Acceptance before hearing from other school?

[burtz]

I was admitted to one program (yee haw!) but I am waiting to hear from the second university I applied to. The deadline approaches to send in a letter of intent to register along with a non-refundable deposit.

If I keep waiting and the other university doesn't let me know yay or nay soon then I would miss out on the first school. Can I just send in the letter of intent and IF I get accepted to the other school and decide to go there instead is it okay to courteously retract my intent to enroll at the first school? I'd love to have a choice between both schools but don't want to screw up and be left with nothing!

Edited March 20, 2011 by burtz

[ugg42]

Which school is your top pick? If you got accepted at the one you're waiting to hear from would you definitely go there?

I'm kind of in the same boat right now, and the more I think about, I'm realizing even if I get in the school I'm waiting to hear from I'd probably still go to one I'm already accepted to. I think the main thing here is deciding what your decision would be if you got accepted to the one you're waiting on. If it depends on funding, then I'm not really sure what the protocol is for accepting and then declining (plus, you'll be out of the $ you sent in for the deposit).

I would try to contact the school and ask them when they'll be sending out acceptance letters and tell them they're your top pick of schools but if you're not accepted you don't want to lose the chance at a program you're already accepted to. Unless they lack empathy, they should be understanding.

[burtz]

They're both pretty much tied for "top pick" place right now. I'm happy to have gotten in in general and they're both great schools with top-notch programs. I like your idea of contacting the school to inquire about acceptance letters. I don't think it can hurt! Thanks.

[durango1192]

Same situation here.

[Mal83]

Also sort of in the same boat, I've been accepted into my safety school and waitlisted at my dream one. I won't know about an offer of admission until the middle of May, which is way past any sort regular deadline for accepting/declining. I certainly cannot and will not decline both the offer from my safety school and a potential offer from my second choice (should hear within the next 2 weeks). But should I get an offer from my dream school in May, at this point, I easily imagine myself accepting the loss of a deposit and whatever other hassle I may have to go through in order to retract my acceptance. It just depends on how strongly you feel about this other school. I know from a financial aid perspective that there will be no consequence. So really what could there be other than a somewhat pissy person on the receiving end of that phone call? And who cares about that, you have to do what's best for you because no one else will. Things happen to people that don't always come before some deadline, you might have to withdraw for any sort of reason, I'm sure these schools are used it...they get a deposit out of you at least.