I have run into a terrible (and maybe terribly lucky?) predicament in which an institution has requested an early response to their offer (mid-March). I have three offers thus far, all funded. However, the only institution that has offered a very clearly detailed package is also the one requesting a response. I am still waiting to hear from two schools, and the institution with the great (and very detailed) financial package is aware that I will not be hearing from at least one school until after the mid-March deadline. I met with the adviser and she was pretty explicit about purposely setting the early deadline to require me to "commit" early, knowing that another school I am considering (and haven't yet heard from) will be releasing decisions sometime after mid-March. The POI at the other school is doing several long-term research projects with my would-be adviser at the early deadline school.
I requested an extension, but they weren't very willing to budge. The language used isn't worth quoting, but they basically indicated that it was where I belonged. Now, I am going on a post-admissions trip and get back on the same day that this other school wants a decision.
Is there anything I can do to ensure that I have all of my offers on the table before making a decision? I had an interview with another school (a great school), and I am waiting to hear how that went. I do not have all of the information necessary to make an informed decision, and I really need to consider finances (above everything else) before making a commitment.
I like all of my offers, and I also was pretty happy with all of the schools I applied to, but at the end of the day, I want to be able to compare my offers before I make a decision. Is there anything I can do about this situation?
All schools are on the CGS list, but the CGS list (as I understand it) is for fellowship decisions, not for admissions offers.