Admitted students who would like to defer their enrollment to a future term should carefully review the following information. If you are a first-year admitted student, review the delay admission information. If you are a transfer applicant, review the change entry term information. Be aware that delaying your admission or changing your entry term can impact scholarships, financial aid and admittance to direct admit programs.
Delayed admission allows a newly admitted first-year applicant to delay the start of attendance at Michigan State University. A delay will defer a student's admission for two semesters (summer semester is not included in this count). Please note that certain majors and/or direct admit programs may not be eligible for delayed admission. Also, at this time housing is not guaranteed for spring semester.
Students can request a delay of admission for the following reasons:
Students cannot take a delay of admission to enroll in another college or university or to establish Michigan residency. College course work is not allowed during a delay of admission. Taking college course work invalidates the delay of admission and the student would need to reapply for admission as a transfer student.
To request a delay of admission,
First-year applicants who delay enrollment for one semester will retain their merit-based scholarships for the future term (pending continued academic success as shown on your final high school transcript).
Merit-based scholarships will not carry forward for students who delay enrollment for two semesters, but students will be considered for awards for the new term of entry. Scholarship awarding criteria and dollar amounts are subject to change.
Students who have received a collegiate or departmental scholarship need to contact that office directly for clarification on whether the award will carry over.
Need-based financial aid will not carry forward. Students will need to supply a new FAFSA, if applicable, and will be reevaluated for need-based awards for the new term of entry. For more information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
First-year applicants may retain their Honors College invitation and scholarships for up to two semesters if they do not take classes at a post-secondary institution prior to their desired term of enrollment.
Students who have been awarded direct admission to an academic program must contact the academic department for clarification on whether they are eligible for delayed admission.
Transfer applicants may request a semester change for one or two semesters, but the student will be reviewed again with the applicant pool for that semester and admission is not guaranteed. The student will not need to pay another application fee but may be required to supply additional information such as updated transcripts.
To request a change of entry term,
Transfer scholarships will not carry forward to future semesters, but students will be considered for awards for the new term of entry. Scholarship awarding criteria and dollar amounts are subject to change.
Need-based financial aid will not carry forward. Students will need to supply a new FAFSA, if applicable, and will be reevaluated for need-based awards for the new term of entry. For more information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.