Responding to an acceptance when you're not ready to decide

[milara]

Okay. So you've received a letter informing you that you've been accepted and/or funded. They want you to reply "as soon as possible." But you're still waiting to hear from other schools. What is it appropriate to say in response?

Here's a few of the things that I can imagine saying or asking. What do you think -- are any of them bad ideas? What would you ask or say?

1. Thank you.
   
2. I'm still waiting to hear from other schools
   
3. What is your deadline for responses?
   
4. Will you be having any sort of event for prospective students? If not, can I arrange to visit independently?
   
5. Are there any particular faculty members who expressed an interest in my application, or who would likely be assigned as my advisor with whom I could speak? (obviously I can get in touch with the professors I mentioned in my application, but there may be others, or a subset, that particularly return the interest)
   

That's all I can think of for now, but please, by all means, add your own ideas, or comment on mine.

[InquilineKea]

They want you to reply "as soon as possible."

How did they phrase the email?

In my field, at least, the professors all encourage me to not make any decisions until I've visited all the campuses. With that said, I'm in a field that's unusually nice to its grad students.

But maybe just tell them that you've been strongly advised by multiple sources to hold it off until you've visited all the campuses? Even if it's your top program.

Edited January 27, 2012 by InquilineKea

[wine in coffee cups]

Okay. So you've received a letter informing you that you've been accepted and/or funded. They want you to reply "as soon as possible." But you're still waiting to hear from other schools. What is it appropriate to say in response?

Also interested in people's thoughts on this. I got an extremely flattering acceptance email a couple of days ago that was followed up with an offer for a special fellowship that carries similar "let us know ASAP" language (since I think they want to offer it to someone else soon if I decline). I'm nowhere near ready to make any firm statements as I'm still waiting to hear on nine other decisions, including several from places I would prefer to attend that historically have not gotten back with acceptances until late Feb/early March. The emotional manipulation/guilt-tripping/coyness that surrounds these back-and-forths is kind of stressing me out, though I won't dispute this is a good problem to have.

[ktel]

I think replies 4 and/or 5 sound the best. It shows that you're still interested but need more information. I got an e-mail from a professor last year that was similar, I believe he said "I hope you have received my offer, as it is the only one I've made so far". I replied with, "Thank you, I have received it. I will be reviewing it with my family shortly and will let you know what I decide." or something like that. He's my supervisor now so obviously I didn't screw it up

[rising_star]

I would say thank you and ask about visiting. I wouldn't ask about prof's showing interest in my application. Just contact the faculty that you listed and speak with them directly. I wouldn't ask about a deadline because, if it's an offer with funding, the deadline is likely April 15 (per the CGS resolution).

[CageFree]

I would say thank you and ask about visiting. I wouldn't ask about prof's showing interest in my application. Just contact the faculty that you listed and speak with them directly. I wouldn't ask about a deadline because, if it's an offer with funding, the deadline is likely April 15 (per the CGS resolution).

That's what I did.