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To defer, or not to defer, that is the question.

With a CAO offer in hand, the decision to delay the start of your college journey can be a difficult one, often rooted in personal circumstances and practicalities.

There are a number of reasons why a student may be considering deferral. Some opt for a gap year to travel, to volunteer, or to gain work experience. Others may be grappling with health concerns, requiring time for recovery. Financial matters can also loom large.

Current issues around availability of accommodation will make it more difficult for some students to accept an offer for the upcoming academic year.

While education is an investment, the accompanying expenses should not be underestimated. With deferrals offering a chance to save and plan, some students choose to wait for a more opportune time.

Is deferring the only way out?

As a guidance counsellor, I would suggest that instead of outright declining a college offer due to accommodation fears, deferral might be more advisable. Delaying entry until next year gives students time to plan and save.

Deferrals are not granted automatically, but colleges are generally open to the idea, if there are good reasons. Generally, they are not inclined to allow a student to defer so they can take up another course or to repeat the Leaving Cert.

It is worth checking the website of the relevant higher education institution to see if they have a deferral policy available online, or else contacting the college to get the necessary information.

There are important practical steps to follow. If you’re considering deferring, you must not accept the CAO offer. Instead, send an email to the college admissions office, clearly stating “deferred entry” in the subject line. Colleges may have an online deferral request form.

The application must include essential details such as name, CAO number, and the code of the course you have been offered.

Each college has its own rules and criteria for approving deferrals.

The request must arrive in the admissions office of the college before the “reply date” shown on the offer notice.

If the college green-lights the deferral, they’ll provide instructions for what to do next. It’s worth noting that if you are offered a higher placed course on your CAO list during subsequent rounds in 2023, you can accept it, even if you’ve already deferred a prior offer.

Those who choose to defer will need to reapply through the CAO to secure the deferred course next year.