Asking for More Time

[Therewillbeluke]

Hello all,

 

One of the schools that I have been accepted to, and currently my top choice due to their funding, wants me to accept or decline admission by this Friday. While I would love to go to this school, I have still not heard from a couple other of my top schools. Has anyone else been in this position? What is the etiquette for asking for more time for decisions?

[TakeruK]

In many cases, just being honest and saying something like "I am really interested in your program but I cannot make an informed decision until I hear back from other schools. Would you be able to extend the deadline by X weeks?"

 

I think it's also okay to tell them that they are currently your top choice if you want. Pick X weeks to give yourself enough time but don't overdo it. At this point, I would put X=5 or 6 weeks but you can look up previous results to figure out when you expect to hear back from the other schools. You can even name the other schools if you want -- maybe they know how long those programs will take. I say pick a large enough "X" because it might be a bit awkward to ask for an additional extension if you underestimate X!

 

Also, is your school on the CGS Resolution? http://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_Resolution.pdf

 

If they are a signee of that resolution, since they made you a financial offer, they should give you until April 15th to decide. However, the resolution is not a legally binding contract or anything, just a mutual agreement between all the signed schools. There are no formal imposed consequences for signed schools to go against the resolution, so it might not do much good to bring it up. But, maybe people should start some website that "shame" CGS resolution breakers! 

 

Sometimes schools will initially ask for a tighter deadline just to weed out people who already know they are no longer interested and will always grant extensions to those who are still interested enough to ask for one though! 

[Therewillbeluke]

In many cases, just being honest and saying something like "I am really interested in your program but I cannot make an informed decision until I hear back from other schools. Would you be able to extend the deadline by X weeks?"

 

I think it's also okay to tell them that they are currently your top choice if you want. Pick X weeks to give yourself enough time but don't overdo it. At this point, I would put X=5 or 6 weeks but you can look up previous results to figure out when you expect to hear back from the other schools. You can even name the other schools if you want -- maybe they know how long those programs will take. I say pick a large enough "X" because it might be a bit awkward to ask for an additional extension if you underestimate X!

 

Also, is your school on the CGS Resolution? http://www.cgsnet.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CGS_Resolution.pdf

 

If they are a signee of that resolution, since they made you a financial offer, they should give you until April 15th to decide. However, the resolution is not a legally binding contract or anything, just a mutual agreement between all the signed schools. There are no formal imposed consequences for signed schools to go against the resolution, so it might not do much good to bring it up. But, maybe people should start some website that "shame" CGS resolution breakers! 

 

Sometimes schools will initially ask for a tighter deadline just to weed out people who already know they are no longer interested and will always grant extensions to those who are still interested enough to ask for one though! 

 

Thank you for the info, I will take your suggestions when emailing them. Unfortunately they have not signed it. The school in question in Princeton Theological Seminary; Princeton University has signed it, but the Seminary is an independent entity.