If you were deferred by Emory University in the Early Decision round to the Class of 2029, you might be wondering if you still have a genuine shot of earning admission in Regular Decision. You also might be wondering what steps you can follow to improve your chances of admission to Emory this year. So, let’s dive into what your deferral means and what your post-deferral game plan should be!

Emory Early Decision Admission Rates

Early Decision I and Early Decision II Admission Rates

Below are the Early Decision I and Early Decision II admission rates that have been released by Emory over the last seven years:

Emory Class Year	Early Decision I Admission Rate (Emory College + Oxford College Combined)	Early Decision II Admission Rate
Class of 2029	30.05%	TBD
Class of 2028	32%	Not Yet Published
Class of 2027	37.4%	11.7% (Emory College only)
Class of 2026	29.53%	13.73% (Emory College + Oxford College)
Class of 2025	38.93%	Not Published
Class of 2024	33%	13% (Emory College + Oxford College)
Class of 2023	42.67%	Not Published

Early Decision Deferral and Denial Rates

Like many top universities, Emory, which has both an Early Decision I and an Early Decision II round, withholds the percentage of students it defers and denies annually.

Yet, as Emory’s admissions committee writes on its website, “Statistically, most deferred applicants will not be offered admission at Regular Decision because of the strong competition and selective review. That being said, all deferred applicants will be holistically reviewed and provided a fair shot for admission in Regular Decision.”

5 Steps to Take After Being Deferred by Emory University

1. Go for a run or a swim. You’ll need to get started on addressing your Emory deferral with expedience, but it’s important to first take a breath and clear your head.
2. Schedule a free consultation with Ivy Coach to learn about our services for deferred applicants to Emory.
3. Complete a PostMortem application review with Ivy Coach. You’ll find out what went wrong, what went right, and what needs to change for your Regular Decision schools. While you can’t change your Emory application, you can still change your applications to your Early Decision II or Regular Decision schools. This way, you can avoid making the same mistakes again. We have to go through your application anyway to discern how you presented yourself for the letter you must submit to Emory. So we might as well identify the strengths and weaknesses of your application as well.
4. Submit a compelling Letter of Continued Interest to Emory — with expedience. While most deferred candidates know they should submit a letter, they often include brags and updates in this note. That’s not the approach Ivy Coach’s students take. Our students’ letters are love letters to the school and they show rather than tell how a student hopes to contribute their singular hook to the institution.
5. Kindly ask your school counselor to place an advocacy call on your behalf to your Emory regional rep. While the letter should go in within a few days of your deferral, the advocacy call can be placed in the New Year. And make sure to bring your letter to your school counselor before they make the call. This way, they can present you to Emory as you presented yourself in your letter.

Emory Deferral FAQ

Does Emory defer most Early Decision applicants?

No, Emory denies most Early Decision applicants.

Is an Emory deferral meaningful?

Yes, because Emory denies most Early Decision candidates, a deferral has more meaning than at some highly selective universities that choose to defer more applicants than they deny.

As Emory’s admissions committee writes on its website, “We do not defer many applicants from our ED pool. If we know a student does not have a chance for admission, we deny them at the ED stage.”

Should deferred Emory applicants ask to meet with the Emory admissions committee?

No! Oy vey! As Emory’s admissions committee explicitly states, “Please, do not ask to meet with a member of the Admission Committee. Instead, update your application following the above suggestions…Finally, please do not inquire as to why you were deferred. We do not discuss individual applicant cases or the reasons behind our admission decisions for any applicants, regardless of admission decision.”

Does Emory recommend submitting a letter post-deferral?

Yes, while students should submit a Letter of Continued Interest to a school that deferred their admission whether the school explicitly encourages students to do so or not, Emory explicitly mentions a letter under a question on their website for deferred candidates that reads, “What should I do to increase my chances for admission as a deferred applicant?”

As Emory’s admissions committee writes, “Write a letter to the Admission Committee. This is not something all deferred applicants need to do or even should do, but some of you may consider writing a personal letter stressing your continued interest in Emory University and why you feel you are a compelling candidate for admission. You can upload this as a “Supplemental Material” through your Emory applicant portal.”

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Your Emory Deferral

If you’re interested in optimizing your chances of admission to Emory after your Early Decision deferral to the Class of 2029, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to schedule a time to outline our college counseling services for deferred candidates.