So you’ve been admitted to grad school, but you aren’t ready to attend for whatever reason. At The Art of Applying®, we have helped dozens of our clients apply for and successfully receive deferrals for grad school, but it isn’t always easy. Read below for tips, advice, and a sample admissions deferral request letter.
You should only request a deferral if you absolutely need it. Admissions committees chose you and admitted you for this incoming class—not a subsequent one—so they don’t “owe” you a deferral nor do they like giving them out.
Requesting a deferral will not result in you losing your place in your class; you may just cause some annoyance and the need for some extra shuffling in the admissions office as they try and hit their ideal yield numbers for the year. You need to request a deferral before you accept your place in the class and pay your deposit. Requesting a deferral after you’ve already accepted a place in the class and paid your deposit can cause a logistical headache for the admissions office, making it much more likely for them to refuse your request.
You should NOT request a deferral so that you can apply to a “better” school while having a safety net. This is unethical and, if discovered by your schools, could cause you to lose admission at both schools. If you get admitted to a school you aren’t excited to go to, you can always turn down your admission and reapply to schools you actually want to attend in later years.
We can help you make sure your reason makes sense, edit your emails and request letter, and advise you on the deferral process.
Get expert help with your application in The Art of Applying® Academy.
One reason to request a deferral might be that funding you thought you had for school fell through and you need an additional year to work and save money or to reapply for fellowships and financial aid. Another reason might be that you had a serious personal situation arise such as a death in your immediate family and the need to financially support your surviving family members. You may receive a job offer you can’t refuse or simply be admitted to a complimentary masters program at another school that you want to start before going to your other program.
Subject: Deferral Request for Kaneisha Grayson (Applicant #123456)
Dear [insert name of specific admissions officer who signed your admissions letter],
My name is Kaneisha Grayson (Applicant #123456). I was recently admitted to the MBA program at Yale SOM. I’m ecstatic to have been admitted to the incoming class and can’t wait to join.
I am writing to request a one-year deferral to the program.
[Here is where you insert the reason for your request. Keep this part concise and professional. Focus on succinctly stating the situation, stay solution-focused, and don’t try to appeal to sympathy; just state the facts and make your request.]
In order to hold my place in the following year’s class, I am happy to submit the form and deposit.
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. Thank you for your consideration.
We can help you make sure your reason makes sense, edit your emails and request letter, and advise you on the deferral process.
Get expert help with your application in The Art of Applying® Academy.
You should check back in with the admissions office if you don’t hear from them within two weeks. DO NOT let the deadline pass for accepting your place in the class if there is a chance that you can make it work to go to school immediately.
If you do receive the deferral, be sure to follow up on any next steps such as submitting your deposit, submitting any other forms they need, taking any pre-matriculation coursework they ask you to take, etc.
Then, make sure you get your affairs in order so that you are absolutely ready to matriculate in the following year’s class. In the past, I’ve helped one person receive two back-to-back deferral requests, but this is rare, and I don’t recommend you try it. He was an extraordinary applicant with extraordinary circumstances, so just don’t try it.
Congratulations on being admitted to your dream school! Enjoy your last few weeks or months before your schedule, social life, and professional life takes a new direction!
Get expert help with your application in The Art of Applying® Academy.
If I join The Art of Applying® Academy, can you guarantee that my deferral request will be approved?There is no guarantee that your deferral request will be approved by your school. By getting our help, you are giving yourself the best chance possible of having your deferral request granted.
If you join The Academy, you will have access to watch coaching call videos where we help people draft their deferral request letters. That way, you can see what advice we gave other people and how we helped them take their deferral request letters from good to great.
If you want one-on-one help with drafting or editing your letter, you can purchase editing once you are a member of The Academy.
If you want to ask questions about your deferral request, you can do so by purchasing email coaching or a 25-minute coaching call once you are a member of The Academy.
If I was accepted to a dual degree program and am requesting a one year deferral from both programs, does that imply that I will need to submit another one year deferral next year for the program where I will start the second year of my degree program? Or is it implied that I’m requesting a one year deferral to start the dual degree program as a whole? Thanks!
Great question! You should request a one-year deferral to the school you’ll be starting at and a two-year deferral to the school that comes next. This is exactly what I had to do when I deferred going to HKS + HBS to spend a year in Ghana on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. I requested a one-year deferral from HKS and a two-year deferral from HBS. To my two-year deferral school (HBS), I outlined very clearly in the deferral letter what I would be doing in Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 (matriculation) so there would be no confusion.
Hello Kaneisha. I was wondering if you ever known a situation where a person deferred one year and withdrew the admission the following year but still got in after re-applying after couple years? Do you think it might be better for a person to reapply hoping that the admission would not notice this person applied previous years ago or should this person mention he/she got in but deferred &withdrew due to personal matter then try to get in again? Your comment and advice would be very much appreciated and thank you in advance!
Best,
Jenny
Hi Jenny, that’s a tricky situation. I haven’t had that happen before with a client. The school application will ask if you have previously applied to the school, and you should answer that honestly. Therefore, the school will know that you previously applied. I don’t feel optimistic that the school would grant you yet another deferral. However, if you simply aren’t ready to matriculate, you can always request another deferral. If it isn’t granted, then you would release your spot in the class and reapply. I hope it works out!
Hi,what if I am admitted to study this august session and due to delayance at immigration office as a result ofcovid 19,i am not able to be on campus before the due date for my class start,cant I apply to the admissions office to defer my studies to next session (january)?
Congratulations on the potential admittance, Marie! Great question, especially during this current time of pandemic and graduate education. I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend going to the university international student page and contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. We offer hourly coaching. Feel free to reach out to us [link] on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
if i want to decline my deferment is it possible yo do that could u tell meHello MD, It is wonderful to hear from you! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this advice is still helpful: Yes, can help! Some people request deferrals in hope of approval. However, you have decided to decline the deferral. We have over a decade of experience working with clients on deferral decisions. Each process is unique to the context of the school and the reasons for deferral. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation
Hi Kaneisha
I have recently been accepted into my first choice university which I am thrilled about. However, I do not feel ready to go to university next month due to the chance of work and to gain some other qualifications. Because of this I decided to ask for a deferal but I did not mention the reason. I heard today that my request to defer was declined due to me not reaching the grade requirements they asked me to even though I still received the offer.
I was just wondering if there was anything else I can do to be able to defer my offer but still keep my place, thanks
Matt
Hi Matt, you could take some supplementary courses and then request a deferral again. However, it sounds like their mind is made up. 🙁
Do you have any suggestions on how to tactfully request a deferral due to mental health issues (e.g. Depression, addiction)?
Hi Scarlett, that is a great question. When requesting a deferral for one’s own mental health issues, all you need to tell the school in your letter is that you are experiencing “personal health issues that would best be addressed during a yearlong deferral.” I would reiterate your enthusiasm for attending the school and your commitment to making sure you are maximally prepared for the experience. You don’t need to specify whether it’s mental or physical health. If the school denies your request, I recommend you write a second letter (a deferral appeal letter) being more specific about why you are requesting the deferral. However, you don’t have to get so specific to say “I’m struggling with a gaming addiction.” You can say, “I’m working through a treatment plan for a mental health issue” or something like that. Thank you for your question!
Great article!
What if a deferral was granted and they tell you they can’t guarantee same level of funding for next year? Would it be wise to apply to other programs in case the program I accepted does not match its original financial offer?
Schools don’t like it when you commit, request and receive a deferral, and then apply to other schools. That said, it would probably be a good idea to apply to other schools as well as for fellowships and financial aid at other schools in case the school you are deferring doesn’t give you the financial aid you need.
I have accepted my offer to HKS MPA, paid my deposit, even started my visa process but it seems like my organization might not support me due to the recent election in my country.I’m a government employee and would be financially supported by my agency. We don’t have a government right now and the air is full of early election rumors. Do you think it is a good reason to offer a deferment ?
Please understand that I am not a lawyer, and that this is not legal or immigration advice. I think you should keep moving forward on your visa process, and wait and see what happen with your country’s political situation before requesting the deferral. Perhaps you could make the call two weeks before classes are to begin whether you think it’s best for you to go ahead and go to HKS or to stay back. Of course if your agency will no longer financially support you, it would be best for your finances to wait and go to HKS when they will. Thanks for your question!
