What's the Difference Between University Deferral and Deferment?

Hi everyone! Quick question: can someone explain the difference between deferral and deferment in the college admissions process? I've heard both terms being used, but I'm a bit confused as to what they both mean. Appreciate any help!

Hello! I understand that the terms deferral and deferment can be confusing. While they may seem similar, they apply to different aspects of the college admissions process. Let me break it down for you:

1. Deferral (Admissions): Deferral typically occurs in the context of Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) applications. If a college decides not to accept or reject an ED or EA applicant, they might defer the decision to the Regular Decision (RD) application pool. The deferred applicant will receive a final admissions decision when RD decisions are released. Essentially, deferral provides the admissions committee with more time to review the applicant's file and compare them to the RD applicant pool.

2. Deferment (Enrollment): Deferment, on the other hand, refers to a situation in which an accepted student chooses to delay starting college for a specific duration, usually one or two semesters, or a full academic year. This process is also known as taking a gap year. A student may want to defer their enrollment for various reasons, such as personal, financial, or academic considerations, or to pursue a unique opportunity like extensive volunteering or traveling. In most cases, students need to request the deferment from the college, explaining their reasons for wanting to delay enrollment and providing a plan for their gap year.

So, in short, deferral relates to the admissions process and impacts whether an applicant is accepted or not, while deferment concerns enrollment and deals with an accepted student's decision to delay the start of their college education. I hope this clarifies the difference between the two terms!