<p>I am doing a gap year this fall, and am also accepted at my State U, which I am deferring for a year. However, it is not my top choice, and I hope to reapply next year to another college. If I get into it, am I allowed to cancel my acceptance to the State U?</p>
<p>If you were accepted this admissions cycle to your State U, you need usually to fill out a form, tell them what you intend to do, and then wait for them to give you confirmation that you have their permission to defer admission. I suppose your question therefore involves whether the form you eventually signs is “binding” in the sense of being like “Early Decision.” The Early Decision forms are very clear about the binding nature of that commitment. I would look to see if something like this appears in your form. If not, and the State U. just seeks your deposit to “hold” your place, then it is unclear to me what, on your side, your obligation actually is. For example, people “deposit” on a second choice college all the time while awaiting the results of waitlist decisions which, if successful, will result in a withdrawal of the acceptance and the loss of the deposit. In any event, I believe that you will have to get written permission from the State U. for a deferral, and in that permission will be the restrictions (if any) on engaging in further applications.</p>
<p>Of course you can cancel your acceptance at the first place at some time in the future. No one can absolutely force you to attend. </p>
<p>Do, however, pay attention to the wording of any letters you receive confirming the delayed enrollment. If you feel that applying to another college/university will breach a moral commitment to that first institution, you may be best off to formally withdraw your initial commitment, and reapply when you do indeed know that you would like to attend.</p>
<p>Typically, schools which allow deferment will have you sign a document saying you will not apply to other schools in the deferral period – the exact thing you’re proposing to do.</p>
<p>Morally, you should follow the advice of post #3, and formally withdraw from State U and reapply to it as well as your other schools next cycle. It’s wrong to ask State U to hold a spot for you in the class of 2017 when you plan on shopping around in the meanwhile.</p>
<p>Schools probably expect that some of their deferred admissions will melt away. My niece did what you are proposing and it worked out with no problem.</p>
<p>@snowdog: If I may, did your niece violate either the letter or spirit of the deferral agreement? Do you know? Did the first school have a “don’t apply to other schools” clause in the agreement?</p>
<p>Just curious. Just because the outcome was fine for your niece and schools who offer deferrals expect to be shafted occasionally, doesn’t remove the ethical aspect of the whole thing.</p>