Hi Kaneisha,
I got into a top MPP program and they offered me a full ride. I just found out that I got into a top MBA program at another school. Do you think the MBA program would let me deffer in order to attend the MPP program as its a nice compliment to the MBA. This would also give me time to get my finances in order for the MBA program as the MBA program did not offer me aid. I appreciate any advice.
Congratulations on getting a full ride to a top MPP program! Congrats as well on the admission to a top MBA program as well. The only way to know if they will give you a deferral is to request one! Use the advice in the blog post above to craft your request letter. You can also send the draft of your letter to my team to review via our essay editing service (even though it technically isn’t an essay). Best of luck on your process! I’m excited for you!
Hi Kaneisha,
This article really helps me a lot on how to prepare for a deferral request. I have a question about getting a deferral from an unfunded PhD program. I received my admission after the usual April 15 and without any funding. It is mentioned in the admission that I may request a one year deferral as long as the fall semester has not started. There seems nothing related with the accept date of the admission letter. So I am pretty confused about whether it is too late now to request a deferral? Thanks.
Hi Edmond, first of all congratulations on your admission. HOWEVER, I would never recommend someone attend an unfunded PhD program. NEVER. You can read more about how disastrous the PhD job market is right now at a different website here. You submitted this comment a few weeks ago, so I’m not sure what you ended up deciding to do. I wish you well and give us all an update!
Hi kaneisha I am here to know about application defer I got offer letter for may intake 2018 but due to medical reasons I defer my application for September intake 2018 I also paid my 1 semester fees in the month of February but now it’s above 2 months I didn’t hear anything from my college I applied for St Clair Windsor campus .so can you tell what’s reason should I wait for same college .
Hello Jora, thanks for commenting. We are sorry to hear about your medical issues, but glad you are on the mend. At this time, we do not offer deferment advice through our blog. We do however, encourage you to join our free Facebook group and ask your questions in there! Best of luck to you!
Have being admited into the university and having a financial problem so I want to defer for a year to organisation myself back into school
Yep, that’s a common issue. You should request a one-year deferral in written form (not through a phone call) using the guidelines outlined in this post.
Helo Keneisha i got an admission in the University to study civil engineering and i was doing a computer progam for 6 month but could not complete it, Eventually i was told by my Registrer to write a letter of defferment. In this case how Are my going to start? And where will i start from?
I want to write a request mail to the university to accept my admissionHi Prakash, your application to the university itself is already a statement of your request to be admitted! If you have been waitlisted, you can write a follow-up email to the school to reiterate your enthusiasm for their school, any updates on new accomplishments you want them to know about (do not repeat information from your essays), and your hope that you will be admitted. I hope it works out!
I have a serious financial problem and I can’t afford to pay for the next coming school fees so I want to write a defermation letter to the school to grant me a year for me to go and work
Hi Ishola, you can certainly write to the school and request a deferral for this reason. Make sure that the one year deferral will actually be enough time to get the money you need because the school may be unlikely to request you a second deferral if after your first deferral, you still don’t have enough money to pay the school fees.
Can i get a deferral for being pregnantHi Akua, I believe many schools would consider a deferral request due to pregnancy. You would need to submit your request and then see what the school says!
Hi Kaneisha,
I was recently admitted to a master program and are waiting for notifications from other programs. However, the program admitted me requires a deposit by Dec 8; and I want to defer it to at least Dec 15 for news from other schools. How can I argue the deadline in email? Thanks!
I got into the MPA at HKS last year. I thought I was about to get a substantial promotion at work, and asked to defer for a year.
I got the promotion. It has been an amazing professional experience. I feel like I just can’t leave less than a year after starting my new role. Is there any chance that HKS will defer just for one more year? Is there a special way to go about this?
Hi Lizi, congratulations on getting into the MPA at HKS and congratulations on your promotion! It sounds like you are winning! Requesting two deferrals in a row is tricky. In my memory, I have helped one client get a two-in-a-row deferral. In fact, HKS said no to his request for a second deferral at first, and I defiantly said, “No! You are NOT going to give up on your dream of going to Harvard! We are going to ask AGAIN.” We asked again, adding in some more information to influence their decision, and he was granted the deferral. It can’t hurt to ask, but I wouldn’t count on getting it.
Hello Kaneisha,
I would like to write an application to few schools for the admission of my sun who will be in grade2. i have been trying many times for multiple schools but did not got any response from them. can you please help me on the same
Hi Tariq,
We don’t work with applicants to primary/elementary school. However, a quick search reveals these results of admissions consultants for elementary school. I wish you well as you try to get your son enrolled.
I want to defer admission in my school but i dnt kwn to write the letter so can u plz write it 4 me. Plz. I want to defer de admission for a session bcoz of financial problem tankz i wil be happy if u help me out…… am pablo
Hi Pablo,
We don’t write essays or deferral letters for applicants. If you write the letter yourself, we are happy to edit it for you before you submit it to your school. Best of luck!
HI KANEISHA,
I applied for masters in the fall of 2016. But am now looking to get married in 2017 and defer the admission to fall 2017. Is marriage a viable reason to defer the admission?
Hi Arjun, since the timing of your wedding is a personal choice, I do not think that getting married is a viable reason to request a deferral. Many of my classmates at Harvard–whether from the U.S. or another country–got married WHILE in school. It is definitely challenging to balance wedding planning with homework, recruiting for jobs, having a social life, and actually getting some sleep, but it can be done. However, you can request the deferral and see what they say. I suggest you have a backup plan in the (very likely) case they deny your request. Thank you for your question!
Hi Keisha, what are the chances of getting deferral for a yeat due to suddenly sole parental responsibility issues that one needs time to make arrangements for before enrolling.
Secondly, if the whole application and admission process only takes 4-6 weeks, don’t you think the university might not believe your story thinking one should have already known the problem, given the short time period
Hi Kareem, I think that admissions committees would be sympathetic to you unexpectedly running into issues as the sole parent. I don’t know what you mean when you say that the whole application and admission process takes only 4-6 weeks. It takes many months! Don’t worry about whether the admissions committee will believe you; you need to submit your request and see if they will be convinced that you need a deferral and it works for them to allow you to defer a year. It helps if you include in your request the specific steps you will take to make sure that you don’t run into the same problem again and end up having your studies interrupted. Thanks for your question! (Also – my name is Kaneisha–not Keisha.) 🙂
Thank you for the helpful and informative article! Would you recommend applying for deferral for a year by email or by a written/typed letter mailed to the admissions office? Thanks again!
Hi Beth, you are welcome! For a one-year deferral from college, you should send your request via mail and via email (to the same person). For graduate school, sending just an email is fine. Thanks for your question!
Thank you for saying so, Arnie! Sometimes, I really wish I had my own office with an in-person team. However, the internet is a wonderful thing in that it allows me to interact with and advise people from all over the world!
Hi Kaneisha Grayson, I hope you are doing well.
I write this comment to ask about the Admission or Deferral Letter.
I want to apply for a scholarship I saw online and among the request documents they ask for that letter, I don’t know about it!
So I would like to ask where to find it, and what is the requirement to get it?
As information,I am doing my taught master at AIMS-GHANA, BIRIWA(Accra-Cape Coast Road).
Please send me the answer through my mail.
Thank you very much.
Hi Beni,
I don’t provide free coaching advice via email, but I’m happy to give you some advice here. I think that your scholarship application is asking for your “admission letter” or your “acceptance letter”–not a deferral letter. When you were admitted to the school, you probably received via email and/or mail a letter saying, “Congratulations! You have been accepted! Here are next steps…” This is the letter that the scholarship application is asking for you to include. It helps them make sure that you have actually been admitted to a school. If your school did not give you an admission letter, you want to contact the admissions office of your school via email and request one. Be sure to give them your full mailing address in case they want to send it via mail. I would be very surprised if they did not give you such a letter. I applied to and was admitted to a Masters program at University of Ghana and I received an admission letter all the way in the United States! Best of luck on your scholarship application!
Hi Kaneisha:
Thanks for the helpful template and advice. I am considering a third deferral in-a-row to an MPH program for financial reasons. Based on your comments, I’m wondering whether this is feasible. The first two deferrals were because of two incredible fellowship opportunities. Now, my savings will not cover the cost of attendance unless I save for another year, but I don’t want to lose my spot and burn any bridges in the process. I also just got offered an extension on my current fellowship (but only to Spring 2017) to finish my projects, and considered including that as justification for my request. Should I even be considering deferral? I would be grateful for any thoughts.
