If Pomona College is the school of your dreams, don’t let a deferral dull your hopes of admission. And if you’ve been rejected by Pomona, don’t let this setback set you off your course. You probably haven’t yet exhausted the many things you can do to counteract these unfortunate outcomes. Let’s review some important things to remember and essential actions to take in the wake of your Pomona deferral or rejection.

Pomona College Early Decision Admission Rates Over 16+ Years

Data covering Pomona’s last 16 years of Early Decision admissions cycles is available through the Common Data Set Initiative. This data reveals an Early Decision acceptance rate that has slowly but surely decreased from around 20% in the late 2000s and early 2010s to the record-low rate of 12.54% recorded for the Class of 2028 (the ED acceptance rate jumped slightly to 12.98% for the Class of 2029).

Admissions Cycle	Pomona College Class Year	Early Decision Acceptance Rate
2025-26	Class of 2030	Not Yet Released
2024-25	Class of 2029	12.98%
2023-24	Class of 2028	12.54%
2022-23	Class of 2027	14.16%
2021-22	Class of 2026	12.76%
2020-21	Class of 2025	14.10%
2019-20	Class of 2024	15.39%
2018-19	Class of 2023	15.18%
2017-18	Class of 2022	19.26%
2016-17	Class of 2021	18.53%
2015-16	Class of 2020	15.13%
2014-15	Class of 2019	18.60%
2013-14	Class of 2018	19.90%
2012-13	Class of 2017	20.44%
2011-12	Class of 2016	20.53%
2010-11	Class of 2015	22.61%
2009-10	Class of 2014	18.82%

How Many Applicants Does Pomona College Defer?

According to the Pomona College website, the private liberal arts college located in the deserts of Southern California typically defers 10 to 15 percent of early applicants. This is just slightly above the average percentage of deferrals at elite universities, which is around 10%.  

5 Steps to Take After Being Deferred by Pomona

Now is the time to spring into action. Here are five things you can do right now to optimize your odds of admission to Pomona post-deferral:

1. Try to understand the weaknesses of your deferred application. Being as objective as possible, ask yourself: did I have a competitive singular hook through which I convinced Pomona I’d take advantage of the resources and opportunities available on campus? Sign up for an Ivy Coach PostMortem application review to achieve this clarity and address the shortcomings of your application. We’ll help you take the guesswork out of making sense of this decision.
2. Write a Letter of Continued Interest that showcases your love of Pomona and how your singular hook closely aligns with the specific history, academics, activities, culture, and traditions that set it apart. Sending a compelling letter within days of your deferral will go a long way in convincing Pomona admissions officers to root for your candidacy, which is why Ivy Coach offers a PostMortem + Letter of Continued Interest package for deferred clients.
3. Turn your focus to your remaining Regular Decision applications. If you’ve done a PostMortem application review with us, retool these applications with your new strategy in mind.
4. Send your Letter of Continued Interest to your high school counselor and ask that they make an advocacy call to Pomona on your behalf. This little-known action will significantly boost your candidacy, although some counselors resist making these calls for the suspicious reason of maintaining “equity” between students. This excuse is just that — an excuse for refusing to do an integral part of their job. They should be fighting for all of their students!
5. It’s more important than ever to demonstrate your admissibility to Pomona, so keep up your grades as your senior year winds to a close. Don’t let this setback throw you off your game. 

What Not to Do After Being Deferred by Pomona

What you shouldn’t do is as important as what you should do when navigating a deferral from Pomona. Let’s take a look:

1. Don’t contact the Pomona admissions office with the expectation that they will be honest about why you were deferred. They won’t, so it’s just a waste of time (that also makes you less likable and therefore less admissable!).
2. Don’t flood Pomona’s inbox with regular updates detailing every last accomplishment. Your well-written Letter of Continued Interest, guided by a member of Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers, has done all the heavy lifting without needing to brag and boast.
3. Don’t start complaining to your high school counselor or villainizing them for an admissions decision — that is entirely your responsibility — unless they refuse to make an advocacy call. It’s part of their job!
4. Don’t flood your application portal with unnecessary documents, like extra letters of recommendation. Your most up-to-date transcript and Letter of Continued Interest are all they need to make an informed decision.
5. Don’t follow in the Beat poets’ footsteps and travel cross-country to show up to Pomona in person. Your show of enthusiasm will go over poorly.

A Deferred Student’s Chances Improve Dramatically with Ivy Coach

In our observation from over 30+ years of being in business, about 10% of deferred candidates ultimately earn admission to the school that chose to defer in the Early round. While this statistic varies a bit by school, most schools hit at a deferral rate somewhere close to 10%.

Yes, 10% is not betting odds. But for students who come to Ivy Coach after being deferred, we help get that rate up to about 40%. We work one-on-one with a student to craft a compelling Letter of Interest and boost their chances of admission after a deferral, quadrupling the likelihood of acceptance. 

Next Steps After a Pomona College Rejection

We’ve all had to face the sting of rejection at some point. Recollecting yourself is easier said than done at this moment, but it’s worth taking a few deep breaths before you consider your next move. Admission to Pomona was worth fighting for, but a Regular Decision acceptance could just be around the corner.

