Hi - my D26 has applied to U Delaware, U Mass Amherst, U Vermont, UConn and several other schools on the East Coast with similar size and acceptance rate ranges for Fall 2026 (no highly rejective schools). She is undecided for her major but may undergrad in biochemistry (she likes it) with hopes of going to law school afterwards (not sure what she will do with that combo but that is a separate discussion).
We are West Coast and D26 has a 3.88uw GPA at a very rigorous private school and a 1500+ SAT with 5s on all APs (4 taken so far) and good ECs. We will be OOS at every school applied to. We think it likely she will accepted to all the schools applied to with some merit.
However due to a medical issue D26 may need to defer to Fall 27.
What are the pitfalls of deferring for the schools above (would any merit hold) and would it be better to not register for any school and take a gap year and apply cleanly as a 27? Could she take classes for no credit at the local CC or U and still be a first year student for merit? Thanks for your thoughts.
Presumably, each schoolâs web site would have its policy on deferral of enrollment, including whether it is allowed and what conditions must be met.
Generally, taking college courses after leaving high school puts the student as risk of no longer being allowed to apply as frosh, although non-credit courses could be a gray area. Each school may have its own policy on what college course enrollment after leaving high school disqualifies the student from applying as frosh, so check each school carefully.
But also check whether merit scholarships of interest are available for gap year applicants, since there may be a few merit scholarships available only to students enrolling in college immediately after high school graduation.
Science undergraduate + law degree could open some possibilities regarding patent or intellectual property law that may not be available to other law graduates.
Not all schools allow deferrals. I donât think UMass does though there may be exceptions. You might want to check the schools on your list to make sure this is a doable plan before you get too far down the road.
I agree with the other posters that you should check with each college. Many colleges that do allow deferrals/gap years will require you to accept their offer of admission first and then request the deferral. In that deferral letter, youâll have to spell out why you want the deferral and what youâll do with the time. As noted, many colleges specifically say that you can NOT enroll in any college during that gap year.
Regarding merit scholarships, again check with each school. However, Iâve found in our research that many colleges will allow a deferral and you can keep the merit aid for when you start. Just note that the merit aid usually doesnât change, so tuition/room & board will likely go up, but your merit may not.
Regarding things to do during the gap year, Iâm trying to convince my own D26 to take a gap year and go somewhere and study a language for a year. Iâm not sure Iâll convince her, but I think thatâs a useful way to spend a gap year while also not being overly academic (learn the language without worry at all about the grade.) A medical deferral also sounds very reasonable, but just be careful about enrolling in college courses. Taking things for non-credit, I think, maybe allowed at some schools, but again youâll have to check each one.
Biochem degree should satisfy the academic requirements to sit for the patent bar (no law degree required):
With a law degree from a Tier One law school, she should have an opportunity to become an IP (intellectual property) attorney at a major law firm.
Life Sciences / Tech law firms on the West Coast include:
Typically, universities do not hold merit scholarship awards during oneâs gap year. And, no, it would not be wise to take any college courses during oneâs gap year as it may disqualify the student from consideration for merit scholarships for first year students. Do research instead.
I would contact each college to find out their policy. You can offer to provide a doctorâs note describing that the deferral is necessary for medical reasons.
Google the school name + admission + deferral. You will be given clear guidance like below this paragraph. You might also reach out to your regional admission rep. But start with reading their guidelines.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst rarely approves requests to defer admission decisions for students who are unable to attend during the admitted entering term indicated on their offer letter. If you are unable to attend UMass Amherst for the admitted entering term on your offer of admission, but wish to enroll for a future term, you will need to submit a new application and meet all requirements and deadlines for that term.
Students planning to complete a post-graduate year of high school or enroll full-time at another college or university are not eligible for deferred admission. Additionally, please note that visa denial or changes in visa status are not considered valid grounds for deferral.
We will consider a deferment request for students with documented significant extenuating circumstances such as:
Being called to active military duty (excluding those who join during/after the application process or compulsory military service for international students)
Religious obligation
Serious personal or family illness or death in the immediate family
Sudden significant change in family or personal income
If you believe you have significant extenuating circumstances log in and complete this form. Please note that you may be asked to submit additional documentation in support of the request, and that payment of the nonrefundable enrollment deposit is required. Not all deferral requests related to the significant extenuating circumstances listed above will be granted.
During the period of approved deferment students may take up to 11 credits total at a different institution so long as they remain in non-degree status (not including dual enrollment credits). A deferred student who subsequently matriculates at another institution and/or enrolls in more than 11 credits will lose their deferred admission status at UMass Amherst and must re-apply through the transfer admissions process (not including dual enrollment credits). Courses taken at other institutions will be evaluated for transfer credit in accordance with established UMass Amherst policies. For more information:
University of Delaware says this on their website:
" Deferrals are typically approved for those accepted and deposited students who are undertaking a service-oriented and/or educationally purposeful gap year or semester or who have medical situations/ilnesses or military obligations. To initiate a deferral process, you will need to access the deferral form, complete all required fields, and supply any additional documentation that may be requested. Documentation will likely be a doctorâs letter, military orders with dates of deployment, or an acceptance letter to a gap year/semester program. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Scott Grzenda. In the subject line, place âRequest a Deferralâ and in the body please include your name and UD ID # (starts with 70) and the reason for the deferral. The $500 Admissions deposit is required in order to defer."