Hi Mona, I think a three-time deferral would be a very hard sell. However, the worst that could happen if you ask is they say no, and then you have to decide whether you are going now or forfeiting your admission. I think the AdCom will see your lack of savings as a failure to plan, considering you’ve known for 2+ years that you’d need to pay for school. I don’t see how the extension of your fellowship is relevant to your deferral request, so I would leave that out. If you don’t have the money to pay for school (and you haven’t been offered student loans or don’t want to take them), I think you should request another deferral (but don’t expect them to say yes) and then spend the next 1-3 years saving your money and deciding if you really do want to get an MPH–or if you want to do something else completely different with your savings.
Hey please I don’t understand something does the letter have to be via email or can you just write scan and send?
Hi!
I was just accepted into my top choice MPH program and I have been thinking about attending this program for a few years now. My original plan was to matriculate this August, but I’ve been living and working in China for about 5 months now and there have been many personal and professional reasons for me to stay here another year. I’m not sure what type of reason to give to best secure a deferral. I could mention financial issues since I do want to continue working in China to save up more money. However, another reason is because there are certain professors in my MPH program whom I want to work with and who do very interesting research in China and by staying longer, I have the ability to expand my knowledge on the language/culture.
Actually, the main reasons are because I want to spend more time with my family in China (I’m Chinese but spent my whole life in America and now want to be with them since I haven’t seen them in 6 years) and because I want to work on my Chinese fluency so that in my career, I can continue to work on projects regarding China.
As you can see, my reasons are multifaceted. I’m not sure which one is best to focus on. Though I don’t technically NEED this deferral, it would make me a lot more prepared (and frankly, happier) entering graduate school.
Hi Christina, I suggest you focus your deferral request on the professional development opportunities that are available to you if you stay in China an additional year. Prepare yourself to receive a no, and have a plan for what you will do in the case that your school rejects your request. Will you turn down your admission and stay in China? Will you leave your contented life in China to go off to graduate school? I think you should make whichever decision you think will make you happiest. If necessary, you can reapply to graduate school once you are really ready to leave China. Remember that any merit aid or financial aid you received from the school is usually ineligible for deferral.
Hi Kaneisha,
Thanks for sharing such helpful information!
I was accepted into my top choice MBA program with no funding. I’m considering requesting a deferral to save more money over the next year. If I improve my profile in that time, would the school reconsider offering me some money or am I better off withdrawing my acceptance and re-applying in the next year with a stronger profile? It was a top 20 program and I applied within 4 months of deciding to pursue an MBA. I’m confident with another year I could make myself more attractive.
Hi Caylin, in my experience, business schools aren’t enthusiastic about deferring admission for that reason. It comes across as you having failed to financially plan for the experience. I suggest you request the deferral (I’m not sure what reason you should give, but it doesn’t hurt to ask), and if granted, spend the next year saving your money and applying to as many scholarships and fellowships as possible. You could reject your place and reapply, but there is no guarantee that you will be admitted the following year. Congratulations on getting in though with such a short lead time!
Hi Thanks for the great post! I am planning to defer masters in a Canadian university. but I am not sure whether the school actually allows for deferral of admission. In this case, should I ask whether the school has such policy before requesting deferral? I am not sure how to go about doing it. Thanks for your advice!
Hi Laura, I recommend you request the admissions deferral directly using the format and instructions in this post. If they don’t grant deferrals, then their answer to your deferral request will be no. There’s no reason to ask for permission to make a request. Thanks for your question!
Hi Kaneisha,
Thanks for writing this! It’s very helpful. I got into law school and I’m very excited about it, but I’ve realized I don’t want to go straight to school next year (It’s my senior year of college now, and I think some time outside the classroom would be good for me)
I’ve applied to a couple Americorps programs, but I’m worried I won’t hear back in time to defer before my deposit is due. What would you advise?
Hi Maya, congrats on your admission to law school! I suggest you request the deferral citing a specific professional opportunity that you are particularly interested in pursuing, and list some reasons how this experience will make you an even better law student. I worry that once you start working, you will want to stay in the “real world” for at least another 2 years. Thus, make sure that your deferral request isn’t just a short-term stop-gap to a deeper issue. Are you SURE you want to go to law school? How will you pay for it? If it is via student loans, do you know how much you’ll need to earn in order to repay the loans comfortably? Have you researched the employment rate of graduates from your target school pursuing your target area of law? These are all important questions to know the answer to BEFORE you commit to law school–or any graduate program for that matter. Best of luck in making your decision!
Hi Kaniesha,
My visa was rejected under 214 b and now I would like to request the school to defer my admission to next academic session. How shall I ask the school to accept my request and what reasons for deferment should I provide to the school?
Hi Zideal, you should use the template in the blog post above and use the reason you just told me: your visa got rejected so you can’t come this year. I hope it works out!
Hello, i must say i am glad i stumbled upon this, what you are doing is really good and you should keep up the good work. My wife and i applied for a Mph degree in the same school and we both admitted but she is currently pregnant. I wanted to know if it is a good enough reason to defer and state that her husband been admitted and would definitely enrol is a good reason why she would definitely enrol next year. She wasnt told to pay any fee but was told in the admission processing portal to select if she wants to defer. Would be expecting your reply. Thank you
Hi Ebube, congratulations on your baby and on getting into your MPH program! It sounds like your school has a very straightforward deferral process if there is an online form where you can select that you would like to defer. If you need to do more than just click a button on a form, then yes, go ahead and request a deferral via a letter, and let them know that you are enrolling this year and that she is committed to enrolling next year.
Pls madam,
I have a finacial challenge from my sponsor, am in level 200, and my HOD ask me to write a letter for deferment of one year to him, but I don’t kw how to start and end the letter plz help me
Hi Kaneisha,
Thanks a lot for this invaluable article.
Can one ask for a two-year deferral?
I got accepted to harvard for one year MPH but I didn’t receive as much funding as I was expecting so I want to defer my enrollment in order to work and save money for the program and other costs that go with it. Also, I might be able to get a job closer to public health than my previous one. But I am afraid that one year will not be enough for me to do all this and I feel that it would be safer to apply for a two year deferral straight away.
I would love to hear you thoughts on this.
Hi Audrey, I’ve never dealt with this situation actually! I deferred HBS for two years but it was a part of the 2+2 program. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, but I am doubtful they would grant you a two-year deferral outside of a formal program like HBS’ 2+2 program that includes deferral. I hope it works out!
Hi Kaneisha! This is a great article. It seems to have laid out the fundamentals of deferring in quite a straight forward manner.
I am considering a one year deferral for HKS MPP as am getting a great opportunity to work for an Indian state government. This is exactly the kind of role I would have hoped to play after the MPP. Having said that, I have not received any funding from HKS and the student debt will not allow me to take up such positions for at least 4-5 years after the 2 years course. In fact I might have to take up a private sector job to repay the loan.
So, I am thinking of writing to the admissions office about this. This one year exposure will improve my understanding of relevant topics as well as give me a great hands on experience. May be even make more more worthy for funding and further employment.
What do you think?
Hi Vinayak, I like your idea of requesting a one-year deferral to HKS for this excellent job opportunity. If they don’t grant you the deferral, you will then need to decide if you’d rather take the opportunity of the job or go straight to HKS. Congrats on both opportunities!
Hi Kaneisha,
Thank you so much for the article and all of your comments – I struggled to find much out there!
I got accepted at HBS and had every intention of going. This week, a close friend of mine invited me to sail around the world with him for a year. While this is not a traditional reason to defer, I do think it will be a huge growth and learning experience for me. Have you seen anyone request a deferral for something like this? I have no intention of applying to other schools and am 100% committed to attending HBS.
As a follow up question, are schools more likely to allow 1 or 2 years of deferral?
Hi Paige, first of all, congratulations on your admission to HBS! While a round-the-world trip sounds very cool, I think it is a VERY slim chance that HBS admissions will grant you a deferral so you can sail around the world. As long as your request is well written and humble rather than demanding, I don’t think it would hurt to ask! You need to get clear on whether or not this trip is more important to you than your opportunity to go to HBS. Best of luck on making your decision!
