<p>My son is planning a gap year and wants to defer attending college for a year. He is having difficulty choosing between two colleges to defer admission. Is it possible for him to defer at two colleges?</p>
<p>Sure, my daughter did that, the schools were happy to oblige. However, it wasnt because she was having trouble deciding, she had always planned to take a gap year.
Some schools may ask you to reapply however.</p>
<p>I’m confused, don’t you have to accept admission to a college before you can defer enrollment? I’ve never heard of deferring the decision and having colleges willingly hold a spot for a year without the student having made a commitment to attend. I think you’d better talk to the respective admissions offices. Are you asking about accepting at two colleges, then deferring at both, then a year later withdrawing from one? Isn’t that frowned on, if not downright unethical?</p>
<p>They probably won’t save a spot for someone who may not attend. </p>
<p>^ I agree with bopambo, but ask about the school’s individual policy. Some colleges do not defer and require the student to reapply. In general, one has to accept the admissions offer, then request a deferral for a gap year. Not only does the student need to commit to attending the following year, the student can be asked to not take classes at another college, or apply to another college during the gap year.
When granting a deferral, the college agrees to hold a place for the student. You expect them to keep this commitment as it would be awful to return and have them say “sorry,no room”. Likewise, the student agrees to attend. There are unpredictable situations that may come up that may change this, but agreeing to return with intentions not to, or agreeing to attend two colleges, isn’t ethical. </p>
<p>Ya… I don’t quite get what you are asking? Can you clarify? My S got accepted ED to a college, he paid his deposit check, then wrote them an email requesting a deferral for 1 year. They were more than happy to approve it and he will have a place waiting for him the following August. My older S did the same. Neither would of thought of breaking that commitment to the college… although there are unavoidable things that just happen… A year is a long time. But basically everything is the same, you just start one year later. </p>
<p>"Is it possible for him to defer at two colleges? "</p>
<p>no its not. He has to choose now which college he wants to go to after his gap year. </p>
<p>Oops, my son deferred at two colleges last spring. They are both in our state system. I wasn’t sure if he would be doing well enough (because of his mental illness) to go to the one across the state from us. We had to pay a $100 deposit at one of the schools. The other one didn’t request anything. It turned out not to matter, because he has decided not to attend college at all for the time being.</p>
<p>Is he taking a gap year so he doesn’t have to make the decision?
What will be different after a gap year so he will know what he wants?
Unless you have some valid reason (e.g., like MaineLonghorn) I would have him choose and then defer.</p>