Defer vs withdraw in college: What's the difference?

I'm considering deferring my admission to college because of personal reasons, but I've also heard about withdrawing. What are the main differences between deferring and withdrawing from college? How do they impact my future enrollment?

When you defer your admission to college, you're basically requesting the school to delay your begin date, typically by a semester or an academic year. In other words, you've accepted their offer of admission, but you're asking to start your studies at a later term. Schools have differing policies regarding deferral requests - some might be very accommodating, while others may have stricter guidelines or not allow deferrals at all.

Deferrals are often used when students want to take a gap year for personal development, travel, work, or other reasons. In most cases, the college will not require you to reapply for admission.

On the other hand, withdrawing from a college means you're completely canceling your admission to that college. If you've already started your studies, you would be leaving before completing your degree. Should you decide to attend that college at a later date, you would typically have to go through the admission process again.

An important factor to keep in mind is how each choice might affect financial aid or scholarships. Some colleges may allow deferred students to keep their scholarships, but others might require students to reapply for financial aid once they decide to enroll. If you decide to withdraw, any financial aid or scholarships you were awarded would likely be forfeited.

Make sure you reach out to the college's admissions office to understand their specific policies on deferral and withdrawal. They can provide the most accurate information and assist you in navigating your options.