Hi Kaneisha,
I want to ask question about my admission deferral…i got admission into school of business and i lost my dad during the process….The school have resume now …and i have never send letter to the school….And i wish to differ my admissions till next year….first…is he not too late …And second…How do i write them…i will like you to advice me please
Hi Hezekiah, my condolences to you on the loss of your father. It may be too late to request an admissions deferral, but there might still be a chance, depending on whether or not the deadline to request a deferral has passed. You should email the admissions office of the school to which you were admitted to inquire about this situation.
What if my deferment is as a result of short time to process VISA, should I still say personal issue in my letter?
Hi Emma, I totally understand that often readers have urgent questions. In those cases, you need to purchase a coaching package to ensure you will receive a reply by the time you need to hear from us.
Hi Emma, no you should tell the truth that you don’t have enough time to get the appropriate visa in order to matriculate. It is not guaranteed that the school will grant your deferral as most schools advise international students to apply in earlier rounds or deadlines to avoid this situation. Best of luck with your situation!
Helloo kaneisha…i am exepected to enroll this fall for my masters program but i would want to defer due to health and finances….what do i do plus what if a person asks for deferral and is granted for a year and the year the person must begin she is already a couple of months pregnant what must she do again after an already deferred letter…thanks
Hi Maxine, if you get granted a deferral and need another year, you can request an additional year of deferral. The school may or may not grant the deferral.
HELLO KANEISHA GRAYSON
I GOT ADMITTED TO FOR MY PGD AT CANADA, BUT MY AGENT NEVER FORWARD ME THE ADMISSION LETTER NONE TOLD ME NOT UNTIL I PERSONAL MAKE ENQUIRE ABOUT ME ADMISSION STATUS FROM THE SCHOOL WHICH STATED THAT HAVE BEEN ADMITTED FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND IM LEFT WITH LESS THAN A WEEK TO PAY AND RESERVE MY SEAT FOR THE COURSE.PRESENTLY IM MY SPONSOR IS ILL AND CAN NOT MEET UP TO THE DEADLINE..IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE DEFFER MY ADMISSION AGAINST NEXT SEMESTER..THANKS
Hi Oluwaseun, I’m sorry that happened! That sounds very frustrating. You should definitely request a deferral as soon as possible. I hope it works out!
Good evening Kaneisha,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the great article. It really helped me a lot, as an international student (and first time application) it is very clarifying…
Now, my question:
I just got accepted in an civil engineering master’s program. However, due political instability in my country and financial issues, I would like to defer my enrollment to next year. Is this a flimsy excuse?!
Do you know what are my chances due my financial condition?!
Thank you very much!
Best regards,
Beatriz
Hi Beatriz, you are very welcome! I can’t comment on what your chances of receiving a deferral are. However, I will say that I think a school will be understanding to your situation of wanting to defer a year due to political instability and financial issues. I hope it works out!
Hello, I recently got admitted to Columbia School of Professional Studies. I had really planned well to finance my education but unfortunately due to certain reasons I am not able to meet the finances required for funding the program. Actually the reason is I had a land sale deed but unfortunately it did not work out so I am unable to finance my education. Also now the time is short for me to find another buyer and by the time it works out maybe there is no time for me to apply for visa. Do you think this is a valid reason requesting for extension? Thank you for your advice
Hi Kaneisha, you are really doing a nice work here.
Please I would like to know, do I need to accept the pending offer before asking for the deferral or do I go ahead and apply for the deferral without accepting the admission offer?
Hi Austin, you should ask for the deferral before you accept the admission offer. That way, if they reject your request, you can make a clear decision about whether you really want to go to the school this upcoming year or not.
Hi KANEISHA
I had an admission to two universities in the UK and both admission came with an offer. I applied to common wealth shared scholarship for support but it wasn’t successful and i don’t have enough funding this year so i want to write a deferral letter to the universities, how should i state the problem or i should tell them exactly what i just wrote?
helllo
i got an admission into a collage in canada , i have paid part of my tuition fee ,and even started the process of the study permit for September intake and it takes three months . i would want another admission letter just incase i m being ask by the interviewer to bring another admission letter because of the short time that is being involved
Hi
Kaneisha
Thank for the great services you are offering in this context.
I’m one person who have an offer for my dream master degree in one of the UK universities. I also have a scholarship award for this degree. My problem is, i have a start-up company which is now doing a contract farming for many big hotels in our city, but i still don’t have a strong team who can run the project in my 1 year absence. Now i’m considering deferral for at least one year as i build a stronger team and a particular person to take over my roles. I don’t want also to lose this scholarship. How can i approach these two institutions?
Hi Fred, congrats on all your success thus far! You should request a one-year deferral for both your admission and your scholarship. It’s often very difficult to defer a scholarship though, so you may have to give it up if you want to defer. You should definitely do a pros and cons analysis of sticking with your startup and possibly losing your place at the school with a scholarship vs. leaving behind your startup for the full ride at your dream school. Neither option is necessarily better; it’s about what matters more to you in terms of your current goals and values.
Hi kaneisha
base on ur analysis my is quite complicated. Am a 200level student who wants to travel and my exams are in a month tym shld i defer on de reason dat i intend to travel or say for financial contraints,and sayin financial issue it appears to many pple hav being using it
If a person gave entrance test for a university but did not get through it. And he or she still wants that college only. So to write it to the chancellor of that university to give him or her one more chance.
Hi Sara, I respond to comments about once per month. For urgent inquiries or if you want a private response to your question, you should consider the email coaching package.
Hi Sera, you can always ask for another chance to take the test and submit your application late or resubmit it. However, in my experience, it is not likely that your request will be granted. Best of luck.
Hi Kaneisha,
Thank you for this very helpful post!
I was offered a place in my chosen MA course at a very good ranking university in the UK but haven’t accepted the offer as still waiting for the scholarship. The school emailed back today that my scholarship application was not successful. I could not afford the tuition fee if not granted the scholarship. Should I mention this financial difficulty in the deferral letter and that I will re-apply for the scholarship next year thus wish to defer my study til then?
Thank you very much!
Hi Gwen, yes I do think you should mention the financial difficulty in your deferral request. You should also consider submitting a financial aid appeal letter.
Hello,
I am happy to stumble upon this and I’m looking for a quick response please. I was Admitted to Newcastle University and offered a place for a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering with Biomedical Engineering, and i am suppose to be starting September 2016. I was expecting that by then i would have been Naturalized, as i live in a British Overseas Territory, so that i would be eligible to get my British Passport and pay local school fees but there has been a delay in the matter. Is this an eligible reason to apply for a deferment?
A delay in your immigration status certainly seems like a worthy reason to request a deferral, but that doesn’t mean that your school will grant it for you. Congratulations on your admission to Newcastle University and I hope it works out!
Hi KANEISHA GRAYSON
I received unconditional offer to study MSc of Human Anatomy at university of Dundee 2016-2017. It very unfortunate that i didn’t win the chevening Scholarship which i was applying for. Now i want to apply again for the scholarship. would you please give a sample how to request the reason of my deferral letter.
Your reply will be appreciated
Hi Alfaki, congratulations on your admission to University of Dundee. The blog post you just commented on provides a sample email to request a deferral. Best of luck!
Hi,i got admitted into a university in US,but could not attend the classes for this semester due to unforeseen domestic reasons.can I just mention the same in my deferal letter or do I need to mention the specific reason.kindly help me with this
Hi Vijay, you can simply say that you had an unexpected family emergency arise; you don’t have to share personal information beyond that if you are not comfortable doing so. Best of luck!
pls I had admission seven months ago, I accepted the admission but never went to the screening neither do I paid my fees due to financial buoyancy. pls is it too late to apply for Deferment?
pls I had admission seven months ago, I accepted the admission but never went to the screening neither do I paid my fees due to financial buoyancy. is it too late to apply for deferment?
Hi Etim, I’m not sure if it’s too late as I don’t have enough information about your situation. I suggest you reach out directly to the school to request the status of your admission. I hope it works out!
Hi KANEISHA,
I was admitted to an international school in France and I was hoping to get Financial Aid (FAFSA) from USA. Unfortunately, the FAFSA couldn’t help me because the school is not registered with them. I am trying to deferral my admission to the school hoping to apply for scholarships. I am going for an Engineering school grade level, can you pls direct me to some good websites or organizations to apply for scholarships. Thank you so much
Hi Ian, congrats on your admission! I’m sorry you’re feeling so stressed about how to pay for it. Three great places to look for scholarships are:
1) Scholly
2) Scholarship Owl
3) BigFuture
I hope you apply for and earn lots of scholarships!
