with this specifically, but 10% is a very small percentage deferred and suggests your kid had a very competitive application.

[Anonymous]

Very high chance! Pretty much Pomona only defers if they want you. They’re weighing your child against the rd pool- we actually know a family who was deferred, waitlisted, and accepted. Admissions doesn’t play games.

Keep those grades up!

[Anonymous]

My DS24 had a friend who was deferred and then accepted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very high chance! Pretty much Pomona only defers if they want you. They’re weighing your child against the rd pool- we actually know a family who was deferred, waitlisted, and accepted. Admissions doesn’t play games.

Keep those grades up!

What is the percentage of deferred getting accepted eventually?

[Anonymous]

I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

Do you think this is due to institutional priorities, and it's better off RD to WASP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

Do you think this is due to institutional priorities, and it's better off RD to WASP?

Not sure. For highly selective schools, it's always hard to predict on a school-by-school basis. That said, I think high stats students with good ECs very rarely get shut out of top schools in RD. My DC's only rejection came in ED.

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone - this it the OP. thanks for the encouraging comments! She is not going to submit an ED2 application. Currently focused on wrapping up first semester courses and completing remaining RD applications. Then submit Pomona LOCI and wait to see what happens!

[Anonymous]

talk to your high school counselor, if you think they might have some insight. I was surprised by how much ours knew: who would take a phone call from the school, who would react well to a third LOR from a teacher, etc .. all in addition to the LOCI of course.

[Anonymous]

OP what were your kids stats? Pomona is a top choice for my DD for next year and I wonder her odds (4.0 unweighted; will have taken 10 APs (2 5s so far; will take 4 more exams before applying) 1540 SAT; 2 varsity sports and a few other mid extracurriculars).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP what were your kids stats? Pomona is a top choice for my DD for next year and I wonder her odds (4.0 unweighted; will have taken 10 APs (2 5s so far; will take 4 more exams before applying) 1540 SAT; 2 varsity sports and a few other mid extracurriculars).

How do Pomona applicants fare at DD’s hs? Pomona is quite particular about schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

Do you think this is due to institutional priorities, and it's better off RD to WASP?

NP: IME, yes, it's better to apply RD to WASP, especially Williams and Amherst b/c they don't have ED2. My DC was deferred by Middlebury a few years ago which had a similar policy to Pomona, i.e., defer very few applicants. They were accepted RD and to a WASP, plus several other selective SLACs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

Do you think this is due to institutional priorities, and it's better off RD to WASP?

NP: IME, yes, it's better to apply RD to WASP, especially Williams and Amherst b/c they don't have ED2. My DC was deferred by Middlebury a few years ago which had a similar policy to Pomona, i.e., defer very few applicants. They were accepted RD and to a WASP, plus several other selective SLACs.

Did middlebury convert the deferral to admit in RD for your DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would actually be encouraged. ED at Pomona (was well as WAS) is extremely competitive and many believe it's more competitive than RD. So getting a deferral shows that Pomona sees your DC as very competitive and likely a good fit. I'd recommend sending an LOCI sometime in January or February and keeping the faith. Please don't panic apply to another school in ED2.

FWIW, of the three WASP LACs my DC applied to a couple years ago, DC was denied outright from one in ED and then admitted to the two others in RD.

Do you think this is due to institutional priorities, and it's better off RD to WASP?

NP: IME, yes, it's better to apply RD to WASP, especially Williams and Amherst b/c they don't have ED2. My DC was deferred by Middlebury a few years ago which had a similar policy to Pomona, i.e., defer very few applicants. They were accepted RD and to a WASP, plus several other selective SLACs.

Did middlebury convert the deferral to admit in RD for your DC?

That's literally what the PP said.