Accepting, then maybe unaccepting

[heyo]

I have a PhD offer from a top 40 school that I am not crazy about but am probably willing to accept. I need to accept or reject it basically now.

 

I'm waiting to hear if I will be getting funding for a top 25 school that I may like better, but I'm not sure if any funding will be available.

 

I'm also waiting to hear if there is a possibility of getting funding from a top 15 school (but only accepted for master's) that I would definitely take over the first school if it were funded, but would be questionable without.

 

 

Is there any way that other schools can find out I have accepted an offer to the first school, that they may withdraw their acceptances? I need to give the first school a deposit, and they refused to give me an extension on the deadline.

[MathCat]

The point of the deposit is to deter people from doing what you are proposing, but I don't think it would mean you can't do it - you would just forfeit your deposit.