Information on College Admissions Terminology

We’ve all seen the reaction videos (Reels? Tik Toks?) of students excitedly logging into their admissions portals to find they’ve been admitted to an institution. You may have even seen the “real” reactions of students being denied admission. There is, however, a lesser-known but increasingly common reaction that occurs: logging into the admissions portal and wondering, “What does that mean?”

We are here to help answer that question! We’ve compiled the most common admissions decisions in one handy cheat sheet so the vocabulary associated with the many facets of the admissions process is one less source of anxiety for families.

1. 1. Admit: Congratulations! You’ve been admitted to that university and do not need to meet additional requirements to enroll. At this point, students will want to submit an enrollment deposit and follow any next steps, or let the admissions office know if they do not intend to enroll.
   2. Guaranteed Transfer/Conditional Admission: Students may receive a decision like this if admissions officers determine that participating in a college readiness program or taking foundational courses will ensure a seamless transition to college and preparedness for the academic rigor of a selective institution. For example, students may be admitted for a semester other than the one to which they applied, be offered a spot for a first semester abroad, or be required to successfully complete additional foundation courses at a state college to transfer to the institution. 
   3. Defer: If students apply as an early decision or early action candidate and see this application status, it means their application will be deferred and considered as part of the regular decision pool of applicants. Many institutions will ask students to indicate if they still want their application to be considered in the regular decision pool, and may request updated grades, test scores (if applicable), or a statement of continued interest. Be sure to communicate with your counselor and submit all requested information by the deadline, or your application may be canceled. Most importantly, students should remember that “deferred” does not mean “denied!”
   4. Waitlist: Many selective institutions employ a waitlist because each year, they receive thousands upon thousands of applications from extremely qualified applicants, and simply cannot admit them all. Waitlisted students are competitive for admission, but there is not enough room in the class at the time the decision is made. If an admitted student decides they do not want to attend, a spot opens for a student on the waitlist. The number of students admitted from the waitlist varies, and students could receive an updated decision very close to the beginning of the fall semester. Some institutions consider whether a student has continued to follow up with the admissions office and engage with information being sent when deciding who will be admitted off the waitlist, so always be sure to talk to your counselor! 
   5. Deny: Students who are denied admission have not been admitted to that university nor been offered a guaranteed transfer option. If grades and/or test scores have vastly improved since the time of application, or a student feels truly extenuating circumstances were overlooked, appealing the decision may be an option. Appeals are rarely granted, so students may consider alternative pathways to attend that institution, like reapplying as a transfer student.

At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that one college admissions decision does not define you, and the most important decision in this process is the one you can make to choose joy and positivity.