26. To Defer or Not to Defer [Admission], with Diana Jones

In the immortal words of William Shakespeare, "To defer or not to defer, that is the question." Or something like that. We're talking, of course, about whether or not to defer your admission to college / graduate school given the uncertainty around what the learning environment will look like when classes resume in the Fall. With so many schools relaxing their deferral requirements and lingering concerns about the safety of live, in-person classes, it's a question that a lot of students are wrestling with right now -- and time is quickly running out to make that decision.

To help unpack this important topic, we're joined in this episode by Diana Jones, admissions consultant with College and Prep, who weighs in with some key insights and important considerations that will help you decide whether to take a gap year or matriculate on schedule. Specifically, we discuss:

• The current higher education landscape in the world of COVID-19
• Why this year might be a good one to take a "gap year" -- and how you should spend your time if you make that decision
• The key difference between the decision facing undergraduates vs. grad students
• The top 3 reasons someone might decide to wait a year before going back to school
• Why most schools cap the number of gap-year requests they grant, and what it means for you
• The logistics of requesting deferred admission
• Whether or not you should expect a tuition reduction if classes are conducted online to start the school year (hint: don't hold your breath!)
• The best way to search deep within yourself to answer the question of whether to press the pause button or stay the course
• And more!

Deciding which college or graduate program to attend is a big enough of a decision as it is. Having to now decide whether to accept your offer of admission and go back to school this Fall -- or defer your admission and wait another year -- adds more complexity to the equation. After listening to this episode, we're confident that you'll be in a better position to make the decision that's right for you. Enjoy!


RESOURCES

1. Diana's NBC News article: "8 considerations for graduating high school seniors rethinking their plans due to COVID-19"
2. Contact Diana Jones for a free phone consult
3. Register for a comprehensive online prep course (SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, EA) with Dominate Test Prep

A DOSE OF MOTIVATION

Harlem, by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over—

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

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