<p>I already know about deferring law school.
I already know that most law schools suggest students take 2 years or so to do other things before law school.</p>
<p>What if... I apply to law school, then find out that I got an amazing internship/fellowship that would be a 2 year commitment or so, and decide not to go to law school yet? I doubt deferrals are normally 2 years, and if the ones that I get into don't allow deferrals, then I would have to say no. </p>
<p>Given that I said no after already applying and getting in (or not), when I apply again, would that have a detrimental effect on my application?</p>
<p>I think it may have a detrimental effect, but I'm not too sure on this. I do know that schools ask you to check a box if you applied to their school before so they do have your old application on file.</p>
<p>It certainly doesn't look good that you turned them down the first time, but you could always write an addendum explaining that you couldn't defer. Also, since admissions seems to get harder every year, you would have a lower chance the second time around anyway.</p>
<p>It doesn't have to be a Rhodes. I know that a few years ago, 80 of the entering first year law students at Yale Law had deferred at least one year. (And that's 80 out of less than 200.) At least one Rhodes Scholar deferred 3 years to get a doctorate. </p>
<p>And, no law school is going to hold it against you if you did something interesting and worthwhile those 2 years, e.g., Teach for America or Peace Corps. Even if they won't defer--some will-- they won't hold it against you. </p>
<p>One word of advice though--if you want to defer ask ASAP. While I've never seen this in writing, my kid's friends found that the closer to May 1 it got, the less liberal law schools were and after May 1 deferrals were really hard to get. Let them know when they have not yet finished processing apps and mailing out decisions and they are more likely to grant the deferral. </p>
<p>Another fly in the ointment...some law schools won't let you defer merit money. If you win the "x prize" --which is a free ride at a top 14, but not top 3 law school--it will NOT let you defer it. They will however let you reapply for it. So, in that case, you are better off NOT deferring--which locks you into going but without the merit money. If you were good enough to win the X prize in the first place, you are virtually guaranteed to be admitted when you reapply in 2 years. You can reapply for the X prize, but somebody else might win it simply because this time around someone with better credentials than you applies for it.</p>
<p>Is it plausible to defer for the sole purpose of working for 1-2 years to pay for [some of] law school? Is that an acceptable reason?</p>
<p>I was thinking of applying to law school to go directly after graduation, but I want to work for 1-2 years knowing that I had a law school to go to afterwards.</p>
<p>the schools I applied to don't allow you to defer in order to work in a regular job (something time-delimited, like Teach for America, would be acceptable). You would have to decline the acceptance and re-apply when you actually wanted to attend.</p>