Deferral due to personal circumstances

[tea42971]

Hi all, 

I have a bit of a dilemma--I have been accepted into the perfect PhD program (funded, great fit, etc) and very much want to enroll, the problem is that due to somewhat severe personal/familial circumstances, I really can't next fall.  The program does not have an information about deferrals, and I do not know if they are even allowed at this university.

 

I've spoken to the department chair informally about the program and have been assured that they are really very interested in me. I have no interest in applying anywhere else or doing anything else, I just really need another year before I can make the move and get started. Is it acceptable to explain to this to the program? I am prepared to re-apply if I am told that deferral is not possible, but I worry that turning down the offer once will cause me to lose my place. Has anyone had experience deferring for personal reasons in the past? How is the best way to go about it? 

[ChrisTOEFert]

1 hour ago, tea42971 said:

Hi all, 

I have a bit of a dilemma--I have been accepted into the perfect PhD program (funded, great fit, etc) and very much want to enroll, the problem is that due to somewhat severe personal/familial circumstances, I really can't next fall.  The program does not have an information about deferrals, and I do not know if they are even allowed at this university.

 

I've spoken to the department chair informally about the program and have been assured that they are really very interested in me. I have no interest in applying anywhere else or doing anything else, I just really need another year before I can make the move and get started. Is it acceptable to explain to this to the program? I am prepared to re-apply if I am told that deferral is not possible, but I worry that turning down the offer once will cause me to lose my place. Has anyone had experience deferring for personal reasons in the past? How is the best way to go about it? 

I think your best bet is to schedule a meeting (via Skype or in person if it is a reasonable commute) with both the grad co-ordinator/head of the program and your PI.  You can allude to what you need in an e-mail, but push that you feel a meeting is preferred so you can explain what needs to be said more easily.  While somewhat related, I had thought about doing this for one of my schools (my current MSc location) but having them hold a backup spot for me in case the location I chose does not work out.  A friend of mine did this over the summer, her current school is saving a spot for her for a year if the position she chose is not to her liking (or so she says).  It never hurts to ask, and I would highly stress in your email/meeting that you do definitely want to attend but extenuating circumstances are preventing you from going 100% into grad life until mid-late 2017.

[TakeruK]

Many students defer for personal reasons. I know of a few at my current school and it's no problem at all. It won't hurt you to ask. Usually though, when you defer an offer like this, you are expected to either actually attend next year or not go to grad school at all. That is, you should not be applying to other programs while you are deferring from another program. I'm not saying that you would do this, but I have seen a bunch of posts recently here about doing this!