Is it Considered a Dirty Move? Have You Heard of it Before?

Question

**Before I begin, this move might be very 'dirty', but it's not because we want to screw up schools.

Scenario: say you got accepted to school  X , but honestly school  Y  is your top choice yet you didn't get accepted to it.
Ok, you decide to accept school  X 's offer, telling yourself that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

After accepting school  X 's offer, you plan to defer your admission for a year, which is considered pretty normal. 
But your plan is to take that year off to re-apply to school  Y : re-taking the GMAT, maybe improving your resume, getting a related job, etc..

So, during that year you do all of the previously mentioned actions and re-apply to school  Y . Eventually, school  Y  accepts your offer.

How 'damaging', 'unacceptable', 'wrong', is it to accept an offer from a school, defer your admissions for a year, and during that time to re-apply to another school, get accepted to it, and tell school  X  that you won't attend it eventually?

fall2021 · Answer

I think schools understand that all deferred candidates don't end up taking admission. I have heard multiple admission committee members say that. To be honest they would be happy to lose someone who is not keen on the program and rather admit someone else who is actually interested.

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

HWPO · Answer

I see. From reading on Quora, I came to realize it's considered a dirty move because you got accepted, then deferred, and then ended up going somewhere else.
As I started the topic, at the end of the day all we want is to make our future better, so I can definitely see the logic in your response.

Admissionado · Answer

HWPO :

We suppose it's a loophole as it doesn't seem technically illegal. As for your ethics, that's up to you.

The only two issues with your plan:

1) You may not be granted a deferral, in which case you may need to decide then and there if you want school X. This year was an anomaly because of the pandemic. Normally, you don't get to accept then defer. The school may rescind your seat altogether.

2) You may be required to give a deposit to school X depending on the calendar. You could forfeit that as well.

Again, not illegal, just not recommended. There are so many great choices that you may want to just go all in and have a great two years.

Good luck,
Admissionado

Is it Considered a Dirty Move? Have You Heard of it Before?

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