What happens when you get knocked down? You get right back up. Though it's understandably painful to receive news of deferral or being put on the waitlist, you won't have any time to wallow in self-pity. There's still work that you must do in order to have a chance to gain admissions and it's time to take action.

You must once again express your continued interest in the school. Do so by drafting a letter about the reasons why and your feelings, but make sure to not come off as angry or overly obsessed with the school. Understand that there are only so many spots in the incoming class. Keep the letter concise and professional.

Next, you can also make a documentation of significant events in your senior year that were lacking when you applied for the college. Did you receive some new award? Gain a new leadership position? These are all exciting news and should be stressed, so make sure to also mail this to your college.

The two points mentioned above are two of the most important steps that you can take. But once you finish updating the college, move on. You need to divert your attention to applying for other colleges or selecting from the colleges that have accepted you. Realistically speaking, getting off deferral or waitlist is not easy, just as getting into college in the first place is not easy, so make your future plans with what you've got.