Following the release of the University of Michigan Early Decision results, there has been confusion as to what is happening to students who have been ‘postponed’ or ‘deferred’ as far as their Admissions result. This has been exacerbated by reports of multiple students logging in to their admissions portal one day to see when they’d receive an Admissions decision, only to see different information the next day.

After multiple conversations with the University of Michigan Admissions Office seeking clarity on what is happening, we’ve learned the following: if you were postponed or deferred in the ED round, you are a part of the Regular Decision (RD) Admissions group, meaning you technically may not receive a firm decision (accept/reject) until March or April.

HOWEVER, in practice, this process is not what it sounds like. Yesterday, we posted an update on YouTube, expressing concern that the University of Michigan is setting students up to potentially be in a bind because they may get ‘double-deferred’, where they are considered for results in January with the Early Action pool, are deferred again, and their candidacy is considered against other RD applicants without the benefit of being able to send mid-year grades, like a traditional RD student.

In practice, with the exception of receiving an official deferral in January, that is exactly what’s happening. While you are technically not owed an Admissions decision until March or April, you are expected to fill out the ECI in the portal early, to send in grade updates as soon as you receive them (even quarter grades), and it is recommended you check your portal in January as if you were in the EA pool.

Why?

Because they will be reviewing applications as they go, and some students will receive a decision in January. Who will receive a decision, or why, that’s unclear. But, if you don’t hear back in January, then expect to hear back with the rest of the RD students.

Unfortunately, the initial concerns we had about Michigan’s process for postponed or deferred students are coming into play in practice, and what’s worse is that, unlike our initial concerns, you’re not guaranteed any sort of update in January.