Can you defer admission to a doctoral program and then go somewhere else?

[omgwtfbbq]

Couldn't fit the whole question in the title. Can you defer admission to a PhD program you are accepted to, apply to other schools and, if you get into a better school go there and tell the school you deferred that you wont be coming? 

Edited February 27, 2013 by omgwtfbbq

[fuzzylogician]

Technically? probably yes. Ethically and professionally? you might be shooting yourself in the foot. The professors you will have led on for no reason will remember you for all the wrong reasons. The best way to go about doing this kind of move is to let the school know you're deferring early on so you're not causing them to lose a spot in this year's cohort, and also be very careful about how and when you notify them the following year. But generally, having this plan from the get go sounds like a bad idea that is likely to backfire and have unwanted repercussions.

[Yetanotherdegree]

The vast majority of doctoral programs do not allow deferred admission. Probably because people will do exactly what you're suggesting, which ties up places for other candidates and messes with the delicate balance of areas and POIs.

[unacclimated]

I think the best thing to do would be decline the offer and re-apply next year along with your other top choice schools. I think it would show a good amount of maturity to tell your admitted school that perhaps your not ready this moment, fall 2013, to begin a phd and do not want to lead them on. In this case, you will re-apply and be considered against the cohort for 2014 fall admissions. If you feel uncertain about whether you'd get accepted into your top choice school, then maybe this program might be the best available option.