Hi Kaneisha,
I’ve applied for Masters i’ve paid my admission fees but I need more 5 months for arranging rest of my funding because my loan was cancelled,
So I’m planning to go for next intake admission in January.
What should I mention in my deferral email?
Is this an eligible reason to apply for a deferment?
It’s very urgent
Regards,
Satyajit
Hi Satyajit, considering that you mentioned that this is a very urgent issue, I assume that I’ve missed the window to provide helpful information. I hope this worked out!
HI, I am asking on behalf of my goddaughter; Due to recent diagnosis of on depression; ( we have the letter from the psychiatrist) she did not attend classes nor complete her asssignments for her final year Bachelors degree, final semester. And they have taken her out of the student list; unfortunately ; we only found out about this recently; We are meeting with the university head to try to ask for a deferral. What would you recommend as strong arguments to receive a deferral. appreciate your comments
Hi Nina, thanks for your question. I would recommend that you present to the university head the arguments that the school’s graduation rate would be higher if she is withdrawn (with the option to return later) rather than dismissed from the school. Graduation rates are important to school rankings, so it’s important they keep their graduation rate as high as possible. Secondly, you could share her treatment plan with the university head to show that she’s getting help to cope with her depression. Thirdly, you could try and see if a lawyer might take on her case pro bono to deal with it as a legal issue. I hope that this works out!
hi
I am busi pursuing business administratio postgarsduate studies. would the school offer me a deferal on the basis of work commitments? did not submuitt my course work therefore that disqualifies me foer siiting for an exam.
Hi Busi, I’m not sure that work commitments will be a compelling reason for deferral. However, you should at least request the deferral and see what the Admissions Committee says.
Hi Kaneisha,
I am admitted to a good business school and have paid the deposit to start classes in one week. another B-school iam more interested in is showing serious interest to my profile but will offer admission 2 months after my classes begin.
can I request deferral to explore my best option?
If I end up starting at this school, can I drop after 2 months when admitted to my dream B-School?
Thank you in advance for you advices.
Charly
Hi Bebey, my reply is coming too late to help you with your situation but I hope that it worked out! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Kaneisha, i am excited by the series of advice your gave. I was admitted into M Tech program last month for 2016 session but i realized i would no longer meet up with the quoted year since i am still processing my study permit which would likely come out within 4 -6 month. Do you think deferral letter to commence the program next year would help the situation since the registration for the year may close any moment. I wait for your response.
Anthony,
Hi Anthony, my reply is coming too late to help you with your situation but I hope that it worked out! Thanks for commenting!
Hello thank you for such kind of information i applied for my MBA france inseec 1 year program but i got only 6 months of visa i paid my addmission fee also my school starts from 7th of oct 2016 my my visa starting from 7th of sept 2016 now i want to deferral it the next intake now i dont want to go to france for this intake. Will i loss my money,in the mean while of visa processing i got my family personal issue also i need to sort out it so i want my this addmission for next intake will you please suggest me
Thanks in advance.
Hi Mohammed, my reply is too late to help you with your situation (nor am I sure that I would have been able to be helpful), but I hope that it all worked out!
HI,I have got admission to Industrial engg in Purdue university and this was something i have been chasing for a year. But its a little unforunate now that I have to actually start a business which was overdue two years itself and now the project is in full swing. I feel that one year deferral will do the needful stabilization for the business and I can then start my masters. How exactly do I put forth this? And get a positive reply
Hi Sowmiya, congrats on your admission to Purdue’s Industrial Engineering program and your entrepreneurial adventure getting underway! The free advice I have to give about going about getting a deferral is in the blog post you commented on. If you’d like The Art of Applying team to edit a deferral request statement you’ve written, we can do that via our essay editing service. You could also purchase hourly coaching to get 1-on-1 coaching for the process. Remember that a deferral request is just that—a request—so your deferral might not be granted. Best of luck!
Guday, i was given a provisional admission into college of dentist(second choice) and i was told to do the registration within a week, i battle for my best choice to no avail but my plan is to battle for my best choice again before dis second choice came in, i have hop of getin my best choice nex yr and i need one yr deferral. Will dis complain genuing to have the one yr deferral Or i should talk of finacial problem? Am confused because people were sayin i should go and start, pls ur idear mar.
Hi Timotheaus, congrats on your admission to dental school! A school will not grant you a deferral if you tell the school that you want the deferral so you can apply to your top choice school. You will need to give the school a different reason for your request for deferral or let go of your place in the class if you want another year to apply to other schools. Best of luck!
Hi,
I am currently applying to masters programs in political science. However, I have recently thought about maybe teaching abroad for year instead. Because of all the work and time that I and others have put into my applications, I was wondering if admissions would think this was a valid enough reason for deferment?
Hi Fasharra, whenever someone is feeling the call to teach before going to grad school, I say “Go for it!” Grad school isn’t going anywhere, but your enthusiasm for teaching may wane and become a dream deferred. Since you’ve already put a lot of time and effort into applying, you may want to go ahead and submit your applications and then ask for a one-year deferral once you’ve received your admissions decisions. I’m not sure if schools will think it’s a valid enough reason to defer, but you can always ask. Best of luck!
I was offered admission for master’s program in August 2016 and because of my mother’s illness I got a deferral for just one term. When I received the i-20 form on 17th December 2016. To pay for SEVIS fee and schedule visa interview was not feasible. And now the embassy has closed for the year and the date given to me for arrival into United State was 3 to 6 Jan, 2017. The question now is, is it possible to get another deferral to enable me go for the visa interview.
Hi Albert, congrats on your admission to your program. I’m sorry to hear that your mother is ill. I hope she has a speedy recovery. You should definitely request an additional deferral. It’s up to the school whether or not they will grant the deferral. Best of luck.
Hello , Kaneisha – Thank you for the great post! I have a qq reg. M/C MPA @HKS:
What are the chances of getting a 1-year deferral to take care of my pregnant wife (wife will be 2 months pregnant w/ twins when admission decisions are out). Thank you.
Hi Mike, you are welcome! If your wife will be 2 months pregnant with twins by mid-March 2017, it sounds like she just found out she is pregnant (or is not yet pregnant…?). Either way, I’m not sure how compelling this reason will be to the AdCom since family planning is a part of career planning and it seems like the timing of this could have been avoided. However, it never hurts to ask, so if receiving a deferral is important to you, make sure you submit your request as soon as possible after you receive your admissions offer. Best of luck and congratulations! I have twin nephews, twin cousins, twin second cousins, and twin brother-and-sister-in-laws. I love multiples!
Hello, Kaneisha – A follow-up questions If I got admitted and would like to defer, does it matter if I request a deferral before or after releasing the financial aid package (and of course before signing the admissions letter)? Is it better to request deferral as soon as you receive the decision?
Thanks for your question and engagement on the forum, Mike! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Deferrals are for schools that you want to go to, but are not able to at that particular time. After accepting your offer, we recommend making a deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral. Remember, deferment request’s reason needs to be compelling and action oriented. We have over a decade of experience working with clients on deferral requests. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation
Hello Kaneisha, you’re doing a great job on the forum.
I was accepted conditionally into a program in college. I paid my tuition for the first year but i didnt accept the offer (which was an error on my path). I applied for my cic visa immediately i got the letter of offer. I noticed i didnt accept my offer few days before class commenced, i then applied to defer my admission to the next term (sept 2017).
This is the 13th week after i applied for my visa. I want to know if this in any way will affect my visa application for study as my college deferment process takes another one to two months before ill be responded on my application.
Happy to hear that you have found this forum helpful and congrats on your acceptance, Emmee! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. Like we mentioned in the post, we recommend requesting a deferral before accepting your offer and paying tuition. Some visas have time limits on the duration of study. Thus, if the visa was applied for this upcoming academic year, then this visa application may not cater to the potential deferral. Hopefully this is helpful. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. In addition, we offer hourly coaching as well. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
Hi Kaneisha,
I have applied to an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program and my boyfriend has applied to grad schools abroad. Both of our programs are 1 year and we recently began discussing deferment so we could be together. I worry that because we are not yet married, my request won’t be taken seriously–is this an accurate assumption?
Also, do admissions committees consider the strength of the initial application when granting a deferment request? In other words, if my offer of admission was an easy decision for the committee, would that make them more willing to grant deferment than if the offer of admission was heavily negotiated?
