Won't hear from my 1st choice school 'til end of April

[bellinj192]

I've been accepted to two programs so far who have asked me to respond to them by April 13th & 15th. My first choice school, however, has told me I won't receive an admissions decision until the end of April (I called them last week to ask).

I am faced with two options:

1) Accept one of the other schools' offers, and then possibly risk withdrawing if I am accepted to my first choice.

2) Ask for extensions on the deadlines until I have heard from the final school.

Does anyone know which of these are more appropriate or likely to work? I don't want to offend any of the schools or make them think I don't want to attend; they are all good programs. But I really don't want to rule out my first choice before I have even heard from them.

Advice is much appreciated, thank you.

[rockhopper]

It won't hurt to try and ask the other schools for decision extensions (I am not in this situation so I don't know anything about it) but I'm guessing if you write a professional and courteous letter/email they would be willing to give you an extension. If not, if it were me, I would pick a school where i know I'll be guaranteed admission before the deadline.

[nari27]

I'm in this same position. I would ask the school if they could extend the deadline for you first. When I asked my school, they said no. I had been told that I needed to accept by today or risk losing my funding, so I accepted yesterday. I plan to withdrawl my acceptance if my first choice school comes through with an offer, but I don't want to risk losing my only acceptance in case my first choice rejects me.

[rockhopper]

nari27, i see in your signature that you're bio and waiting on hearing from Purdue. you didn't by any chance apply to the ESE program there, did you? because they are the only school left I'm waiting to hear from, too and I'm getting frustrated

[nari27]

nari27, i see in your signature that you're bio and waiting on hearing from Purdue. you didn't by any chance apply to the ESE program there, did you? because they are the only school left I'm waiting to hear from, too and I'm getting frustrated

Rockhopper: I applied to the biological sciences program. From what I've heard, Purdue in general is a bit slow getting notices out this year. They are working on "funding" apparently. Pretty much any time in the next two weeks we should hear something. I emailed their office about a week and a half ago. Annoying isn't it!!? Good luck to you!! I hear your program is a good one! :-)