Should I Talk about The Offer I Already Got in an Interview?

[1gdmz]

Hi everyone,

I just got an admission offer from a program that is highly ranked. I still have some interviews in the next couple of days from other programs that are as good as/ better than this one. Do I need to tell them that I got an offer from this program during the interview? ( I was asked that sort of questions in previous interviews. that's why I'm asking).

Thanks a lot! 

[Neist]

I certainly wouldn't lie, if asked. 

Which program do you want to go to more? The one you've been accepted into or the one you have an interview for?

Edited February 8, 2016 by Neist
Ugh. Typos.

[1gdmz]

@Neist Currently I don't have a very strong preference. They both are very good programs.  

In fact, I already withdrew the programs that I'm 100% sure I'm not going to. So the programs left are all within my consideration. 

[TakeruK]

If you are asked, then I don't see any reason to lie about it or to not tell them. But if you are not asked, then you shouldn't say anything. Not because it will be used against you or anything, but if they don't ask, it means they are not interested, and telling the school about your other offers for no reason is a little weird. 

[Neist]

1 minute ago, TakeruK said:

If you are asked, then I don't see any reason to lie about it or to not tell them. But if you are not asked, then you shouldn't say anything. Not because it will be used against you or anything, but if they don't ask, it means they are not interested, and telling the school about your other offers for no reason is a little weird. 

I agree. If all schools are equal, I would tell them, if asked.

I mean, if you already have a solid offer, and you have no preference, there's no harm in telling them.

[1gdmz]

@TakeruK Thanks for your suggestion. I agree with it too. But what I worry about is that sometimes they don't ask about it explicitly. From my past experience, they just said " what other programs are you applying? do you have any preference for some programs/ location/ etc." It seems that they are very concerned about whether I will go to their program. Should I mention the offer I already got in this case?

[rising_star]

You could just say that you're waiting to hear back. You don't have to outright say that you have an offer.

[1gdmz]

@rising_star Thank you! Sounds like a good answer. 

[TakeruK]

5 hours ago, 1gdmz said:

@TakeruK Thanks for your suggestion. I agree with it too. But what I worry about is that sometimes they don't ask about it explicitly. From my past experience, they just said " what other programs are you applying? do you have any preference for some programs/ location/ etc." It seems that they are very concerned about whether I will go to their program. Should I mention the offer I already got in this case?

I feel like if they are not asking explicitly then you don't have to answer that you have an offer, like @rising_star says. But I have not encountered programs that ask it this obliquely. Maybe it's just the programs I've encountered, but either the schools care about whether or not I have an offer elsewhere and they just ask me outright or they don't care and they don't ask at all.

[rising_star]

Agreed with @TakeruK. People either want to know and ask explicitly or they'll just not ask. If you're competitive for their program, then they're likely to assume that you have other offers. I mean, in narrow subfields, they can often even guess which other programs and POIs you applied to work with.

[cavansite]

Definitely don't lie if asked directly if you've received an acceptance, but don't give them any more information than necessary if they ask vague questions like "where else have you applied/interviewed?" There is no need to say that you've received an acceptance anywhere if asked the latter question.

[bugabooo]

In one of my interviews, I was asked to "list the programs you've applied to in your personal rank order."

It was terrifying and the only unexpected question I got, especially having already been accepted somewhere. I was honest in listing the one I'd been accepted to as equal with the one I was interviewing for, but I did NOT offer up the info that I was already accepted.
My host and some other students knew I'd been accepted somewhere else, and they all said I'd made the right choice or that they would've done the same thing. I was sure to mention that my acceptance elsewhere didn't change the application/interview process at their program. A few grad students actually told me they'd done the same thing. Be honest about your applications, avoid mentioning offers if possible, but don't lie outright.