At which schools can you defer admission for a year?

I met a couple of people who deferred at MIT and at GSB and I have a friend that could do so at Harvard. I don't know the reason for the MIT student, and the GSB one I don't know also, but his in my class.

I know the history of my friend with Harvad though. He had started a business with some friends and he thought that he could let everything with his partners; however, the business developed much faster than they were predicting and he decided to postpone. Harvard let he in with a updated Resume and an Essay telling how was his experience during this year. This person graduated as the Top Student from a Top 3 engineering school in Brazil, worked for some big consulting companies, and is perhaps the most intelligent (analytical, emotional and social) person I have ever known.

He was dinged by Kellogg at the first year he applied.

Given how the economy is doing, it might make sense to stay at my job for another year (ib) and make an extra cushion.

If thats your reason you probably wont get a deferment from any of the top schools. If it was health reasons, family issues, or even your own business maybe they would...but in your case they would most likely tell you to reapply and then there is no promise you will get in again.

Heard of two deferrals who would have been in my class (LBS). One didn't feel ready (not sure what he wrote, I'm sure he came up with a good reason). The other asked to finish her post-doc.

I know several people who have deferred (one from Wharton). Ive heard that deferring with schools is like deferring offers from a company...if the company really wants you then they will let you defer for a year or so, if not, well then...eh. The same goes for schools. Honestly if they want you and you really need to defer or else you wouldn't have gone anyway then they don't really lose anything- they can either not have you at all or have the chance to have you in next year's class...really no downside for them I see.

So, if my reason is something like, "My startup just got acquired and there's 6 figures worth of incentive bonuses that I'd like to get (to help pay for b-school of course) for sticking around an extra year," then is this a good reason or are they just going to brush me off? I'm not admitted anywhere yet, but I'm just wondering how great my reason has to be to hit pause for 12 months. I mean, I'm still going to b-school, this year or next.

A question I have about deferment is..is it okay to explore the issue with adcom and if they don't allow you, do you still at least retain your current admission? Or will they look at your application for deferment as indication that you are not really interested in attending the school and withdraw your acceptance?