Proper way of asking when a decision will be made

[Scott Nash]

So I just heard back from a school and I have until April 20th to make a decision. One of the other schools I've applied at has a deadline of March 31st, so they won't make decisions until after that. I emailed school 2's graduate school secretary on when I might expect an answer and was told end of April.

It kind of puts me in a bind since I have to get back to school 1 by the 20th, should I ask the secretary if she thinks decisions will be made before the 20th? I'm not really sure how to go about all this, so any advice would be great.

[bianchiSS]

I know this doesn't help you, but this is why schools should adhere to the April 15 common deadline! I would ask to push back School 1 from April 20 to May 1 - that seems easier to change than to get school 2 to decide on your application early.