Hey everyone! So, I've been hearing this term 'defer' a lot while researching college application stuff. Could someone help me understand what it means to defer an application or admission in the context of college applications? Thanks in advance!
Hello! In the context of college applications, "defer" has two primary meanings, depending on the stage of the application process.
1. Defer during Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) applications:
When you apply during the ED or EA rounds, the admissions office has three possible decisions: accept, deny, or defer. If your application has been deferred, it means that your application hasn't been accepted, nor rejected, but instead has been moved to the Regular Decision (RD) pool.
The admissions office will then review your application again along with RD applicants before making a final decision. In this scenario, a deferral is neither outright negative nor positive and simply gives you another chance to be considered for admission.
2. Defer after being accepted:
Once you have been accepted, you may request to defer your admission for a semester or a year. This is also known as taking a gap year. You'll need to inform the college about your intention to defer and provide a valid reason (e.g., personal, health-related, military service, cultural exchange programs, work, etc.).
The college reviews your request, and if they approve it, you'll secure your enrollment spot for the next intake following the agreed-upon deferment period. Note that not all colleges allow deferral of admission, and requirements may vary, so you'll want to check with your specific college for their deferral policies.
I hope this clears up the meaning of "defer" in the context of college applications! Good luck with your application process!
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