ChatterBrain Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Hi all, I'd really like to attend a school I am waitlisted at, but they don't start pulling from their waitlist until after April 15th. I have another school I've been accepted at that I've decided to attend if I don't get in to the first school, but I have to notify them by April 15th. Even if the extra money to secure a spot at the 2nd school weren't an issue, I'm not completely comfortable accepting admission to the one school, and then withdrawing that if I get accepted to the first school. It just seems so unprofessional, and not exactly a conversation I want to have with the program. Anyone else in this circumstance?
Holly44 Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Commit to the first and withdraw later if you have to! I honestly don't think it's unprofessional at all considering students have no control over the deadlines. Schools account for this type of thing which is why many oftentimes pull kids off of the waitlist in the summer. graceSLP, OhioAud, twinguy7 and 1 other 3 1
AlreadySLP Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Hi all, I'd really like to attend a school I am waitlisted at, but they don't start pulling from their waitlist until after April 15th. I have another school I've been accepted at that I've decided to attend if I don't get in to the first school, but I have to notify them by April 15th. Even if the extra money to secure a spot at the 2nd school weren't an issue, I'm not completely comfortable accepting admission to the one school, and then withdrawing that if I get accepted to the first school. It just seems so unprofessional, and not exactly a conversation I want to have with the program. Anyone else in this circumstance? It's really not unprofessional. It happens. All. The. Time. And it is why some school have waitlists move until July or even August. When i was applying this was a worry of many in my cohort and a professor and member of the admissions committee (at a very highly regarded program) told us this. There is NO guarantee that you will get off that waitlist and if you turn down the other school you are stuck. Having to apply again. If you would be happy there accept the offer. If you get off the waitlist you lose the deposit to the other school but that's fine. Just make sure you are professional with THAT department when you tell them you have decided not to attend (write a personal email or even make a phone call if you have had that kind of contact in the past, letting them know that you are very grateful for their offer but that you have been removed from the waitlist at a school that is a better fit for you, and for your life circumstances and that you regret to inform them you will not be attending their program). I was in that situation where I was waitlisted at my top choice but accepted into a few other programs. My top choice would not have informed me before April 15th. I paid my deposit to my second choice school and ended up going there as I did not get off that waitlist. I don't regret that at all, and I would not have regretted pulling myself if it meant going to my top choice. limegin, OhioAud and ChatterBrain 2 1
ChatterBrain Posted March 22, 2015 Author Posted March 22, 2015 Thanks guys! Aaahhhh...feeling so much better :-). This is one of those times when you know it's not as big of a deal as you are making it, but you still need someone else to tell you that. Fortunately, I'd be very happy at my second choice school, and it is very likely that is where I'll end up. I'm ready to get rolling on some of the the things that don't happen until you accept the offer anyway, even if it's just feeling like I'm finally able to get things rolling. Haven't we all had it with the waiting? ;-)
bindlestiff Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 I've always wondered about what happens if you accept admission and then back out -- I figured it was something bad, but I never actually did any research on it. Now that I think about it these kind of situations must mean that people backing out does happen fairly often (as has already been said). So is it standard to pay a deposit when you accept? Sorry if that's a stupid question. In my defense, it's been four years since I last accepted admission to a university! blueivy 1
Madgab14 Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) I actually just emailed my professor from Iowa about this dilemma! My professor told me that it's very common for people to accept at one school, get off a waitlist at another, and rescind their acceptance from the first school in order to attend the school that took them off the waitlist. I think it would be totally okay for you to accept at your 2nd choice school if you see yourself being happy there and if you get off the waitlist at your top choice, tell the 1st school that you won't be attending. Grad programs definitely anticipate and even expect this to happen. I've been accepted at a program, but I'll likely be declining for financial reasons. I was waitlisted at both my top choices, so I'll be waiting it out and hoping for good news! A lot of schools have deposits, but I've come across a few that don't require it. Usually its between $300-$500. The deposits typically go towards your tuition cost for your 1st semester unless for some reason you don't attend, then you forfeit the deposit. And not a dumb question! I have a ton of them and I'm sure my professor is sick of hearing from me haha. Edited March 23, 2015 by Madgab14
hopefulslp2b Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 I've also been thinking about this. so many things to consider when choosing a program! but ultimately I think you need to choose the program that will meet your needs/goals. Good Luck!
