In a bind - Please help me out.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hi all, </p>

<p>I'm an international and I've been accepted to both UCLA and Berkeley. Because I have compulsory military duty, I will only begin my college education in 2009. </p>

<p>At this point, I wish to go to Berkeley. However, Berkeley cannot confirm at this point (after speaking to different people) that they can reserve a place for me till 2009. They have advised that I submit by Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and pay the deposit first and then submit a request to defer. Yet, there is still no guarantee such a request will be approved. </p>

<p>On the other hand, UCLA, according to its FAQ will allow deferment of studies due to military duties. </p>

<p>If I'm not wrong, you can only submit a SIR to one school. </p>

<p>If I submitted a SIR to UCLA, Berkeley would not consider my deferment request since they have repeatedly stressed that submitting the SIR and paying the deposit must be done before any request can be considered. </p>

<p>If I submitted a SIR to Berkeley and they decide not to defer me, I would effectively be without a college to study come 2009. </p>

<p>What should I do?</p>

2

<p>First get hold of UCLA and speak with a real person about the FAQ to confirm that this is the rule for all students, including internationals, and that it will be honored. If you get that confirmation, submit your SIR to UCLA.</p>

3

<p>I answered this same question differently on another section. My reasoning is that you can always re-apply, and you will probably get into at least one or the other, since you got into both this year. So there isn't such a terrible risk in submitting to Berkeley. If Berkeley refuses to defer you, then you can re-apply, and you'll probably get into one or the other again. But there is always risk in this strategy.</p>

<p>Depends also on how much you prefer Berkeley to UCLA. If it's really a toss-up, then go UCLA I guess. But you have to make sure their military deferment applies to internaitonals, not just US military.</p>

4

<p>@ UCLA77, </p>

<p>I sent an email last week. Think I'll call them the first thing tomorrow.</p>