How to Write a Deferral Letter

The end of your high school education is an exciting time. You’ve heard from all the colleges you applied to, and you’ve picked the perfect school. Congratulations! Some people at this point will jump straight into classes, but that’s not the only path you can take. More and more people are seeing the value of taking a gap year to gain new skills, achieve goals, and even see the world. 

If you’re taking a gap year, you’ll want your college to hold your spot, so you can dive in when you return. To do this, you’ll need to defer. That’s an official term where a school will hold your spot for a certain period of time. To be able to officially defer, you’ll likely need to write a deferral letter. Read on to learn more about what this letter is and to find everything you need to write an effective letter. 

Can I Defer College Admission for a Gap Year?

Many universities will let students defer for a gap year. Some students will defer because their financial situation has changed, and they need time to work. Or they might need time to gain in-state residency for tuition. Others will do so to join a program that provides priceless growth opportunities. For example, Tilting Futures offers the Take Action Lab, which is an immersive program where you can take on global challenges and learn from some of the best minds around. Most schools will allow you to take a gap year to experience something like this. 

Ultimately, every school is different, and to determine if you’re allowed to defer admission, you’ll want to contact your college. 

Do I Need to Write a Deferral Letter for a Gap Year?

Most deferment-friendly schools will require you to submit an official document about your request to defer. Usually, this will be in the form of a deferral letter because it’s an easy way for you to formally let the school know about your plans for your gap year. 

If your request for a gap year is granted, you’ll usually have to put down a deposit to secure your spot. The good news is that you’re also not required to attend after that year. You might go out and have new experiences and change your mind about what you want to do for school. That’s okay! It happens to some people, and you can then shift toward what you are going to do next. 

When to Send a Deferral Letter

You should write and submit a deferral letter before you accept your place in the class and pay your deposit. If you’ve already accepted, you can still request a deferral, but it can be more logistically complicated for the admissions office. This timeline means you’ll usually send a deferral letter during the spring—after you’ve heard back on admissions but several weeks before the deadline for accepting your spot. 

Pay close attention to deadlines. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to accept your spot at your dream school because you waited too long to defer properly. Try to send your deferral letter with at least a month of buffer time before the deadline to accept or decline admission. That should give the admissions committee plenty of time to evaluate your letter and decide if they want to grant you a deferral. In general, most schools have deadlines between May and July.