When to ask for a 1 year deferment (esp. from UVA)? Forum

[mulhollanddrive]

I have set my mind on getting a 1 year deferment, and I am strongly leaning toward attending UVA, but Cornell is an option if UVA were to deny it, since Cornell is very liberal with granting deferments. I have my request letter ready, but the only thing that has been stopping me from sending it to UVA is the fact that I am waiting on Columbia (held) and NYU, and if I were to get accepted to either of these, I would have to strongly consider them. I feel that a deferral request should only be asked to a school that one is certain to attend, and thus I have been waiting up until now.

But this waiting game is making me nervous about the likelihood of UVA granting me the deferment. We are approaching mid-April and deposit deadlines are coming up. Is it getting LATE to ask and am I hurting my chances of getting the deferment by waiting til now? When is it considered 'early', 'normal' or 'late' in terms of requesting a deferment?

Thanks, any advice on this would be appreciated.

[WahooLaw24]

I bet UVA would grant you a deferment now.

[cruxisfalcon]

I don't have any experience with UVA specifically, but at the schools I was considering, timing was pretty important. A lot of schools only allow a certain number of students to defer each year so it's to your benefit to ask early. Maybe you can send an email to admissions asking about their deferral policy?