Deferring Admission: standard practices at top schools

[ljmazur]

I am an unfortunate business student who realized quite late that I wanted to study/research economics. I am applying to the top schools now, but I have already accepted a job in investment banking.

How do the top schools deal with deferred admission? Is it at all possible for me to apply now, work for a year or two, and then enter the Ph.D. program?

Also, any advice on the best programs for law and economics would be appreciated.

Best,
Joe Mazur

[crslr]

You need to make a choice - even if you could defer, two years in i-banking would make the PhD a rocky road, one that you're not likely to travel to the end. The job will take your mind off all the things you need in graduate coursework, it will give you a lifestyle you'll find hard to let go of.

A department would be doing itself, and especially you, a favor by not granting the deferral, and therefore isn't likely to do so. For other reasons, deferrals are sometimes granted, case by case. (Visa problems, private, needing to wrap up a degree program or a research job - none of these will hamper one's ability to cope with the program later.)

If you seriously don't want to give up the banking job (and can't get THEM to agree to a deferral, in case things don't work out in the PhD program) - don't give it up. You may not be committed enough to the econ PhD to see it through, and that's fine. Just get happy with your career.