Accept your safety or wait a year?

[letigre]

This year I only applied to two, in-state schools for my MSW. I was really hoping to get into UNC Chapel Hill, but unfortunately, was rejected this week. I just recieved an acceptance from another school that I really like, but definitely does not have Chapel Hill's reputation. Any advise on the difficult decision to accept or wait a year and reapply to my dream school? I should also note that I have a decent job and could save a good bit more in an additional year...I am just really anxious to head to grad school and get a job I really care about!

[Quantum Buckyball]

This year I only applied to two, in-state schools for my MSW. I was really hoping to get into UNC Chapel Hill, but unfortunately, was rejected this week. I just recieved an acceptance from another school that I really like, but definitely does not have Chapel Hill's reputation. Any advise on the difficult decision to accept or wait a year and reapply to my dream school? I should also note that I have a decent job and could save a good bit more in an additional year...I am just really anxious to head to grad school and get a job I really care about!

I would go to UNC-Charlotte. A lot of things could happen in the next 12 months.

When an opportunity presents itself, take it and enjoy the ride. Even if life doesn't go as planned sometimes, you can still be successful if you believe in yourself and give your very best in everything you do.

Edited March 30, 2012 by SPDFG13579

[OldGrad2012]

Accept it and do not go over the painful process of re-applying for next year. What if you did not get in at all the next time around.

[habanero]

Why apply for a safety if you didn't actually consider it to be an option? I say take it--unless your prospects for a job will be severely hampered by your Charlotte decision.

[letigre]

I obviously considered it an option. It is just a hard decision.

[letigre]

Thanks SPDFG13579 & OldGrad2012...I think I've decided to go ahead and go.

[habanero]

Sorry, letigre. I didn't mean for that to come off harshly, and I hope that I didn't seem like I was trivializing your very difficult choice. It's hard to convey meaning over the internet. Best of luck in your graduate studies.

[new_to_kin]

I would take choice #2. This happened to me with my masters (rejected from first choice) and I went to my second. It was the best thing that could have happened to me and turns out the other one would not have been a good fit. You can always try and transfer if you hate it.

[MSW Bound]

I agree with the others... Go with who has accepted you. If you wait, you fun the risk of not gaining acceptance into any school.

[OregonGal]

I went with my "safety" school--obviously I applied because I knew the programs were strong, but it is hard to give up the dream school--I'm actually on waitlist at mine so who knows what will happen if they call me in June with an offer. As it is though, I'm happy with my decision to go with the safety school rather than wait a year and try again; no more uncertainty is a great feeling.