Deferral requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis; admitted first-year Cornell students may request a one or two-year deferred entry. In general, Cornell broadly supports the notion of a gap year experience for students between high school and college. Successful gap year experiences start with a well-developed plan and include personal goals. Admitted international students who seek a deferral due to mandatory military service in their home countries are typically granted a deferral. For more information, please visit the Enrollment Deferral Policy page.

If you are an admitted student wishing to defer enrollment for one or two years, you should submit an official request to Cornell undergraduate admissions by visiting your Applicant Portal and submitting the Deferral Request Form. The form will allow you to indicate your interest in connecting with an admissions officer about deferral plans before submitting an official request.

Please note: Students admitted from the waitlist are expected to enroll for the upcoming fall semester and are rarely granted deferrals. 

Deferral Request Deadlines:

Students admitted under the Early Decision program must submit deferral requests by March 1.
Students admitted under the Regular Decision program must submit requests by June 1.