Responding to an offer?

[mindatwork]

I received acceptance letters from two schools - am I supposed to respond to the emails?

[Need Coffee in an IV]

No idea, but congrats! This is my first application cycle so I'm not an expert at all. If anything I would send a quick thank you email, saying that you are appreciative of the opportunity and you will keep them informed.

[rising_star]

You can respond if you want. It does let them know that you received their message.

[svent]

I typically just respond if I have any questions. I think it also depends on who's sending it. If it's the dean of the graduate school, no need to reply. If it's the chair of the department, a short reply wouldn't be out of line.

[Unimpressed3D]

I wondered about the protocol for this, too, but I responded with a short thank you, anyway. I just hope it doesn't read like an acceptance of the offer, because I don't want to be rash. I didn't ask about time frames to make a decision, either, though, because....well...I'm new at this, and still too nervous. Is it reasonable to assume that I need to let them know by April 15th if they don't tell me otherwise?

[MathCat]

I just responded to such emails by saying thank you, I'm excited and considering my options, etc.. 

[Eager]

I received my acceptance today!!! It was In my junk email of all places!  It specifically said to let them know of my acceptance no later than the 15th of April.  I thought all letters would specify.  I am of course accepting.  So excited.  I would like to figure out how to accept other than saying, "Dear God, yes!!! I've been waiting for this for so long…"

Probably should think of something other than that…..Good wishes to everyone!

[apaphoria]

If I remember correctly from the previous admissions cycles I've participated in, all schools have a April 15th deadline. I usually respond to the initial offer with a generic response much like previous posters.

Its when the school or potential adviser sends that follow-up email a couple weeks later that asks if I've applied elsewhere/heard anything back from other schools that I don't know how to respond to--do I bring it up or not, if I do bring it up do I then try to use it to negotiate a better offer, etc. 

[artsy16]

13 hours ago, apaphoria said:

If I remember correctly from the previous admissions cycles I've participated in, all schools have a April 15th deadline. I usually respond to the initial offer with a generic response much like previous posters.

Its when the school or potential adviser sends that follow-up email a couple weeks later that asks if I've applied elsewhere/heard anything back from other schools that I don't know how to respond to--do I bring it up or not, if I do bring it up do I then try to use it to negotiate a better offer, etc. 

The April 15th deadline is only for Graduate Schools within universities that signed the Council of Graduate Schools resolution. Most universities are on it, but if a program doesn't specify, I would ask. It also only applies to Graduate Schools, not professional schools, schools of education, etc. Of course a school can still have that deadline without signing the resolution, but it's better to just ask.  

Edited February 19, 2016 by artsy16

[KhiCompLit]

I can't decide. How do I decide?