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond! It seems you’ve been quite helpful to a lot of people on this board.
Happy to hear that you have found this forum helpful and congrats on applying to the ABSN program! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope this advice is still helpful. From an admission perspective, deferment does not only impact an individual’s applicant decision but also influences the make-up of the entire cohort. Relationships are essential; however, it may not be a viable reason to request deferral. Many of my classmates at the University of Cambridge whether from the UK or abroad had long-distance relationships WHILE in school. Though it is a challenge to manage long distance relationships while completing homework, studying, searching for jobs, and developing friendships with your cohort, it IS possible. However, you can request a deferral (as soon as possible) and see what they say. I recommend having a backup plan in case they deny your request. Thank you for your comment!
Hello,
Thank you for this article it was really helpful.
I have applied for several universities and I got accepted in three.
I haven’t accepted any offer yet, and I would like to ask for deferral for a year since I couldn’t complete the scholarship application that I planned for.
Do I ask from all of the three, or should I accept one and THEN ask for deferral?
And you have mentioned deposit, I can’t make it since I was wholly dependant on the scholarship.
Should I decline the offer and then apply next year? if so, should I change my personal statement or is it okay to keep it the same one?
Please advise me of the best thing to do here.
Thank you again
Congratulations on your acceptance into THREE universities, Elle! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. A deferral request is for one school that you want to go, but are not able to at that particular time. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Try to familiarize yourself with the university’s deferral process. Remember, all deferral requests are not guaranteed! Given your situation with three potential schools, it may sound like a lot of things to consider. You are not alone in this consideration! We are happy to assist in your journey of deferral. We have over a decade of experience working with clients to decide on the graduate program of most fit to their learning style and goals as well as tactfully craft and submit deferral requests. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation Best of Luck to You!
Hi- Kaneisha, i defer my admission, and now want to continue, how do i write back to them. thank you.
ok, i request for some fully funded scholarshipsWe love scholarships too, Mukuba! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Universities are expensive and scholarships can help alleviate those expenses. Scholarships come from various sources such as graduate institutions, governments, and foundations. There are more sources for scholarships, which we help our clients receive on their graduate education journey. You can hear more about their journeys on Client Case Studies. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We offer hourly coaching as well. Here is the link to continue the conversation.
Hi Kaneisha,
Delighted to stumble upon your article. I recenlty got an unconditional offer from Coventry Univeristy, for the month May. Though i intended to apply for the month September. What/how do i mail them to request to send me the offer for the intake of september.
Please guide me through.
Regards,
Maheen
Congratulations on the unconditional offer from Coventry University, Maheen! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation.
We recommend submitting deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral. Each school may have a different deferment process, which may help as you consider your option. In addition, deferment request’s reason needs to be compelling and action-oriented. All deferral requests are not guaranteed! No worries if this sounds like a lot of things to consider. We are happy to assist in your journey of deferral. We have over a decade of experience working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request, especially for international graduate programs. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation Best of Luck to You!
Hi Kaneisha,
Thanks so much for this! I applied to so many schools and then out of the blue I get an offer for a consultancy position. Most schools I have spoken to say that funding does not carry over. Do you know what the likelihood of getting funded for the next year? Will my deferral request cost me for the following year? Will it be looked at negatively?
Thank you!
Hi KANEISHA , Thank you for your post , I would like to send a letter to the admission office to tell them the reason to deffer my study a master degree is that i got a rejection E-mail from chevening scholarship and intend to apply for the same or other scholarship that provide full funding scholarship ,
Congratulations on your acceptance to the masters program in the UK, Martin! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Current financial difficulties due to the scholarship decision are preventing you from enrolling in the course. We recommend submitting the deferral request as soon as you have a reason to do so. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Attending a UK university myself, I realize that each deferral process may be different, even across departments at the same University! Try to familiarize yourself with the university’s deferral process. There may be exceptions and you can still request a deferral; however, not all deferral requests are guaranteed. We have over a decade of experience working with clients on deferral requests. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation
Dear Kaneisha:
I have read a post of yours about admission deferrals (link). Thanks so much for the information. I wanted to ask you a quick question. I hope you can help me.
Do you know if deferrals are granted in Harvard GSD (Graduate School of Design)?
I have been accepted for a Master in Urban Planning there and the web information states:
“No, the GSD does not grant deferrals. If you are admitted but unable to attend, you would need to reapply”.
I was thinking that maybe this is the same message in every school and still they sometimes accept them. Or is it that with this message I should rule out this option.
Thanks a lot for your answer!
Congratulations on the offer from Harvard GSD, Karen! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. We recommend submitting your deferment request as soon as you know and have the reasons to defer. Ultimately, the guidelines from the admissions website will determine the procedure of processing deferral request. Even though GSD does not grant deferrals, we have supported client in reapplying their dream school and receiving funding in their reapplication. It would be wonderful to guide you through each step of the way. An important way we support our clients after they have submitted their applications and heard back from their schools is to review their deferral requests and financial aid appeal letters. Here is a link to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
Hello, Kaneisha – A follow-up questions If I got admitted and would like to defer, does it matter if I request a deferral before or after releasing the financial aid package (and of course before signing the admissions letter)? Is it better to request deferral as soon as you receive the decision?
Hello Kaneisha,
Thank you for your helpful advices!
I was admitted to LLM program in Boston and received about 20K grant. I haven’t accept/decline their offer/grant yet. I’ve experienced recently health problem that need to receive treatment with doctor once a week, so I am asking Adcom for deferral. Would they give me financial package again next year?
In the meantime, I am planning to explore and apply other program i.e. MBA at the same university. I already received student number. Would B-school know and reject me?
Hello, i got an admission letter from kmtc but i would like to defer to September intake. How do i write a letter for deferment
Congratulations on your acceptance to KMTC, Mercy! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. We recommend submitting deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral. Each school may have a different deferment process, which may help as you consider your option. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action oriented. We have a decade of experience working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We offer hourly coaching as well. Contact us to get the conversation started!
Hi Kaneisha
Your advice is very helpful!
Will it hurt me if I choose not to go after I got approve of deferral. In the meantime, I am planning to apply other MS program within the university but different school, would other school (such as B-school) reject me ?
Thank you!
Hi, I have defer my first admission and the company where am working ask me not to go till next year. Can I defer the 2nd time? It’s MBA.
Thanks
Hi Kaneisha,
I just got an acceptance letter from my dream school but I just learned that I’m at risk of not getting a study visa.
I’d love to defer my admission while trying to get a PR for the country.
Please I need your advice on this.
Thanks.
Congratulations on getting into your dream school, Onyinye! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation regarding your visa, which seems to be the main reason for your deferral. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Given adequate timing, we have experience working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request, especially for graduate school. Deferral requests are not guaranteed. However, you can still request one. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
Hi Kaneisha, I got admitted into an MA program in Korea and I need to pay my fee by the 28th July. I have some financial difficulties now which are preventing me to pay the fee. Please what can I do in such a situation?
Congratulations on your acceptance to the MA program in Korea, McDrake! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Current financial difficulties are preventing you from enrolling in the course. Normally, we recommend submitting the deferral request as soon as you have a reason to do so. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Due to the limited time-constraints of the situation (nine days), try to familiarize yourself with the university’s deferral process. There may be exceptions and you can still request a deferral; however, not all deferral requests are guaranteed. Thank you for your comment! We wish you the best of luck!
I’ve been offered admission in graduate school(without any funding), but I want to wait and try some other graduate school before I accept this one.
Do you think it is advisable to request the school for deferral for safety??
Congratulations on the offer from graduate school, NBR! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Thus, we do not recommend requesting deferrals as a way to reserve a place before hearing the rest of the potential offers from graduate schools you applied to. Deferrals are for a school that you definitely want to go to, but your current situation prevents you from engaging in the program in that particular academic year. Hopefully this is helpful. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
Hello Kaneisha,
I dont whether this issue of Admission Differal reqeuest is applicable in germany. I received an admission but couldnt meet up with my embassy appointment and the embassy asked me to reapply next semester. I need to find out if requesting for differ of admission is suitable and a followup request too could be welcoming on the same request.
