Tactful way to do this?

[Ziz]

I got an acceptance really really early from on of my schools and they want me to respond to the offer by February 12. Now, this school is not my top choice, but I'd be happy going there if I don't get in anywhere else. The problem is, I'm unlikely to hear from any of my other schools (and top choices) until well after February 12. The offer letter says to contact them to discuss an extension to the date of reply.

How can I tactfully say "I want an extension until April to see if anything better comes along"?

[LifeIsGood]

How about this: You appreciate their desire to finalize the class cohort promptly, but you do feel it necessary to wait until you have additional information before you commit. You assure them that they'll have their final decision by April 15, as specified in the [whatever that agreement is that the grad schools have about decision dates].

[jacib]

I got an acceptance really really early from on of my schools and they want me to respond to the offer by February 12. Now, this school is not my top choice, but I'd be happy going there if I don't get in anywhere else. The problem is, I'm unlikely to hear from any of my other schools (and top choices) until well after February 12. The offer letter says to contact them to discuss an extension to the date of reply.

How can I tactfully say "I want an extension until April to see if anything better comes along"?

http://www.cgsnet.org/?tabid=201 is the summary

http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGS_Resolution.pdf is the full text plus a list of signing schools

The document is only binding to American schools which have signed. Canadian schools all follow this as well as a rule, though I don't think they have any binding contract like this. I don't know if British schools follow this as a rule, but I think they'll be understanding of the situation and almost certainly grant the extension. If ıt makes you feel more comfortable, make it about money, say while you would really love to attend this school, you need to see offers because graduate school is so expensive.

I am guessing this school is a British school that has "rolling admissions" and they just want to know when they can accept others students, so if you do get into a better school, you should tell this school you're not coming as soon as possible so they can accept another kid.

[mudlark]

Canadian schools all follow this as well as a rule, though I don't think they have any binding contract like this.

Really? As a Canadian, this has not been my experience. I got a different deadline from each acceptance.

OP, I would talk with the grad director and see if the deadline is flexible. I had to ask for an extension last year so that I could fit in a visit at another school, and it was so worth it! Oftentimes schools will be flexible if they really want you. Just be straightforward and polite.

[jacib]

Really? As a Canadian, this has not been my experience. I got a different deadline from each acceptance.

OP, I would talk with the grad director and see if the deadline is flexible. I had to ask for an extension last year so that I could fit in a visit at another school, and it was so worth it! Oftentimes schools will be flexible if they really want you. Just be straightforward and polite.

Really? Oh.

I am a shameful American who foolishly assumed that our neighbors to the North shared our system. Ignore that... I just figured because there's so much cross border applying that the two systems HAD to be aligned, especially since the job market between the two is relatively fluid. And a lot of (some?) academic societies are cross border. I apologize.

In my field, the University of Toronto was one of the few grad schools I saw at elite programs, and I was just reading an article by a guy from Western Ontario or something who ended up teaching in Iowa.... I am willing to further admit that I don't actually know how fluid the job market it is, I was thinking of these few examples.

Edited January 17, 2010 by jacib