Deferrals

If you are considering deferring, the first thing to do is to check the schools' websites for any published information on deferrals. If you cannot easily find that information, call the admissions office and ask about that particular school's position on deferrals and the protocol and timelines to petition for deferring. A few schools do not grant deferrals at all. Others will grant deferrals only to candidates to whom they had made an early offer for admissions, but not to those who may come off of waitlists later in the application cycle. Some schools will grant deferrals only on certain grounds, i.e., health issues, financial constraints, dual-career family circumstances, family hardships, etc. Deferrals are most common for one year, although, more rarely, they can be renewed and extended. Keep in mind that with some deferrals also comes a binding commitment to not reapply to any other school in the following application cycle.