To wait or not to wait

[aurora_nova]

This could belong in this forum or the decisions forum, really, but I decided to post it here.

As of right now, I have 2 acceptances, 1 wait-list, and 2 rejections, with 2 more decisions in limbo. One of my acceptances is unfunded, but the other recently offered some not half bad funding in the form of a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend and a tuition waver for 6 credit hours a semester, plus an addition $1500 fellowship for the year. 

 

The funded program is toward the top of my list, but I'm feeling pretty anxious over what I should do. The April 15th deadline is coming up pretty soon, and I need to respond to the funded offer by then in order to be guaranteed the funding. At the same time, I have not heard anything more from the program I've been waitlisted at, the two programs I've yet to receive decisions from are still(!) processing applications, and there is still the possibility of funding at the other program I was accepted to. 

 

Logically, I know my best option is to take the funded offer if the April 15th deadline gets here and I don't hear from any of the other programs. It's so frustrating though, not knowing all of the options before having to make a decision.

 

Is anyone else having this problem???

[milkman2500]

Have you followed up with the schools you haven't heard back from? Let them know you have outstanding offers with deadlines and you'd like an update on your application. I agree, making decisions without all of your options is difficult. Try getting the answers to make the decision easier. If they won't reply, consider it a rejection until you've made a decision on the others. Then come back to the unknowns with your new perspective. Hopefully that will help relieve some of the anxiety and clear things up for you.

[aurora_nova]

I had that thought too, but unfortunately contacting them didn't help that much. I emailed both of the programs I'm still waiting to hear from this past week, and I've been in contact with the other program I was accepted to about funding. Both of the programs I'm waiting on said they're still processing applications. One of them implied that they're pretty sure I won't be accepted, so I'm considering that one as a likely rejection, but the other gave no indication either way. As for the program that I'm waiting on to hear about funding, they're still waiting for those they accepted with funding to turn down offers before they can offer funding to the others, and there's no way to tell when that will be.

 

The program I was waitlisted at had an open house for accepted students last weekend, and they indicated that they would know more about the status of those waitlisted after that. I haven't yet heard from them, so I'll be emailing them today or tomorrow to find out more.

[RomulusAugustulus]

I just sent you a PM about this!

[aurora_nova]

Thanks again for the PM! Got my decision on Columbia today, so now I'm just waiting for Johns Hopkins and Michigan (and funding at FSU)... There may be hope, yet.