2 schools, waiting on a 3rd

[GrlyFlynn]

So, I was accepted into two programs. I am excited about one of them, it is an excellent program and they offered me partial funding, I would like to accept their offer. The other school has not offered me any funding and I don't think it will be a good fit so I am drafting a letter respectfully declining their offer. But the wild card is I am waiting on a 3rd school and they are taking a very long time to process my application. I just spoke with them today and they told me to call back in a week! The school I am currently interested in wants to know by April 15th but they have an admitted grad day on April 7th that I would like to attend. The 3rd school is a great program as well and is significantly less expensive than the other program I am interested in. I know I just need to wait but any random advice would be helpful. I am hesitant to accept the current offer before I know about school #3.

[TakeruK]

It's great that you are going to write to the second school to tell them you are no longer interested. It will help students applying there and who may be on a waitlist.

I don't think you need to commit to the first school right now, though. It's good that you know it's your best choice right now. But it is okay to wait for the 3rd school and to compare the offers and schools before making a final decision. You said the first school has a April 15th deadline, so it's okay to take that time if you need to wait for another school's response. Do you need to accept their offer to attend their admitted grad day (many schools welcome all admitted students, not just those who plan to attend).

In any case, I'd say go ahead and decline school #2. Wait for school #3 for a bit longer (at least until next week when they ask you to call back) before doing anything else for #1.