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I remember coming home from school in late January to the update in my admissions portal. Surrounded by my family, I opened what I thought would be a definitive denial/acceptance letter; something that would tell me what my future held. Instead, like many students, I opened a letter of postponement, and was left confused. Did this mean I wasn’t going to get in? Was something wrong with my application? If you were similarly postponed from the Early Action pool, don’t worry; here are tips for dealing with the wait!

What Is Postponement? 

Michigan postpones (this is sometimes known as “deferral” at other schools) applicants from the Early Action pool to the Regular Decision pool. This simply means that you will get your response later in the spring. It doesn’t mean that the school doesn’t see you as a strong applicant. It’s a step in the process that you may not have been expecting, but think of it as a chance to further express your interest to the university. You can find more FAQs for postponed applicants on the Admissions website.

Expression of Continued Interest

Michigan offers postponed students a chance to write a letter to the school called the Expression of Continued Interest (ECI) form. I highly recommend filling this form out before the deadline on March 1. It is a space to write down things from the last semester that didn’t make it into your Common Application, like an updated club, leadership position, or continued work. It’s also a space to express to the school that you are committed to your status as an applicant and that the University of Michigan is the right fit for you. In my form, I detailed an internship, updated my awards, and described an experience that wasn’t included in my Common Application. Use this space to your advantage and don’t be shy when highlighting your accomplishments.

Steps To Take Right Now

As of right now, it’s important that you keep your grades up and continue the hard work that you’ve been doing all four years of high school. It may be hard, especially as you're nearing the end of your high school career and facing senioritis, but stay the course. This commitment to academics, your community, and extracurriculars is exactly what Michigan wants to see from a prospective Wolverine.

It’s equally important to take care of yourself mentally at this time. Don’t get stuck in thinking about the ‘what ifs?’; stay present and active. For me, this translated to staying off social media and avoiding scrolling through videos of people getting accepted in loathing. While your path may look different than theirs, it doesn’t make you less worthy of an applicant. This waiting game will feel long, but, speaking from experience, it makes the outcome that much sweeter.