You might be inclined to linger in the what-ifs right now, but that ship has sailed and won’t get you anywhere. Instead, it’s time for some objectivity. This reality check won’t be easy, but you need not go it alone.

Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers offers a PostMortem application review that identifies weaknesses and helps you create a compelling new narrative with a singular hook for your Regular Decision applications. After putting in the leg work, you could very well come away with an acceptance letter from a school with just as stellar of a reputation as Pomona!

Pomona College PostMortem

During our PostMortem, we:

• Launch your pivot into Regular Decision applications. We will review every section of each application, including both the essay and non-essay portions, and help retool your strategy post-rejection. Yes, this means you will have to redo your RD applications, even if you think they’re already finished. This is a hard pill for some to swallow, but lots of things could have gone awry with your current drafts. Presenting as well-rounded, for example, is a strategy that hasn’t worked since the 1980s. Whatever the case, we’ll correct this mistake and help you pivot to the only tried and true strategy for elite college admissions: the singular hook.
• Sift through the little details that may have played a role in your rejection. Did your Pomona application come down with a case of bragging or boasting? Or perhaps you didn’t meet the rigorous academic standards Pomona expects of their applicants? Whatever the case, you need to provide them with the assurance that you’ll actually use your time on campus to your advantage by engaging with the resources and opportunities on offer. How? Via the singular hook!
• Reassess Regular Decision school list. You might consider applying via the Early Decision II (ED II) round at a school that maintains a balance between prestige and admissions feasibility. But even if you elect not to apply to a school via ED II (we absolutely understand if an ED II school isn’t for you!), you must assemble a realistic list of schools, including both safety and reach schools.

Application Assistance

Following your PostMortem, which is an essential first step in understanding what went wrong and how to readjust, we will:

• Reinvigorate your Regular Decision applications with Ivy Coach’s help. You now know the ropes of our process, so it’s time to take action based on what you learned from your PostMortem. We can’t right the wrongs of your high school course selection or extracurricular engagement, but you had better believe we can put you in a much more competitive position for Regular Decision schools.

What Not to Do After Being Rejected by Pomona

A successful Regular Decision round requires thoughtful planning, especially given the many mistakes you can make. Avoid the following:

1. Submitting your Regular Decision applications without changes. A rejection is evidence that you took a wrong turn somewhere along the line, so adjust your strategy rather than doubling down and ignoring the obvious: something went wrong!
2. Cold-calling Pomona Admissions. These overworked admissions officers have enough on their plate. Don’t waste their time with pointless inquiries. Besides, your rejection is final. The truth can hurt. We get it. But no one can change reality now.
3. Do not be picky with your Regular Decision list. You were rejected by Pomona. It wouldn’t be wise to turn your attention exclusively to the top schools in the nation. Sure, applying to a few won’t hurt, especially now that you’re equipped with Ivy Coach’s assistance. But you should also consider the alternatives you might have ignored before, including the schools in little-known corners of the country with great reputations.
4. Don’t blame your school counselor for an admissions decision that rests in your hands. High school counselors aren’t always perfect (they often refuse to advocate for their students), but they are still your most important ally in pursuing your college future. Don’t push them away!

Pomona College Deferral and Rejection FAQ

Is it really possible to earn admission to Pomona after a deferral?

If the clients who first come to Ivy Coach after receiving Pomona deferrals are any indication, it’s more than possible to turn around a deferral. This is not the end of your journey, but a detour that can lead to success. Don’t quit while you’re ahead!

When does Pomona return attention to deferred Early Decision applicants?

Pomona’s deferred Early Decision applicants receive another look along with the pool of Regular Decision applicants (typically over the last couple of weeks of the Regular Decision round). Expect to receive your final decision by April 1st.

Does Pomona courtesy defer some students?

Yes, they do. Some students are deferred for admission to Pomona even though they have no chance of ultimately being admitted. Examples of courtesy deferrals include legacies or academically weak students who attended a high school with a strong relationship with Pomona. Admissions officers don’t want to ruffle the feathers of alumni donors or discourage other students from the competitive high school to apply in the Regular Decision round, so they withhold their decisions as long as possible.

What’s the point of maintaining good grades and test scores now that I know Pomona College is no longer on the table?

Don’t let your deferral or rejection set you back. A strong academic performance your senior year is still your number one tool to secure admission elsewhere. And anyways, your application will definitely not receive any further consideration if you let your grades slip, and you won’t be a strong candidate for any other schools, either!

When should I get to work on the rest of my Regular Decision applications?

As soon as possible! If you’ve been rejected from Pomona, take a moment to lay this prospect to rest. Take some deep breaths. Then, remember that you haven’t yet exhausted your Regular Decision options. Plus, if you’ve taken Ivy Coach’s advice during your PostMortem, you should be equipped to reframe your applications around your singular hook and put your best foot forward over the weeks between your Early rejection and the Regular Decision application deadlines!

Ivy Coach’s Help After Pomona Deferral or Rejection

After all the hard work your child put into the Pomona application, you owe it to them to see the process through by fighting for their admission or giving them the best shot at Regular Decision admission to one of their top schools. Fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form if you’d like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to Pomona and other elite schools post-deferral or to other elite schools post-rejection.