Thank you for your comment, Yacub! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend going to the university international student page and contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation regarding your experience with the embassy appointment, which seems to be your reason for deferral. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
hello, I am thinking of deferring my admission by a term. I wasn’t told to make any deposit to keep my place when I got my admission letter and I have already gotten my I-20 from the school. the problem now is that my Dad changed his mind about the school, that it is expensive. So I have applied to a more affordable school hoping I would get in, but I don’t want to lose my place in the school that has giving me admission already. I can’t tell the school it is because of finances still I have shown that I have money to pay before they issued my I-20. can a deferral be granted without making any deposit. Thanks for your time and consideration as I look forward to a response from you.
Hi Kaniesha! I’m an incoming senior in high school and if I get excepted to my dream state school, can I request a deferment for two years? I will be in my country where I was born because I will be training hard for a fitness competition, which is my dream! I still want to get my degree in the USA. Can I request it?
Hello Kaneisha,
I would like to know that if i apply for deferral to university and if i didn’t able to go because some reason ,and if i apply for re -admission after some years would it affect my admission because of my Previous action.
Thank you for your comment, Brian! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. You were already accepted. You are a continuing student. This is wonderful! While each admissions’ office is different, acceptance letters, in most instances, can also be accessed online through a portal or via email. Reaching out directly to the admission office about this situation is important for you will be able to familiarize yourself with the procedures and obtained a copy of the admission’s letter for your records. Hope everything went well!
Hello, KANEISHA,
Thanks for your good work, I was recently accepted into a Masters program in Canada commencing in January 2018, I will be due for delivery 6 weeks before resumption date (Jan 2018) can I still apply for the visa or is it advisable to defer the program? is the reason justifiable?
Thanks,
Ade.
Congratulations on the baby as well as the acceptance in the Master’s program, Ade! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation: Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend going to the university international student page and contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation regarding your visa, which seems to be your reason for deferral combined with the wonderful news that you are expecting! Though this seems like a valid reason, deferral decisions come from admissions. Reaching out to them to share your situation is important. Best of luck to you!
Hi Kaneisha,
Would you recommend a request for deferral sent via email to the Program Coordinator or directly to the student admission office?
Thank you for your question, Young! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation: Each university may have a different procedure in processing deferral requests. It is important to reach out to the admission office within the university for more clarity into the process. As mentioned earlier in this blog, deferment request’s reason needs to be compelling and action-oriented. We work with clients on constructing effective deferral requests. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation Best of luck to you!
Hi Kaneisha. I am currently in grade 12 at highschool in Toronto. Applications will be beginning soon to university, however lately I have seriously been considering taking a gap year to gain more life experience. I am already going to be working as a volunteer at a school in Kenya for july and I was thinking of extending my stay if I actually do take a gap year. I would also like to complete some AP courses I am taking, get a job (as I have never had one) among some other things. Anyways I was wondering do gap year students get offered deferrals? The main schools I am looking at are UofT, McMaster, UBC, Western and Ryerson. Does it still make sense for me to apply this year?
Thanks
Hi Kaneisha,
I stumbled on your post through Google search and I must confess it was very informative and helpful. Thank you!
Please, I just got admitted for a Masters Program but the offer came very late – the 2018 spring semester starts in the next 3 – 4 weeks – and obviously i wouldn’t be able to meet up with the necessary documentation to secure i-20. Also, getting a visa is very unlikely as the semester would have begun before interviewing for a student visa in my country. Do you think this is good enough as a reason for deferral?
Awaiting your thoughts.
Thanks, again.
Busayo
As a follow-up to my question above, i was offered admission for Spring 2018 but i want to defer to fall 2018, is there a code name for this, as well, seeing that this is not up to a year and one-year deferral program code name might not apply? Thank you.
Thanks for your follow-up question, Busayo! A deferral refers is period of time in which your course start date is delay due to a compelling and action-oriented reason whether you begin in the Fall 2018, Spring 2019, or Fall 2019. Some Admission offices may have different names and codes for a semester or a year deferral, which is the reason it is important to reach out to them for clarity. We happy to work with clients throughout the deferral request process. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation
Congratulations on the Master Program acceptance, Busayo! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation: Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend going to the university international student page and contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation regarding your visa, which seems to be your reason for deferral combined with the late notice of acceptance (an acceptance is an acceptance!). Though this seems like a valid reason, deferral decisions come from admissions. Reaching out to them to share your situation is important. Best of luck to you!
Hello Kaneisha, how should i write a readmission letter after deffering for one term….kindly help coz am in a fix
hi kanesha, i am an international student who went to university for fall semester but was unable to pay any fees because of lack of fund now, i am in another state and the deadline for registration in my school has closed without me paying or register for classes, do you think i can ask for deferment. i will really appreciate if you could reply. thanks.
Thanks for your comment, Kabiroh! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful: Based on your response, it seems that you have already attended university in the Fall semester without paying any fees. Currently, you are requesting a deferral. If this is correct, then it would be important to check your university’s deferral’s policy. Normally, deferrals come before one attends the university. Deferrals are not guaranteed. It is important to have a clear and compelling reason for deferring, especially amidst the academic year.
Hello, Kaneisha
I got accepted into my first choice collage but its in another city in my state that would be a 2 hr drive each way from my job and family that I need to help provide for at the moment. Is it acceptable to ask for a deferral but go to a collage closer to home for the first year then go to my dream collage the next year?
Congratulations on your acceptance to your first choice, Alanda! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Deferrals are for schools that you want to go to, but are not able to at that particular time. Typically, people do not defer to attend another institution. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Try to familiarize yourself with the university’s deferral process. There may be exception and you can still request a deferral; however, it is important to note that not all deferral requests are guaranteed. We wish you the Best of Luck!
Hi Kaneisha,
Thank you for this very helpful article. I have been struggling to get a job out of college (1.5 years ago) – since then I’ve been working odd jobs and some great internships too (though unpaid). I applied to MPP programs in hope to advance my career in something that I care about. I just got into Berkeley’s MPP program, my absolute top choice, but I also just finally got a full time job offer from a huge and very well respected non-profit organization. It would be my first full time job and it’s a political assistant – so it would also really help my career. Do you think Berk would let me defer? And if not, could I reapply in 1 or 2 years and get in? I would only be a stronger applicant right? And could I reuse most of my personal statement? (I feel like it was quite well done and gave me an advantage). Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Sarah, thanks for commenting. Congratulations on your acceptance into Berkeley as well as your job offer! At this time we do not offer free advice on deferment through our blog. However, we encourage you to join our free Facebook group which offers a community of individuals who are both applying to grad school as well as those who have already been accepted. We encourage you to ask your questions there! Once again, congrats!
Hello kaneisha,
Thanks for such a thoughtful piece.
However I want to get your opinion on my issue.
I recently applied for a PhD position and contacted a professor in the program who is kind of guaranteeing that I would get the position with funding. However I recently go a job offer for a lectureship position at a University in my home country. Do you think I can secure a deferral of enrollment with the funding benefits that come with it with the reason I just quoted above. Thanks
Hi Narudeen, thanks for your comment. Congratulations on the pending PhD offer and the job offer for the lectureship! Kudos! Unfortunately, we don’t advise on the PhD application / job process. I hope you figure out a workable solution. Congratulations again!
Hi! How do I explain that I want a gap year to travel/work. The school says I should still send my deposit etc
Hi Ti. Congratulations on being accepted to your school! At this time, we do not offer free deferment advice through our blog. We would recommend however that you join our free Facebook group and ask your questions there! We look forward to interacting with you. Again, congratulations on your acceptance!
Hi, am Biola by name, I am in 400 level economics dept in kwara state university in Nigeria, kwara state. I had an extra year but was unable to write a letter of deferment because my DAD had stroke and I was with him and now he is back home and am ready to continue my schooling . pls what can I do?
Hey Biola, thanks for reaching out. We’re so sorry to hear about your dad but we’re glad he’s okay! At this time, we do not offer deferment advice through our blog. We do however, encourage you to join our free Facebook group and ask your questions in there! Best of luck to you!
Hi Kaneisha,
Thank you for the wonder article about deferral request.
My problem is; I recently gain admission in German to do a master problem. I have even submitted my statement of acceptance but apparently the funds I was expecting for my schooling is not yet in. I don’t know whether to request for a one year deferral since I’ve already accepted e admissions and I’ve being enrolled in the student housing.
Please, what’s your advice on this?
