<p>I was waitlisted at Pomona this year. Even before decisions came out, I knew I wanted to take a gap year to volunteer and travel and all that. In my letter of interest to Pomona, should I tell them about my gap year plans, or will this decrease my chances of getting taken off the wl? Would I be allowed to take a gap year if I don’t tell them in the letter and get off the list?
Thanks!</p>
<p>No, if they admit you off the waitlist, you will be admitted for this year. They are looking to fill the current class, not next year’s class, so I don’t think telling them that you don’t intend to come this year will give them any incentive to take you off the waitlist. 
Some schools allow you to defer admission, but I don’t think Pomona is one of them. They are so small.</p>
<p>nycprospie, I hope this helps.</p>
<p>Deferral of Admission Enrollment Policy
Students offered admission under Regular or Early Decision may apply to defer their entry to the College by one year. Students offered admission from the waiting list may not defer entry. Requests to defer are reviewed and approved individually by the Dean of Admissions and must be received by May 1 with their enrollment forms.</p>
<p>Here’s the link:
[Admissions</a> - Pomona College - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Pomona College - Acalog ACMS™”>Admissions - Pomona College - Acalog ACMS™)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! That’s slightly disappointing to hear. </p>
<p>I’ve been accepted to another top LAC that would allow me to take a gap year and I’m torn as to whether I should go there and take a gap year, or send a letter of interest to Pomona saying I’ll definitely attend if I get accepted.</p>
<p>That’s a tough decision to make. May I ask which other LAC you got into? I’m always curious about these things. I think it comes down to whether you want to take the gap year or if attending Pomona is really that important to you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Williams! I went to Previews this week and loved it, but Pomona seems to exude happiness, if that makes sense.</p>
<p>Like Frenchhornaddict says, it depends on whether you want to take a risk that you won’t have a gap year on the chance that you were to get off the waitlist for Pomona. Clearly, Williams is a fantastic option. But I also think you have a good idea that there is a special ‘California’ vibe at Pomona. You just need to be clear whether you will always wonder what would have happened if you had pushed to get off the waitlist or if you can let it go.</p>