What is the deal with deferring? Forum

[things fall apart]

Hello everyone, I am waiting to hear back from schools still. However, I have been seriously weighing a program to work overseas for a year. Do schools accept a one-year deferral with a guaranteed seat for the next year?
I am an UG, and I do realize that WE and a retake would do me well to reapply next cycle, but if I were to end up at the school I want, is it acceptable to be deferring with documented proof of WE and a pledge to enroll the next fall?

[j.wellington]

In my experience, this is one issue that you'll find very little solid advice about here (or anywhere else, really). I get the impression that law schools rarely grant deferrals, and when they do, it's only to outstanding applicants who demonstrate a very good reason for not attending that year, like some sort of health or family emergency. If you just want to do something different for a year they'll probably suggest you apply the following year. I don't think it hurts to ask, though.

[adameus]

this depends on the school. some schools, like Harvard, will grant you a deferral for one and often two years very easily. Others, like Yale, will not grant any deferrals. I think your best bet is to ask/research this option with the particular school you would be interested in deferring at.

[akili]

I know I talked to Wake Forest and they seemed pretty open to the idea of me deferring. The impression I got is that if you are pursuing a legitimate program they will be pretty open.