KyCountry Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Hey, guys. Quick question. If I've only verbally committed to a school (with GTAship) via email to the DGS, do I still need to be "released" by the university if I decide not to accept? I've heard this word being thrown around and wasn't sure if it only applies to people who have signed something or sent a deposit in. I haven't paid anything, signed anything, or enrolled in any classes. I was just pulled off the waitlist of my top choice and wanted some clarification. Hopefully this helps someone else as well.
SgtP3pp3r Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 I'm not sure about this. In one of my admissions letters it said to accept by simply replying to the email, but in the other one I have I'm pretty sure I have to reply thru postal mail (though I'm not sure as i am yet to receive the actual package). Did it say on your admissions letter how you should accept? In any case, you might want to contact the Graduate Admissions office and ask what the correct form would be, and if your reply thru the email (technically not verbal, as it is recorded and written), would hold you to commit to your decision.
TakeruK Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Even if it was just a "verbal"/"informal" commit, you should still let your first school know. In academia and most of the professional world, your word is very important, so even if it's not a written commitment, you should still let the school know that you decided elsewhere. That would be a good chance to ask about the necessity of a release too (probably not, if you have not officially accepted). However, I would agree with SgtP3pp3r that an email is not a "verbal" commit--in current times, email is basically the same as a written confirmation!
VioletAyame Posted April 11, 2014 Posted April 11, 2014 Well even if it's not a written confirmation and you don't need a release, do you plan on accepting and going to the second school without a word to the first one, after you've sent that email to the DGS? If there is formal paperwork to follow, they would probably contact you and ask why you haven't completed it, and then you'll be in the position of telling them that you've accepted another school unbeknownst to them. If there is no formal paperwork to follow, when the time of enrollment comes at the latest, the DGS would contact you and ask where the hell you are, and then you'll be in the position of telling him/her that you've accepted another school unbeknownst to him/her, a few months ago. Those are not positions I want to be in.
KyCountry Posted April 11, 2014 Author Posted April 11, 2014 Sorry for the confusion, guys. I would never leave a school hanging like that. I just didn't know if there was a formal "release" process involved. I talked with the school today and everything was fine. I let them know I had a better offer and couldn't pass it up. Hope this helps someone else.
Recommended Posts