How Do People Defer Enrollment?

[hugh2012]

How do people get into medical school and defer their enrollment for a year? I am very interested in applying, getting in, and deferring enrollment for a year because I would rather not have the burden of applications during my year off when I can be doing something I enjoy. I heard adcoms only let you defer if you have a Fullbright or Rhodes Scholar or something substantial. Is that true? So can you defer to travel?

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[Spector1]

ask the adcoms politely.

 

[gublagu3]

For a deferral, there usually need to be special circumstances, like some one wants to finish a PHD program or take part in peace corps. I would imagine they would look unfavorably upon someone who wants to take time off just for travel.

 

[Catalystik]

How do people get into medical school and defer their enrollment for a year? I am very interested in applying, getting in, and deferring enrollment for a year because I would rather not have the burden of applications during my year off when I can be doing something I enjoy. I heard adcoms only let you defer if you have a Fullbright or Rhodes Scholar or something substantial. Is that true? So can you defer to travel?

Some schools are liberal about granting a deferment, some never do, and many need a good reason. Among the latter are those that won't be friendly to a pre-existing plan to put off matriculation. Are you willing to do the research that would tailor your application list to only those schools that are friendly to deferment requests?

 

[ChrisMack390]

Applying to medical school without the intention of going to medical school next year is a dumb idea.

 

[mrspecialist]

You can't defer for the reason you stated.

 

[LizzyM]

On the other hand, I suspect that when faced with over-enrollment, a school will be very liberal in offering deferments as they are far cheaper (no cost!) compared with bumping students, usually at a cost of 30-50K/student as an inducement to defer a year.

 

[Catalystik]

On the other hand, I suspect that when faced with over-enrollment, a school will be very liberal in offering deferments as they are far cheaper (no cost!) compared with bumping students, usually at a cost of 30-50K/student as an inducement to defer a year.

I've seen it happen. Good times for all.

 

[ChrisMack390]

If offered a free year of tuition or comparable, I have to say I would probably take a deferment and do a research year or something...