Hello Enoch, Congratulations on your admission to a master’s program in Germany! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this is still helpful: The funds that you were expecting to cover the graduate program are not currently available. We recommend submitting deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral. Each school may have a different deferment process, which may help as you consider your option. Remember, deferment request’s reason needs to be compelling and action-oriented. Approvals are not guaranteed! We have experiences working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request, especially for international programs in Europe. It would be wonderful to guide you through each step of the way. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck in your decision!
i dint have the slightest idea on how to go about this,thanks for sharing this was very helpful.Thanks for commenting! We glad that you found it helpful, Sonnie! I am Noah, a consultant at The Art of Applying. We love communicating with our clients on the most clear and concise way in order to help them reach their graduate education aspirations. If you find that there are any other parts of the graduate application process that you have questions on, please feel free to ask. While we do not give 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to have a conversation about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching. Feel free to reach out [link]
Hey,
I am admitted for doctorate in chemistry for fall 2018 in USA.But due to unknown reasons my visa has been refused twice.what can I do to get deferral for spring? how could I convince my admission officer for deferral letter ?
Hello Raam, Congratulations on your acceptance to a Chemistry Doctorate! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this is still helpful: Please understand that I am not a lawyer and this is neither legal nor immigration advice. We recommend going to the university international student page and contacting the admission office to specific details regarding your situation regarding your visa, which seems to be your reason for deferral. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
Hi Kaneisha,
I was admitted to an amazing university as a freshman last spring. I accepted the offer, attended orientation, and have enrolled in my classes. However, throughout the summer my financial situation has become increasingly worse. I am also younger than the usually admitted freshman and am starting to see I may not be ready for university.
I want to defer for a year but classes start in 6 weeks. Is it too late now to defer or should I still try?
Thank you!
Hello Sam, Congratulations on getting into the university of your choice! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this is still helpful. We recommend submitting deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral. Each school may have a different deferment process, which may help as you consider your option. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. Given adequate timing, we have experience working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request, especially for graduate school. Due to your current timing (six weeks before classes begin), a deferral request may not be granted. However, you can still request one. Best of Luck to You!
When deffering are they any specific forms that are to be attracted? 😓I have applied for September 2019 intake in University and at that time admission request for May 2019 intake was closed. Now, May 2019 intake is reopened. What is it called to request for an early intake (opposite of deferral) and how can I apply for that.
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My name is Mary. I deferred at the university am studying for a year due to unfavorable health and now I have to go back and the university is requesting me to write assument letter before I report. Pls how do i write it.
Hello Mary, It wonderful to hear from you. We wish you a good recovery during these times. I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this advice is still helpful: Asking and checking the university’s website can provide new information, which can help better construct the letter. However, I would need more details to learn more about the letter that your school is requesting. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more. Best of luck to you!
How to defer laspotech admission to next year nd1 and what are the requirements pleaseHello Victor, It is wonderful to hear from you! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. I hope that this advice is still helpful: Each deferral request is unique to the school as well as your reasons for deferral. We have over a decade of experience working with clients on deferral requests for a variety of international graduate program. While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your application process, and how we can help. We have hourly coaching available [link] to help continue this conversation
Hi Kaneisha, I just got accepted to the college of my dreams. At the same time, I was offered a scholarship to attend one of the best boarding schools in the country to do a PG Year (year 13) on a scholarship. I requested a deferral of a year for my enrollment and it was declined. Do you have any advice for me? I don’t know what to do and I have to make a decision quickly. Thanks in advance.
Congratulations on the acceptance into the college of your dreams, Nicole! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. The college denied your deferment request; simultaneously, you were offered a scholarship to do a PG year. The advice that we give depends on your personal goals as well as critically evaluating each option to achieve your educational aspiration. We do this all the time in our one-on-one sessions. In time sensitive cases, you need to purchase a coaching package to ensure you will receive a reply by the time you need to hear from us. We offer hourly coaching as well [link]. Feel free to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
Please I was given an admission last year but couldn’t process it because of funds and they forfeited the admission. This year, I reapplied to that same school.
Is there a chance I will be considered.
Thank you for your question. I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you and someone else in that situation. Some graduate programs do not grant deferrals; however, in your situation, the offer of admission was forfeited. Though there are differences in this process, there is still a chance to reapply. In fact, we have supported client in reapplying their dream school and receiving funding in their reapplication. It would be wonderful to guide you through each step of the way. Here is a link to reach out to us on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
Please I got an offer to MDX but unfortunately I lost my father yesterday amd I am to resume school September, please how do I Aly for deferment till January?
Congratulations on the offer from MDX! We are sorry to hear about your father’s passing. I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. We recommend submitting your deferment request as soon as you know and have the reasons to defer, which you do, given the recent news. Hopefully, this is still helpful for you. Amidst these sudden life changes, we would be honored work with you through each step of the way. We support our clients in reviewing their deferral requests and financial aid appeal letters. Feel free to reach out to us [link] on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
What is the maximum years one can be granted if he or she wants a deferment.Thank you for your question! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. As a quick reminder, deferrals are for a school that you definitely want to go to, but your current situation prevents you from engaging in the program in that particular academic year. Each deferral process is unique to the school. Thus, the maximum amount of time for a deferral depends on the university’s deferral process as well as the reasons of the deferral request. Deferment request’s reason need to be compelling and action-oriented. We work with our clients to develop strategies for deferral requests. We offer hourly coaching. Feel free to reach out to us [link] on that topic if you’d like to learn more.
Hi,i was admitted at moi university
but i didn’t fill the differral letter.How can you help me please?
Congratulations on your acceptance into Moi University, Stanley! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Your question of how we can help is responded by how we have helped our previous clients in deferral requests. We have over a decade of experience working with clients to tactfully craft and submit deferral request, especially for international graduate programs. We recommend submitting deferral request as soon as you know and have reasons for deferral, which need to be compelling and action-oriented. All to say, we are here to help! While we don’t provide free 1:1 advice via our blog, we’d love to chat more with you about your deferral process. We have hourly coaching available [link]. Contact us to continue the conversation.
Hello , i’m Nevil i have deferred my chance at the university by one year due to financial breakdown, how will i know whether my request is accepted or not?
Thank you for your question, Nevil! I am Noah, a consultant with The Art of Applying. Hopefully, this is helpful for you and someone else in that situation. You have already submitted a one-year request for deferral due to financial breakdown. Now, you are awaiting the deferral decision from the university. Each deferral process is unique to each university. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the university’s timeline on deferral request, so you can contact the appropriate office. Since deferral requests are not guaranteed approval, it is important to think of alternative plans. If you need any additional support, we are happy to assist! We have hourly coaching available [link], which can help continue this conversation. We wish you the best of luck in this process!
I was wondering if it was possible to request a deferral if you are 7-8 months pregnant by the time school starts or have a newborn? How likely would it be to approved?
Great question! We have successfully helped a number of our clients receive deferrals for a variety of different reasons. We would like to learn more about your current situation and see if we could help — so please complete an applicant profile form and we will reach out to you about next steps.
Hello, I have written a deferral request to my school, but there hasn’t been a response for the past 2 weeks. I was thinking of doing a follow up, is there any particular format in doing so? Thanks in advance!
congratulations….this site is amazingHi, thanks for the great post. I believe that my issue is a popular one. I am working in a company and be a part of a critical team. Since the team is thin and the workload is intense, leaving the company now will put my team in quite a difficult position (and somehow could damage my personal image). I would like to defer for only 1 semester so that my current contract with my company will expire by that time. Do you think it is an acceptable reason? Thank you.
Very Informative and useful blog. I had a Great time reading this, thank you for sharing this with us!
I have deferred my admission for PhD in computer science for fall 22′ due to not getting any financial assistance from the university as suggested by the advisor assigned to me but will I be considered for funding or any kind of financial assistance now for fall 22′ as I have deferred it?
I was planning to take a gap year after I finish high school so I can get a job, get a stable income, learn to drive, and overall sort myself out. However, I figured I would apply for next year to the schools I was considering in case I decide later to not do the gap year. I was recently accepted into one of the schools I had applied for but that wasn’t my first choice. If I get accepted to my first choice as well as this one, decline admission to this one and request a letter of deferral for the other, are my reasons valid enough to be considered, even though I knew about them ahead of time? If my letter of deferral is either accepted or denied, am I obliged to go to that school? Do you have any suggestions for what I can do if it is denied?
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