<p>I was wondering, can you can defer your admissions for a year if you are admitted from the waiting list?</p>
<p>I don't know. Ask admissions.</p>
<p>I think that they would admit you to add people to their class this year, but you can certainly be offered a spot in next year's class from the waitlist. I would ask admissions, because your willingness to defer could increase the probability of you receiving such an offer, although it may have no effect. It's worth trying, though.</p>
<p>There are three possibilities for people on the WL:</p>
<ol>
<li>You get in for the fall semester that you applied (Fall 2008).</li>
<li>You get in, only if you commit to taking a year off (This is called the Z-List).</li>
<li>You don't get in.</li>
</ol>
<p>I've heard anecdotal evidence where a student on the WL told admissions that they would be willing to take a year off. I don't know how verifiable the that is, though.</p>