UMass Amherst says this at this website:
" On a limited, case-by-case basis, the University of Massachusetts Amherst will consider deferring admission decisions for students for documented significant extenuating circumstances, such as being called to active military duty or religious obligations. If you are not one of the few students granted a limited deferral, and are unable to attend at this time, but wish to enroll for a future term, you will need to file a new application and meet all requirements and deadlines for that term. Please see our deferral policy for more information."
At University of Vermont at Reapplying to the University as an Undergraduate | University of Vermont Catalogue, it says:
âUnder certain conditions, candidates offered admission who choose not to attend in a given semester can defer entry for up to two semesters with permission of the admissions office (students offered Winter Cat admission are not eligible to defer). Students who defer admission are required to pay the acceptance fee for the semester to which they applied (an additional fee may be required) and may not enroll in another degree program at another college or university. Students who wish to defer admission for more than two semesters from the term of the original application will be asked to reapply for admission. After that period, or if the admitted candidate failed to request deferred admission, another application and fee must be filed for review by the admissions office.â
We understand that admission is not a one-size-fits-all process and that there are reasons first-year students may need to delay the start of their UConn education up to a year from the admission term. Whether it be to pursue a unique travel opportunity, to serve in the military or public service, or due to chronic illness, submit the Gap Year/Deferment Request Form found in your applicant portal and share your plan with us. Submission of the non-refundable enrollment fee is required by May 1 to secure your seat. Students may not enroll at another institution, professional certification program, or participate in a post-graduate year at a secondary school during the gap year/deferment period.
*Note:Early Decision and transfer students are not eligible for a gap year/deferment. If youâre a transfer student seeking to defer admission, please contact One Stop Student Services at onestop@uconn.edu."
each college is different (so check directly with the specific colleges), but a common rule that a lot of them use is you can enter as a 1st year student/freshman after a gap year/deferral year ONLY if you take no more than 12 units/credits at another college. Usually if you take more than whatever that collegeâs max is, they then consider you a transfer student, and then you have to apply as a transfer student, and then any âincoming freshmanâ merit scholarships awarded to you when you applied as a senior in high school are null and void.
Whether or not any merit scholarship $$ awarded could also be deferred is something that your D26 should ask each collegeâs admissions office directly.
IF your D26 decided to completely start over again apply again in the Fall 2027 application cycle, then you have to go through the whole thing againâŠall of the transcripts, letters of rec, etc. Thereâs a risk to doing that sometimes, especially if your D26 attends a high school with a large graduating class. Sometimes it can be harder to get help from the school counselor & your high school teachers once youâre no longer a high school student there.
If your D26 were my kid, Iâd be advising her to do the following:
Contact each collegeâs admissions office via email & phone call, if necessary, to inquire about their deferred enrollment policy.
Ask specific questions in the initial email to them. Things like: (a) what documentation does the student have to submit when requesting the deferred enrollment; (b) do I first need to accept the admissions offer, pay the enrollment fee, and then I request a deferral to the following fall semester; and/or (c) during the deferral time period is there anything I cannot/should not do (such as âtake no more than X # of college credits/units at another institutionâ).
Decide which of the schools you really want to attend. Enroll at one of them and defer your enrollment to the following fall.
If the deferred enrollment is due to medical reasons, when making your decision on which college to attend, consider whether youâll need any medical accommodations while at college.
Also do some research to learn/try to figure out if some of the colleges on your list do a better job than others at handling students who need medical accommodations.
So if you âread between the linesâ and were to interpret what those 4 different universities said, hereâs what my take is on each of the collegesâ policies:
University of Delaware:
âWe will likely approve this. But we have forms you have to fill out and youâll need to submit documentation from your doctor explaining the need for the deferral.â
UMass Amherst:
âWe hardly ever approve these, even if itâs for a medical reason. Good luck.â
University of Vermont:
âOh, you want to/need to defer your start here for 1 or 2 semesters? No problem, dude.â
UConn:
âShouldnât be a problem, but we want to know the reason for the deferral. For example, you want to travel in Europe for a year? No biggie.â
Thank you all for your guidance. We are not sure if sheâll be good by Fall 26 or will have to wait until Fall 27 and just kinda exploring options at this time. Will work with each college whether a deferral makes sense when we get there as itâs likely sheâd get a medical deferral..
Fortunately her school is pretty small (~260 kids in the 26 graduating class) with 5 or 6 college counselors so that support if trying again for Fall 27 may make sense if Fall 26 doesnât pan out.
D26 is unfortunately in kinda a DGAF stage re: colleges at this point (she will be a young 17 when she graduates) so maybe a gap year will encourage her to hone in on what she wants.
As well as merit, check housing policies if you are planning on on campus housing. One school weâve seen (not on your list) doesnât guarantee housing to gap year students though it does to other freshmen.
If your child does delay starting college by either method, one option to explore for staying intellectually active and potentially earning credits (without actually enrolling in college and jeopardizing freshman status) is by self-studying and taking CLEP exams.
In case youâre unfamiliar with CLEP: These exams are offered through College Board (like APâs but with no need to take the course), and individuals can do free prep for the exams and get a test fee waiver through ModernStates.org.
This could be a good fit for your child since she looks like a strong test-taker and is applying to public universities, which tend to have more generous CLEP acceptance policies than some privates. Search on each collegeâs website for which CLEP tests are accepted, what scores are needed for credit, what requirements they count toward, and how many credits max she could bring in with AP and CLEP combined.