<p>Hi, I recently got admitted to Cal as a fall admit. Unfortunately, I want to defer my admission to spring because my stepfather is very ill and I want to stay next to him as much as I can. </p>
<p>I sent Berkeley a letter explaining this but they denied my request.</p>
<p>My counselor told me that I can add random classes in fall, drop them a day before class, then come back in Spring. She told me that I have to fill out a readmission form by september.</p>
<p>Am I correct? Will I get any W's if I follow this method?
Have you guys heard about this? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The Registrar’s office has a section covering withdrawal and it has changed since last semester. It used to counsel admitted students that if they withdrew on the first day of the semester or later, they would be able to submit a simple readmission application, the same as any current student who withdraws in the middle of their time here. As long as the student was not on probation nor in trouble, it was fairly automatic.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, that has all changed. Now, it says that a new admit who withdraws MUST reapply for admission, just as if they were never accepted. Since this change is very recent, it may not be something your counselor is familiar with. I would be extremely careful about this. </p>
<p>It may be that your choice is to attend Cal or to stay home and attend a different school. That may still be the right decision for you, but understand the consequences. Perhaps the local community college makes sense, applying as a transfer in two years?</p>