Deferring college acceptance to attend a different school?

I was accepted to a college but got a better offer from another school. Is it possible to defer my acceptance to the first college while attending the second one temporarily, or would that complicate things?

Deferring enrollment usually means that you've committed to attending the institution after the deferral period (typically a year). So, technically, attending another institution in the meantime goes against the spirit, and usually explicit policies, of deferrals.

However, specifics can vary by school, depending on their policy and restrictions on what you can do during your deferral period. Some colleges are stricter and will not allow students to enroll in another degree-granting program during that time. Enrolling in another institution could cause your spot to be revoked at the first institution.

It's crucial to clarify the details with the specific institution's admissions offices before making any decisions. Usually, the respectful course of action, if you want to go to another school temporarily, is to decline your admission offer from the first school, and reapply later if you still wish to attend.

You might also want to think through why you're considering attending the second school temporarily. If you had a change of plans, or if the second institution is more fitting in terms of budget, program, or location, it might be more viable to fully commit to the second institution.