Gap year

Good afternoon everyone!
I am planning to defer a scholastic college year but I am not sure which is the exact procedure I need to follow. I was accepted at a University I want to attend but I need to take a gap year.

Do I have to pay the initial deposit before sending the deferring letter to the Dean?
Otherwise, how can I confirm that I want to accept the admission offer and attend that university after a year?
Is it better to send a letter? Handwritten?

Call the school and find out their procedure.

Don’t handwrite the letter - it’s almost always better to type these days.

But other than that, yes, call the school and ask!