Accepted, but still waiting...

[LindsaySalt]

Ok, so I just heard back from my first school and I've been accepted!! Now here's my dilemma. In order to hold my spot, I have to send a deposit. And as most of us know, college students don't just have money. I would definitely go to this school the campus and the program are great, but a couple of the other programs I applied to are also great and they're closer to home, which is important to me. So, any suggestions on what I can do in regards to contacting other schools? Do I just wait it out and hope they contact me before my deposit deadline or should I contact them first? If I contact them what's an appropriate way to go about that?!

Thanks in advance for any advice! 

 

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Generally (from what I've read on this forum, that's my only experience) telling other schools to hurry up is a really bad idea. And when is your deposit deadline? If it's soon... that's a tough decision. But for sure wait until the last minute.

[genderboi]

34 minutes ago, LindsaySalt said:

Ok, so I just heard back from my first school and I've been accepted!! Now here's my dilemma. In order to hold my spot, I have to send a deposit. And as most of us know, college students don't just have money. I would definitely go to this school the campus and the program are great, but a couple of the other programs I applied to are also great and they're closer to home, which is important to me. So, any suggestions on what I can do in regards to contacting other schools? Do I just wait it out and hope they contact me before my deposit deadline or should I contact them first? If I contact them what's an appropriate way to go about that?!

Thanks in advance for any advice! 

 

If its a funded grad program they can't force you to make a decision until April 15th, so long as they agreed to that date (most schools do). 

[johnnycomelately]

Programs can-and will-give deadlines that fall before April 15th. Schools/programs want to know that they are offering funding to students that will accept and offer admission to those on the wait list should admits turn them down. If the deadline you are given is soon/soonish, ask for an extension. If that doesn't go well it could be a sign of things to come. 

[MathCat]

When I had a deadline earlier than I had even heard back from all other programs, I asked if it would be possible to extend that deadline so that I could consider all my options. I also contacted other programs saying I had an early deadline but am still interested in their program (which was true). Most of them simply told me when decisions would be available, but two got back to me saying "thanks for telling us, an unofficial acceptance is on the way" earlier than they would have otherwise. A couple just didn't respond to my email at all. I think the key thing is to *ask* for an extension (rather than demand one), and when telling the other programs, do it in such a way that you are not asking them for anything. Just indicate your continued interest in their program but that you have this deadline to consider as well.

I should also probably say two things: first, there were no deposits in question for my programs. I was also a top candidate for the program with the early deadline. It's possible they would have refused my request for an extension if I wasn't. But if you ask politely, I think the worst that will happen is that they say no.

[LindsaySalt]

10 hours ago, MathCat said:

When I had a deadline earlier than I had even heard back from all other programs, I asked if it would be possible to extend that deadline so that I could consider all my options. I also contacted other programs saying I had an early deadline but am still interested in their program (which was true). Most of them simply told me when decisions would be available, but two got back to me saying "thanks for telling us, an unofficial acceptance is on the way" earlier than they would have otherwise. A couple just didn't respond to my email at all. I think the key thing is to *ask* for an extension (rather than demand one), and when telling the other programs, do it in such a way that you are not asking them for anything. Just indicate your continued interest in their program but that you have this deadline to consider as well.

I should also probably say two things: first, there were no deposits in question for my programs. I was also a top candidate for the program with the early deadline. It's possible they would have refused my request for an extension if I wasn't. But if you ask politely, I think the worst that will happen is that they say no.

Thats super helpful! Thank you!