The Pros and Cons of Admission Deferral

As universities continue to speculate on what the fall 2020 semester will look like, international students must navigate how to best balance their desire to start a college career this fall versus the regulatory, infrastructure, and travel challenges they face. Early indications report students are eager to begin classes. Ryan Griffin, Director of Admissions at the University of Missouri – Columbia says, “Most undergraduate students have shown a desire to keep their admissions place and contact me trying to understand what options they have.”

To bridge this desire with reality, schools are already planning for fall semester classes to begin or be held entirely online. Griffin notes, “Undergraduates have been eager to begin online, but there may be some sticker shock if universities don’t adjust pricing to local costs for international students.” These alternatives may also not be ones they’re willing to pay for, especially since online classes are perceived to be less valuable than on-campus, in-person instruction.

Beyond the costs of online classes, international students face other challenges this fall. Colleges committing to on-campus classes this fall are likely to impose restrictions. For many international students, these restrictions may not be acceptable alternatives to the college—or study abroad—experiences they were hoping for. In addition, as consulates and embassies remain closed, new prospective students will be hard-pressed to obtain their student visas in time—and that’s if they’re even allowed in the country.

So, it’s really no surprise that 53% of prospective international students say their plans to study abroad have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The same survey found that almost half (46%) of those with impacted plans indicated that they would defer or delay their international education until the spring semester.

Admission deferral isn’t the norm, but neither is the coronavirus pandemic, and international students are being forced to make some tough decisions. For the student who is still unsure about what to do in fall 2020, here are some of the pros and cons of admission deferment:

Pros:

1. Previously strict admissions policies have been relaxed at most universities and influencers such as John Wilkerson at the University of Indiana Bloomington are advocating for flexibility at this time.¹
2. Students may feel safer in their home countries and can:
   • Care for family members who have been affected by the coronavirus.
   • Give the world, the U.S., and higher education institutions time to settle into a new normal, post-coronavirus.
   • Observe the US at a distance during a lead up to the federal elections in fall.
   • Remain at home without sacrificing their acceptance to a university in the U.S.
   • Avoid the necessity of 14-day quarantines and other inconveniences by delaying their arrival to campus until the spring semester.
3. Depending on their institution’s flexibility, some students could pursue classes at a local college and transfer credits.
4. Students can take advantage of a local gap year program or nonprofit initiative. These kinds of experiences can better prepare students for both campus and study abroad lifestyles and teach important social and leadership lessons.

Cons:

1. Admission deferment could interfere with academic schedules, especially in postgraduate programs. In this case, deferment could potentially impact graduation by several years. As Griffin questions, “What is going to work for the university and the students? Consider what it means for lab work and staffing. It is possible academic departments could lose 60 to 85 percent of their incoming cohort of teaching assistants. How do you make that up?”
2. According to one admissions vice president, students could essentially be trading one year of post-college earning potential for one year of potentially decreased income and less opportunity.
3. Delays and deferrals can cause some students to stop pursuing or completing college. Postponing education can result in a change of heart or circumstances that make school less available or appealing.

Key Takeaway

International students show extraordinary commitment to their educational goals, but this fall will demonstrate to what extent that will be. As Griffin observes, “We will certainly learn what demand elasticity will look like in 2020.” While students will carefully weigh their options for fall 2020, schools will gain a fuller perspective of recruitment market behavior. Admission deferment might be one of the best available options for international students this fall and students need to consider the pros and cons, have a full grasp of their situation, and move forward with confidence. Universities are certainly on their side and are developing out of the box solutions, even if it means deferring admission.