Deferring a year for volunteer service: ethical question

Parents Forum
1

<p>My son is planning to do a year of volunteer service before going to college, and I admire that in him. However, before he made this decision he applied to University B (his second choice), where he was accepted. He also applied to University A (his first choice), where it’s looking like wait-list – and few are ever taken from the wait-list there. My question: Is it ethical for him to defer a year at University B, which routinely grants that year for volunteer service, and reapply at University A during that year?</p>

<p>I think this has a lot to do with custom. For example, in some parts of the publishing world it’s common to submit a manuscript to multiple publishers at once. Everyone knows that’s the game. In other parts, such as at some scholarly journals, it’s a great ethical breach to submit to multiple journals at once. There’s no great ethical principle involved; it’s just a matter of custom. What’s the custom in accepting a deferred admission to a university?</p>

<p>[One additional point: My son soared academically this year, with grades that put him back above 4.0 weighted (3.85 unweighted) and back into the top 10 percent of his high school graduating class. However, his high school does not officially re-rank the class at midyear, so University A does not know of his increased standing. That’s why I think an application next year might have a different outcome.]</p>

<p>Smalltowner</p>

2

<p>I don’t think there is anything unethical there. If the school is willing to defer admission for a year, it’s obvious that they still want him, but there is no binding agreement that he will attend next year. (at least I doubt that). So go for the volunteer year, and apply to as many schools next year as you want to.
If he does get off the waitlist at School A in July, I suppose he would take it, and not already be off on his volunteer trip.</p>

3

<p>Unless the deferring school sends you information stating diferently, I would assume that they have offered your child a spot in the class that enters in Fall 2006 and therefore you have until May 1, 2006 to decide. As with any other regular (non ED) college acceptance, you are free to apply anywhere else that you wish.</p>

4

<p>I don’tthink that it’s unethical; for example students agree to attend a school, then two months later get admitted off the waiting list at the preferred school. They lose their deposit at the school thet had agreed to attend. I suspect that if you ask to defer you will also be asked to leave a non-refundable deposit to secure the place.</p>