what does this admission e-mail mean?

Question

Dear Carolina,

Thank you for your application to Tulane University. After careful
consideration of your credentials, the admission committee has decided to
postpone further action until our final review period this spring.

While we do have all the materials required, you may submit additional materials
that shed new light on your qualifications and improve your candidacy. New
information may help the admission committee to assess more accurately your
academic talent and potential for success at Tulane. This information should be
submitted as soon as possible, via mail or fax.

We look forward to a final review of your credentials. You will be notified of
the committee's decision no later than April 1.


Best wishes for a successful semester,

Office of Undergraduate Admission
Tulane University

Answer 1

It means that they are not ready to admit you. It may be in your best interests to give them some more positive information about you and your skills, background, etc. to improve your chances of getting admitted in the spring. In other words, you need to do a little more to impress them enough for them to think of you as a good candidate to attend their school.

Answer 2

This means your admission has been deferred. You're probably right on the line in terms of Tulane's standards for admission and they want to see other applicants before deciding which side of the line you're on. If for some reason their spring applicants are weaker than they were expecting or fewer people apply than expected, you have a good chance at admission in the spring. So although you applied early, you won't get a decision until the regular applicants do.

Deferral is a tough process because it keeps you in limbo. Now would be the time to fill out more applications and make sure you get in somewhere. Don't set your heart on Tulane just yet, but remember that you're at least being strongly considered. Good luck!

Answer 3

It looks to me like you applied early action, or early decision. They didn't accept you for that. They have thrown you into the regular applicant pool, and will consider you again during the regular decision time.

In other words, you aren't in yet, but you could still get in. But I'm thinking you need to have some strong backup schools that you like, because it doesn't look all that great re: Tulane.

If you have any other materials that would support your application and make you look better, they said you can send them in now. You could, for example, work with a teacher on a well crafted essay/letter, explaining why Tulane is perfect for you (and you for it). If your most recent grades are better than past grades, you could send in an updated grade report with a note saying, basically, Hey, look, great grades! Or retake the SAT, or take the ACT, and do better. If you can get another, glowing recommendation, you can send it. These sorts of things may sway them.

Answer 4

Many universities have an early admission notification. They will admit the best candidates in the fall rather than the spring. It sounds like you did not make that group. But your file will be reviewed again and a final decision will be made in the the spring. That's what it sounds like to me. Contact the school if you are unsure.

Answer 5

This may be the best thing that ever happened to you. Tulane is located right near a very bad area with a lot of homeless, and it is in the murder capital of the USA. There are a lot of torn down buildings nearby because of the hurricane, all in all it is not an attractive place to live for 4 years. So maybe God is using this to tell you something. There are many good schools that don't have all the problems Tulane has right now with its terrible and dangerous location. I am sure Tulane itself is fine but who wants to go to school in a bad location????

Answer 6

It means you are not accepted yet. They are going to wait and review your application again in the spring. In the meantime you can submit updated test scores (if you retake and get better scores) or more recommendation letters to help your case. Generally these letters mean that right now they don't want to accept you, but maybe if they don't have a lot of better people then they will let you in, it's kind of like being wait-listed. There is still a very definite possibility that you could get in, especially if you can get an extra recommendation letter in or retake a test and improve your scores, or if this semester's classes improve your GPA, resubmit your transcript. Good luck!

Answer 7

Basically, it means that your admission status is currently borderline and they want to see what else comes in before spring to compare them to you prior to making their final decision. They are also giving you the opportunity to make yourself a more attractive candidate to them by "beefing up" your application packet with any additional materials that may have come in since you originally applied. If you really want to go there and have anything to provide that would make you look better, go for it. Now's your chance. Good luck!

Answer 8

it means you are wait-listed.