As of Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 at 6 p.m. I was deferred from my dream school. 

I applied to Columbia University in New York City with the hopes of double majoring in Political Science and Classics (and maybe Journalism). I spent months on this application, editing and revising every single aspect of my personal statement, supplemental essays, and extracurriculars list. I was literally at Trunk-R-Treat on a camping chair working on my Columbia application. 

In the moments leading up to the portal update, I was doing everything I could to distract myself from thinking about the moment that could decide my future. I won’t lie. I was doing a lot of “manifestation” practices. I was quite literally praying to all of my Columbia brochures and lighting candles. 

Alas, I did not do enough. I didn’t get in but I wasn’t rejected either. A deferral simply means they will re-evaluate my application during the regular decision round. In the meantime, I need to write a letter of continued interest. 

A letter of continued interest is a letter that you send to a college to update them on any other accomplishments from your senior year. It is also absolutely crucial that you include how much you want to attend that school as well. 

I will definitely be submitting my letter sometime over break because I’m not giving up on my dream just yet.