Graduate program wants a response before April 15th

[warprin]

I've recently gotten an offer from a graduate program for a funded GTA position, and the offer is good until the 22nd of March. They are on the list of schools (Council of Graduate Schools, CGS) that agree to abide by the April 15th deadline.

 

I emailed CGS. Someone got back to me and I understand that I can accept the offer and then actually decline the offer in writing anytime before April 15th - I am officially released from the contract. Another point is that in this case there is no good to come of letting the program know they're in violation of the agreement - that may cause tension between me and the department and my potential advisor (who likely set the deadline in the first place, but who knows for certain). At that point, nothing can stop them from withdrawing the offer all together or withdrawing just the funding portion (in which case I wouldn't go). So the best thing seems to be to accept the offer, not make a fuss, and then if I get a better offer, decline that first one and accept another.

 

Too bad schools put students in the middle of this. Three other programs I've applied to made disparaging remarks about this department that wants an early response, as I've had to ask these other departments if they could provide a status update on my application within the week. They're busy as well and can't always comply.

 

I hate playing hardball or being dishonest or playing games, it's not my style. I can't joyfully accept an offer when I feel like I'm being strongarmed. Kinda leaves me feeling pretty lousy about the program.

 

Anyone ever else deal with this and what did you do/not do?

 

Thanks!

[vityaz]

I was offered admission to a program and they gave me 7 days to decide. This was in early-mid March too, so I had only heard back from one other school at that point. This was a Canadian school so I don't believe they're bound by the CGS. I ended up declining pretty much immediately since it was my last choice anyway, but I wasn't very impressed with how little time they gave me to decide - I wouldn't have even been able to visit the campus in that time period.

[RomulusAugustulus]

I obviously don't know anything about the department, but it is petty common for programs to try to get students to accept offers before April 15. The reason for this, I've been told, is that many schools lose any funding not claimed by April 15 (I do not think this happens at all schools though, but it definitely happens). So if someone with a funded offer waits until April 15 and then declines, the funding the school promised them can't be passed on to another student which means the department has lost a student that year. Anyway, that certainly isn't to say that I don't sympathize with being pressured to decide before you're ready!

[warprin]

It's a Teaching Assistantship position, the funds will always be there for someone who wants to teach, so I don't have to feel bad about the program losing any money.

 

As it turns out, the initial email was to solicit my interest which had a mid-March deadline, and the school wanted to know if I would accept a GTA for a funded Geology MS. I replied yes, and *then* the official do-not-have-to-respond-until-April 15th offer followed. What they did was misleading. I'm still annoyed but maybe it's a tactic I just don't get.

 

I did accept. Great school and very few TA opportunites.