Defer Enrollment

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Newly accepted first-year or transfer students who wish to defer their start date to a later semester must submit a request to defer enrollment. Deferrals are offered one-time only.

Admitted students wishing to defer enrollment must first confirm intent to enroll by submitting the $500 enrollment deposit by the published deposit deadline. Send deferment requests to applicant@spelman.edu. Once the request is received, students will be provided with a form to complete and submit for review.

Requests to defer an offer of admission will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be granted for reasons including illness, military service, humanitarian or religious service, or to save money for higher education. An admission deferment may be granted for a maximum of two (2) consecutive semesters (not including summers).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for admissions deferment?

First-time domestic freshman and transfer students who have been admitted and have submitted an enrollment deposit are eligible to submit a request for deferment. Students choosing to enroll full-time at another college or university or a full-time postgraduate diploma-seeking program will not be approved for deferral. Instead, those students may apply for transfer admission if their interest in Spelman College continues. The Office of Admissions will not honor requests from students admitted from the waitlist to defer enrollment to the following fall.

When can I apply for a deferment?

If the $500 Enrollment Deposit is paid by the deposit deadline, a deferral can be requested until the first day of the semester.

If my deferment request is approved, what does that mean?

An approved deferment request means that the offer of admission to Spelman College will be honored. The deferment only guarantees admission into Spelman College and not awarded merit scholarships.

Can my parents or another select individual help me with things at the Spelman College while I'm deferred?

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Spelman College is limited in the information it can share about students, even to their parents, without consent being given by the student first. Before you start your deferment, be sure to complete a consent form to release information to someone you designate to help you with different steps at Spelman College while you're away.

I am an international student who plans to attend Spelman on a student visa. May I request a deferment?

International students are not eligible for deferment and must reapply for a future term.

What if I have additional questions about requesting an enrollment deferment?

Contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-982-2411 or applicant@spelman.edu.

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