Two Admissions... but Wait Listed from #1

[uscswish2]

I'm applying for my post-professional masters in architecture, and here's my conundrum: I've been accepted into two very strong programs (Berkeley and University of Michigan), but I've also been wait listed by my top choice and one of the best programs in the country at Yale. I have to respond to Michigan by April 15th, and informally respond to Berkeley by next Tuesday (3/20) to tell them my level of interest, with no hard date of accepting the admissions offer yet. I've already written a letter to the head of the admissions committee at Yale, thanking them and reaffirming my interest, in the hope that it might move me up on the wait list.

So here's my question: what is the best thing to do at this point, and how does this whole wait list thing work? I don't want to screw anybody over and leave them hanging at the last minute, but if I'm forced to accept an offer and Yale opens up later (especially if they offer more funding than the other two)... I feel like I'd have to take the Yale offer. I know that this is a good problem to have, to be able to choose where I want to go for grad school, but it is certainly a complicated issue.

Anyone with advice on how to deal with this situation, your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[O1O11OOO1O1]

I've had a similar problem come up. I received a letter that I'd been waitlisted by my top choice. If a position opens up, it will include full funding for 5 years. Furthermore, the graduate coordinator explained that the waitlist is short and almost always exhausted eventually. Unfortunately, the students who have been accepted have until May 1st to respond. When I replied, I was brief and honest. I explained that I had received other offers, that I was obligated to respond to their offers by April 15th. I concluded by saying that until that date, if they are prepared to offer me admission, I will be ready to accept their offer immediately. I plan to call or e-mail for a follow-up on Thursday, April 12.

I really hope you get into your #1. As for your other offers, if you send them an e-mail expressing your continued interest in their programs and explain that you will be contacting them with a formal decision as soon as possible, they will understand.

Best of luck in your decisions!

[lypiphera]

I want to bump this topic up and get other opinions.  I am in a similar situation EXCEPT that I do not think the waitlist is short or likely to be exhausted. I have been accepted from 1 school and have good hopes for 3 others I interviewed at, but I was not invited to an interview (nor was I rejected) by my 2 top choice schools.

 

I don't want to wait until April 15th to tell the school that I decide to go to, but I also would really like to go to the school I've been waitlisted at if I did get in.  Given that they have indicated it is very unlikely that I will be accepted, do you guys think it's okay to wait until the last minute, hoping to hear from the super unlikely top choices?  Or should I just assume that since I didn't even get an interview, I'm unlikely to be accepted, and I should just accept an offer from one of the schools I do get into?