[jseliger]

Most schools will allow you to defer for a year. Consider taking them up on it. And if they won’t let you, well, a school that admitted you once will probably admit you again (or a different one will

And:

There are other important, worthwhile things to do if you take a semester or even a full year off

And:

If you defer or postpone, what’s the worst that can happen

[taylodl]

That's generally true unless there's a scholarship involved. Those are take-it or leave-it. If you had 50% of your tuition paid for by a scholarship would you leave it?