should I withdraw applicatons?

[KineticAlfven]

Hi there,

 

I applied to 14 physics PhD program in US. I applied for so many schools because I am an international student and I heard that domestic students were preferred over the international. It turns out to be rather smooth, currently I received 4 offers and no rejection. (Ohio, Colorado, Chicago and Berkeley). I am pretty much decided to attend Berkeley. 

 

Now I am not sure if I should withdraw from schools that have not informed me of their decisions (Georgia Tech, Brown, UIUC, Maryland, Rice, Cornell, Stanford, Caltech, Harvard). I want to hear the opinions of you guys on the following issue.

 

On one hand, I am interested in seeing how my application to different schools will turn out, i.e., do not withdraw my application but decline offers upon receipt; on the other hand, I am a bit worried that in doing so I will take other applicants' opportunities to get admitted.

 

Is it considered a bad deed to take a handful of offers and then decline? Have graduate schools foreseen such applicants?

[rustledjimmies]

Congratulations on Berkeley. 

 

My recommendation would be thus:

 

If you want to see where you are accepted for bragging rights (tell me if I'm wrong), or to see how qualified you were for other programs, then withdraw your application from all schools but those which you care about (maybe those except harvard, stanford, caltech).

 

If you want to see about possibly better offers -- if money is an issue -- don't withdraw and see what you are offered, just in case.

[midnight]

Congratulations on Berkeley. 

 

My recommendation would be thus:

 

If you want to see where you are accepted for bragging rights (tell me if I'm wrong), or to see how qualified you were for other programs, then withdraw your application from all schools but those which you care about (maybe those except harvard, stanford, caltech).

 

If you want to see about possibly better offers -- if money is an issue -- don't withdraw and see what you are offered, just in case.

 

100% agreed.

 

I think it's really cool that you're worried about interfering with others' chances, but you should see what offers come in if you're truly interested in all of the programs. You're obviously a strong candidate, and you might end up with an even better package or some bargaining power.

[KineticAlfven]

Congratulations on Berkeley. 

 

My recommendation would be thus:

 

If you want to see where you are accepted for bragging rights (tell me if I'm wrong), or to see how qualified you were for other programs, then withdraw your application from all schools but those which you care about (maybe those except harvard, stanford, caltech).

 

If you want to see about possibly better offers -- if money is an issue -- don't withdraw and see what you are offered, just in case.

Thanks.

 

Not for bragging. The admission process is like a blackbox and is mysterious to applicants. I am just interested in knowing if there is a consistent behaviour from the response of 14 schools.

 

I'll probably leave Stanford, Harvard and Caltech just there. Anyone who has a chance to be admitted by these schools should alrealy have a bunch of offers. I care more about the feeling of those who does not yet have an offer.

[KineticAlfven]

100% agreed.

 

I think it's really cool that you're worried about interfering with others' chances, but you should see what offers come in if you're truly interested in all of the programs. You're obviously a strong candidate, and you might end up with an even better package or some bargaining power.

Thank you for your suggestion. Can I still bargain if they have already sent out their package (though I don't know the details)?

Edited February 20, 2013 by KineticAlfven

[ak48]

You are a considerate  person! But you should NOT withdraw your applications until you find about finances.

 

What if UC Berkeley is too expensive for you, or if Stanford gives you an awesome fellowship?

[margarets]

Is it considered a bad deed to take a handful of offers and then decline? Have graduate schools foreseen such applicants?

 

 

It must happen all the time, especially with strong applicants, so grad schools must expect it.  And that's how waiting lists are made!

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with waiting to see how ALL of your applications pan out.  Withdrawing them won't necessarily speed up the process for someone else.  It would probably just shuffle the waiting lists a bit, so someone somewhere will still be waiting to hear, no matter what you do.

[Linelei]

What everyone else said, with this extra: If, now that you have some really great offers, your opinion on some of the others schools has changed drastically, it might make sense to withdraw. For example, if location suddenly has become more important to you now that you could live somewhere awesome like Berkeley, and there are some locations that just couldn't compare anymore. Or the same with potential advisors, or any other criteria important to you. Having acceptances can change how you feel about other programs, and if you now feel it is practically 100% unlikely you would choose to attend some of the others, given your acceptances, withdrawing your application seems like a polite thing to do for all involved. But if you still think you might choose a school about your existing acceptances, by all means wait it out! After all, you paid the application fee.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Linelei