Help: may not be able to go for grad school because of health reason

[econmydear]

Hi, everyone.

I was accepted by a grad school of a US top university. The problem is I may not be able to go for study because of health reasons (seriously injured). Can I ask grad school that I want to enroll next year and will they permit? I am not a US citizen and not sure about the policy in US universities. Thank you!

Also, I've got F-1 visa. If I won't go for the next year, will I have to renew my visa next year.


Thank you very much!

[Girsanov]

Originally Posted by econmydear

Hi, everyone.

I was accepted by a grad school of a US top university. The problem is I may not be able to go for study because of health reasons (seriously injured). Can I ask grad school that I want to enroll next year and will they permit? I am not a US citizen and not sure about the policy in US universities. Thank you!

Also, I've got F-1 visa. If I won't go for the next year, will I have to renew my visa next year.


Thank you very much!

Hi! Sorry to hear about your misfortunes!

I have no idea about what US university policies are but for the UK there MIGHT be a strict policy about deferring offers. I wrote to LSE and Cambridge to defer my Masters offers because I couldn't graduate on time from my undergraduate course and both requests were rejected. I know of someone who tried to defer an unconditional Masters offer from Warwick because he was given an attractive job offer and he too was rejected. Finally, I also know of a person who tried to defer a Cambridge offer because he could not attend due to financial difficulties but was rejected.

Please write to them to try and defer anyway. We won't find out unless we try and in this case, it is free to try. GOOD LUCK!

[econmydear]

Originally Posted by Girsanov

Hi! Sorry to hear about your misfortunes!

I have no idea about what US university policies are but for the UK there MIGHT be a strict policy about deferring offers. I wrote into LSE and Cambridge to defer my Masters offers because I couldn't graduate on time from my undergraduate course and both requests were rejected. I know of someone who tried to defer an unconditional Masters offer from Warwick because he was given an attractive job offer and he too was rejected. Finally, I also know of a person who tried to defer a Cambridge offer because he could not attend due to financial difficulties but was rejected.

Please write to them to try and defer anyway. We won't find out unless we try and in this case, it is free to try. GOOD LUCK!

Thank you! If you are not permitted, what will you do?

[CalmLogic]

The problem is I may not be able to go for study because of health reasons (seriously injured).

I would ask the grad department by phone or e-mail what the chances are.

When making the formal request, I would include some documentation, like a doctor's note, with your deferral request. With such medical documentation, I would think your chances are higher of getting a deferral since it shows you are not just using the university as a backup. As you may know, some people will request a deferral because they simply want to apply elsewhere to see if they can get into a better school.

BTW, if you are not fully healed by the time you start grad school, you may be fine academically since all American public universities have an office that provides disability services for people with temporary and permanent disabilities.

[econmydear]

Originally Posted by CalmLogic

I would ask the grad department by phone or e-mail what the chances are.

When making the formal request, I would include some documentation, like a doctor's note, with your deferral request. With such medical documentation, I would think your chances are higher of getting a deferral since it shows you are not just using the university as a backup. As you may know, some people will request a deferral because they simply want to apply elsewhere to see if they can get into a better school.

BTW, if you are not fully healed by the time you start grad school, you may be fine academically since all American public universities have an office that provides disability services for people with temporary and permanent disabilities.

Thank you! Should I send the request as soon as possible or probably not long before the start of grad school?

[CalmLogic]

I would think ASAP.

[Girsanov]

Originally Posted by econmydear

Thank you! If you are not permitted, what will you do?

In my case, I have no choice but to reapply for the next intake.

For your case, I suppose you can find out about the disability services as suggested by CalmLogic. And yes, I would suggest you write to them ASAP too!

Good luck with your deferment request. I really hope they let you defer a year! Keep us posted regarding the outcome ok?