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Getting into the college—or graduate school—of your choosing is a massive achievement. Whether your letter of acceptance comes in a big packet full of glossy brochures, a single-page letter with just the basics, or an email with all kinds of enticing links, everything comes into sharper focus once you’re notified that you’re on your way to the college or program of your dreams. Well done!

You know a college degree is in your future…but maybe it can wait.

So, now that you know where you want to go, what if you start having second thoughts about when you want to go? Well, there are all kinds of good reasons to defer admission—ranging from getting a little bit of additional academic preparedness, to raising additional funds for your tuition, to .

Not every university will allow you this option, but there are some solid reasons to consider it. It’s important to know what to do as you plan for the next steps to move your education forward.

What does it mean to defer university admission?

As you’re thinking about reasons to defer university admission, make sure you understand precisely what that means. Simply put, you’re asking the college or program of your choosing to hold your place for a semester or full academic year and grant you acceptance into the next semester or the next class—without you having to reapply for acceptance.

There are different requirements depending on the school or program, and it’s important to know what those are before you approach the university with your good reasons for deferment. Some places will require you to submit a complete report about what you intend to do with the time. Others might insist on a downpayment to hold your place. Still others might stick to strict counts for their upcoming cohort and make your acceptance conditional.

You’ll also want to find out about any impact on things like scholarships, fellowships, or financial aid. You may have some really good reasons to defer admission, but make sure you find out precisely what your intended college or program requires before making any plans.

How long can you defer admission?

Congrats, you got into your dream school! So what do you do if you’re not quite ready to hit the books?

This varies a bit depending on whether or not you’re planning to go to an undergraduate program or a graduate program, based on factors that include enrollment numbers, cohort size, majors or specializations, and even campus housing quotas.

For example, if you’re in a specialized graduate program that pays strict attention to the number of positions granted each year, you might be told you can’t defer at all—or, at most, you can take a semester break, provided you catch yourself up by the following year.

However, some undergraduate programs make the process much simpler. You might even find it easy to take up to a full year, as long as you’re offering good reasons to defer admission to the admissions team. Undergraduate programs are also more likely than graduate programs to offer ways for you to translate your time away into life experience credits or transfer credit opportunities, based on how you spend your time.

Regardless of your reasons to defer university admission, it’s best not to plan for more than one year, even if your reasons are super compelling. If you plan your deferment period carefully and make the most of the opportunity, that will be plenty of time!

If I get accepted to a university, can I wait a year?

A year really should be the maximum time for deferral. After all, anything more than that can make it seem less like you’re pursuing a positive gain—and more like you’re simply not ready for what comes next.

Obviously, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you manage to land a super-prestigious , and it requires an 18-month commitment but will add value to your overall graduate program experience, this is a conversation worth having with the admissions team. They can always decline and then you’d have to reapply, but as far as good reasons to defer admission go, this is a particularly good one.

Or, perhaps you’re about to enter an undergraduate program specializing in bilingual teaching, and you are accepted to a full calendar-year opportunity to right now. Even if that full year means you’re deferring for three semesters instead of two, it could be worth it if your school will support your goals.

Adventure is calling, so make sure your college knows your good reasons to defer admission.

The simple answer is this: If you can offer your intended school or program some really good reasons to defer university admission, they will be more likely to support you. And, while one year is the standard, best practice for this process, if your opportunities take you beyond this threshold, you have nothing to lose by asking.

7 good reasons to defer university admission

While you should think carefully about the pros and cons before you request a deferral, there are some really good reasons for deferment. Framing them correctly for your new university or program can help. Check out the seven options listed below for ideas:

1. Take a gap year

Taking a might be one of the most popular reasons to defer university admission. This can be an excellent opportunity for you to take some time to experience new things and prepare yourself for what comes next—including making yourself super-prepared for your program. In fact, there are even . Make sure you explore those as well! (Our recommendation? Impact Gap Year's 8-month gap experience around the world.)

2. Address personal concerns

A new college program can be demanding. You don’t want anything to get in the way of your success. Perhaps you’ve had a family issue come up recently or you’re experiencing some significant stress around a move or job change—whatever the case, getting your house in order can be a very good reason for deferment if it will help you set yourself up for success.

3. Improve your health

Being at your best is important, and there is a new significance to and appreciation for putting a priority on wellness in a post-COVID world. If you need time to improve your health and take care of yourself, it’s much better to do that before you begin a rigorous program. For that reason, focusing on your wellness can be a very good reason for deferment to consider.

4. Raise additional funds

The cost of a college program can be significant. Even if you receive scholarships, fellowships, or other financial aid, there are all kinds of expenses that can add up for anyone in a college program—and that includes those living at home! Making extra money, even if only to have a cushion, is among one of the more practical reasons to defer university admission.

5. Complete an internship abroad

Taking an internship abroad is one of the best reasons to defer university admission—and you might make some new friends along the way.

If you have an opportunity to , why wouldn’t you ask for some extra time to make that happen? After all, if you’re wondering, “If I get accepted to a university can I wait a year?” and that year includes the chance to work in your field, it makes perfect sense to pursue that through deferment.

6. Build your academic skill set

When you’re preparing to enter into the next phase of your academic journey, you might realize that there are a few core courses or foundational knowledge blocks that would benefit you. Ideally, you would address those before you begin, but if taking some time before entering the program will help you, then that’s definitely a good reason for deferment to help you start strong.

7. Volunteer abroad

As with the internship opportunity, if you , you will not only be able to benefit from meaningful travel experiences, but you can also help others in the process. Since academic institutions are consistently reaffirming their role as stewards of the community, this might be one of the most supported reasons to defer university admission there is.

For the right reasons, deferring college admission isn’t the end of the world

You’ll make the most of your college experience after a gap year that lets you build your skills and learn more about the world.

Whatever might motivate your decision to make a request for deferment, there are definitely good reasons to defer admission—as long as you’re thoughtful about the purpose and make the most of the time you have. Whether you’re attending a college that supports as a standard opportunity or arguing your case to a program that’s more reluctant to offer deferment options, the most important thing to remember is that your academic process belongs to you. And only you know what’s best for yourself!

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