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Posted

I'm still waiting on one school, but I already got one fantastic offer, but my situation is a bit complicated and incredibly frustrating, and loath as I am to defer, it might be happening, because I don't want to lose the offer entirely. I've talked briefly to the grad coordinator about that possibility, and she said it's not really a thing, that they had someone defer who joined the cohort last fall and it was all fine. This program guarantees funding for all PhD students, so losing funding isn't an issue. BUT. Is deferring an offer essentially a contract to attend the next fall? My partner and I are both planning for PhD, but we didn't get into the right places this year - can I defer my good offer and still apply to other places in the fall, and possibly accept one of those? This offer isn't my dream school, and while it is a good one, it's not ideally situated. Can I defer and apply other places? Is it tacky/bad faith? I've been looking online and can't seem to find whether or not deferring is binding, so I turn to you all. Help?

Posted

I'm still waiting on one school, but I already got one fantastic offer, but my situation is a bit complicated and incredibly frustrating, and loath as I am to defer, it might be happening, because I don't want to lose the offer entirely. I've talked briefly to the grad coordinator about that possibility, and she said it's not really a thing, that they had someone defer who joined the cohort last fall and it was all fine. This program guarantees funding for all PhD students, so losing funding isn't an issue. BUT. Is deferring an offer essentially a contract to attend the next fall? My partner and I are both planning for PhD, but we didn't get into the right places this year - can I defer my good offer and still apply to other places in the fall, and possibly accept one of those? This offer isn't my dream school, and while it is a good one, it's not ideally situated. Can I defer and apply other places? Is it tacky/bad faith? I've been looking online and can't seem to find whether or not deferring is binding, so I turn to you all. Help?

Don't you need to accept their offer first and then you can defer the entrance term?

I've seen people done it for medical school and other health-related field, because the tuition cost is so much higher there. ($0 vs $200,000).

I don't know if they would do that for PhD though, because essentially they're paying you to go there and there are other excellent applicants who are as good as you out there. I think it's definitely possible if you know which group you want to join and sign some kind of contract with the POI.

Posted

Well, I know they don't like it, but if it is what is best for you yes you can defer and apply and attend elsewhere. I have a friend who deferred when she won a Cambridge-Gates, and then in England she applied to a couple other PhD programs and ended up attended one of those instead. For her, it was in large part because her preferred mentor moved and she followed him. Everyone understood.

Posted

For law school my sister deferred Columbia, then applied to Harvard the following year. She got in and accepted, and Columbia found out and threatened to tell Harvard what she did and Harvard was like, "who cares.....sucks for you." So yeah I think it's frowned upon but it might not matter that much?

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

I was accepted to a PhD program for counseling psychology. I want to defer because I am awaiting notification to see if I will receive a Fulbright award. I have to respond to the admissions offer by Monday but may or may not get word from Fulbright next week. If I get the Fulbright, I'll have a good excuse to defer and will take the Fulbright and start the PhD program next year. (This school permits deferrals for special circumstances and I'm sure Fulbright will count)

Even if I don't get the Fulbright, I still want to defer but I don't know if deferring to work (get some experience and hone my practical skills) is a good enough excuse. This is my main concern. How do I furnish this request? I don't know how to inquire about deferring. I want them to know that I'm serious about the program.

Any thoughts?

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