MangoSmoothie Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 I have a lot of waitlists, one I would attend over my current top choice I've been accepted to. In a way, I'm hoping I don't get off the waitlist, because I've already been having such a hard time making a decision between the programs I've been accepted to, and I can't imagine having to make this decision again, but with less time! But I'll second what's been said and say this does happen, and the programs do expect it to happen. I don't want to be a person who does rescind an acceptance, but if it happens, it's not the end of the world.
blueivy Posted April 8, 2015 Posted April 8, 2015 i'm trying to figure out this exact same dilemma. i have two program offers (one fully funded, one partially funded) and am still waiting to hear back about admission to one program and funding for another---unfortunately they said that this might take as long as May. The UK schools seem not to follow the Canadian and US deadlines, which really sucks. I don't want to miss out on my offers in case I find out no funding or no admission at the schools i'm still waiting on, but at the same time I think it would always gnaw at me to think about how i might have missed out on a chance at my dream school. I don't want to burn bridges with schools but more importantly i also don't want to be "locked in"---does anyone know whether a school can legally bind you (paying tuition, a fine, a deposit, etc.) if you accept them and then withdraw for non-"legitimate" reasons (e.g. pregnancy, health, family)? it's really a last resort but i want to know what the possibilities even are
mr479 Posted April 8, 2015 Posted April 8, 2015 I have an ignorant question. Why does it matter how you decline an offer? We are busy people, and we paid to be considered for admission. I don't think it really matters how you respond, just that you respond is professional enough. selbstverteidigung 1
SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Okay guys, so this scenario literally just happened to me! I have committed to one program because they told me I needed to by the end of March if I wanted funding. I was on the waitlist at three other programs, but I couldn't wait around for those programs to possibly accept me as I would've lost the funding at the program I was for sure accepted to. So... I JUST RECEIVED THE CALL FROM MY FIRST CHOICE PROGRAM that I was accepted off the waitlist. It is really a no brainer that I need to accept my offer at my first choice program because it will cost me half the price of the other one, plus I will have a graduate assistantship and other possible funding, and I also really like the professors and clinic. Anyways....What do you guys think is the best way to contact the other school to tell them I will no longer be attending? Is it rude if I do it over email? Sorry for the crazy typing, I am all flustered and scatter brained. I was NOT expecting to be accepted at this program! I am proof that you should not give up on waitlists! hopefulslp2b, polarbeara and DeWi 3
NSSLHANerd Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 SOOOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! SLPosteriorCricoArytenoid!!!! :) SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid and polarbeara 2
mr479 Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Okay guys, so this scenario literally just happened to me! I have committed to one program because they told me I needed to by the end of March if I wanted funding. I was on the waitlist at three other programs, but I couldn't wait around for those programs to possibly accept me as I would've lost the funding at the program I was for sure accepted to. So... I JUST RECEIVED THE CALL FROM MY FIRST CHOICE PROGRAM that I was accepted off the waitlist. It is really a no brainer that I need to accept my offer at my first choice program because it will cost me half the price of the other one, plus I will have a graduate assistantship and other possible funding, and I also really like the professors and clinic. Anyways....What do you guys think is the best way to contact the other school to tell them I will no longer be attending? Is it rude if I do it over email? Sorry for the crazy typing, I am all flustered and scatter brained. I was NOT expecting to be accepted at this program! I am proof that you should not give up on waitlists! Happy for you! What school is it?!
SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 (edited) Happy for you! What school is it?! Thanks guys!!! I appreciate it. St. Cloud State University! I am a student at SCSU now as well. I kind of let it drop off my radar because I didn't want to get my hopes up only for a prolonged rejection! They had some crazy competition for spots this year; worse than other years from what I've heard. That is exactly why I wasn't expecting much! Edited April 15, 2015 by SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid
happyhour5 Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 A friend of mine accepted at two schools before needing to put down deposits at either. Is there some sort of repercussion for doing so? I'm curious because I'm having a difficult time making decisions as well.
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