Policies and procedures differ from college to college and "should be fully considered" before you act, Aviva Legatt, founder of Ivy Insight, a college admissions consulting firm, wrote in an email.

At the University of Houston, for example, prospective graduate students should contact the graduate program directly to discuss options for withdrawal or admission deferral, Larsen says.

For a deferral, the graduate program head or director of graduate studies typically would be the best source of information on procedures, Esters explains.

“For withdrawing, the student’s adviser may know the proper procedure, or may refer the student to the graduate program head, director of graduate studies or program staff member,” he says. 

Larsen notes that a graduate admission offer "is typically valid for one year from the original term of acceptance, contingent on approval of the specific graduate program. The point of contact for the graduate program is usually the graduate program director or the graduate adviser.” 

Either will work with the student to determine the length of the deferral, the reasons for the deferral request and, if appropriate, to approve the deferral, Larsen says. Then that official will coordinate with the graduate school to process the deferral.