My experience is in neuroscience and psychology. Up until this past January I have been working in a neuroscience lab. I applied to a few places last December and I got into a masters of global health at KCL that I’m pretty interested in. The problem is, I haven’t found funding other than student loans and I’m already in over my head. My two choices are to pay the $3k deposit and defer next year in search of more funding, or save my money (because I’m broke), and reapply this fall. I’m worried about getting in again because as I said I left my lab position in January and have been in France, doing nothing neuroscience/ psychology related.
There’s really no way to know what your chances of readmission are; you’ll be competing with a new set of people. Also, some programs may look unfavorably upon someone who declined them the year before. Others may not. It really just depends.
However, if you can’t afford to attend at this time, the BEST thing to do would be decline the offer. You can spend the time trying to save money and hope that you get into the same or a similar but different program next year. But you can’t get blood from a stone, and you shouldn’t attend a grad program you can’t afford because you’re worried about readmission. Don’t pay the $3,000 because then you’re out $3K if you don’t attend.
Edit: Though before you decline, you should contact the program and let them know that you really want to attend but it would be a financial hardship for you to do so, and let them know how much money you’d need in order to attend. They might be able to help you find some funding. If not, they’ll tell you.