When applying to college, most students hope to be accepted and then begin school at the start of the next school year. Whether by choice or circumstance, however, some students are placed on waiting lists or they defer enrollment.
Deferment
Deferred enrollment takes place when a student is admitted for a particular term but postpones matriculation until some point in the future. Some students defer enrollment by choice, for example, to serve in the military or to perform missionary service. Others participate in university-sponsored programs such as Princeton University's Bridge Year, where the school selects groups of students to participate in a year-long overseas service program before beginning their freshman year.
Waiting Lists
Many colleges find it necessary to compile waiting lists when the number of eligible accepted applicants exceeds the number of spaces available in the incoming class. As students who were originally offered admission decline the offer, wait-listed students are then contacted and invited to enroll.
Considerations on Deferment
Students considering deferment need to check with their college to find out if it is allowed and under what circumstances. For instance, Brigham Young University only permits freshmen to defer admission for full-time missionary service, and students must begin school within two semesters of their return.
Considerations for Waitlisted Students
Students who are placed on a waiting list should consult with their school to find out what alternatives may exist. The University of Texas, for example, has a program called CAP where wait-listed students can transfer to the main Austin campus after a successful freshman year at another school in the Texas university system.
