Applying with the intention of asking for a deferral

[thorathursday]

Hi

DC wants to take a gap year/study something/get a job etc before applying for Uni for September 2022.

Someone has suggested that they should apply now and see if they can get a deferral for next year, as the market next year will be much harder due to so many taking a gap year.

Anyone any thoughts on this? Assuming of course DC doesn't change their mind on their preferred university and course, and can get a deferral....!

Thanks

If she hasn't applied already she will be applying for Sept 2022 from this September on

I’m confused - she would apply this autumn for Sept 2022 anyway, wouldn’t she? Unless she’s already applied or is thinking of clearing, the application window has closed.

The person suggesting this said she had until 30th June to apply for this year?

Technically you do have until 30th June but some courses will already be full so they would need to check that the course they are interested in is still accepting applications.
You would also need to check that the course allows deferrals - some don't.

If you are still wanting to apply this year you apply through UCAS extra until 30th June.
After that it's clearing which isn't suitable for those wanting to defer.

My DS could put that he wanted to defer on his application form. So couldn’t she do that?

I made DS apply now (even though he wants a gap year) so he had something to come back to.

At this point, it would seem to make sense to wait until September and have a full range of options to go for for 2022 with grades in hand? - unless she would actually be happy to go in September anyway, if nowhere she fancies- with places still available - will allow a deferral?

I work in admissions. It is indeed the case that some courses may now be closed for 2021 entry - particularly for home students.

As others have said, there is merit in waiting until your dc has got their results in hand, and so applying in the autumn. Even with a 'near miss' (eg one grade down), an excellent personal statement and reference would put a 'quals in hand' applicant in a very strong position. There is so much uncertainty about grades and assessments right now, us admissions types like it when we see grades in black and white!