How to eloquontly talk about other programs you have offers from

[winwinwin]

I have a funded offer from a good school and I'm going to flyout. Lucky me, I'm also waitlisted at a better program and expect an offer from another good program.

How explicit should I be about my plans?

What do I say if they explicitly ask what other schools I've heard from?

>> What other schools are you considering?

"I have a couple of very interesting offers I'm considering at this point, "

>> So what schools are those?"

"A couple of top schools such as your program."

Should I be evasive or name the schools?

Edited February 23, 2010 by winwinwin

[medanthrograd]

I am wondering about this too.

I have heard back from 3 schools at the moment and am debating between two: one very prestigious where they are known for providing a maximum of two year of funding, and a less known one (but a very exciting program!) where they usually give funding for five years... For both, I have yet to get a precise funding offer and don't quite know what to do...

I think that I'm going to go for "pondered transparency" and will give details if they ask twice during the visits...

We need soemone good at game theory to help us figure this one out!

I have a funded offer from a good school and I'm going to flyout. Lucky me, I'm also waitlisted at a better program and expect an offer from another good program.

How explicit should I be about my plans?

What do I say if they explicitly ask what other schools I've heard from?

>> What other schools are you considering?

"I have a couple of very interesting offers I'm considering at this point, "

>> So what schools are those?"

"A couple of top schools such as your program."

Should I be evasive or name the schools?

[rising_star]

I always took the really honest approach, telling them the names of the other schools I was considering. Why? All of the people I wanted to work with are friends with one another so they weren't surprised at all by my list of schools (with the exception of two departments, which were a good fit for me research-wise but aren't places people normally consider due to their low rankings). Here's my way of thinking: these people are going to be your colleagues for the rest of your life. They already know you've applied to other programs and they really all want you to make the decision that is best for you.

[HOUBMA]

Agreed... I feel there is a way to do this. Using the "car salesman" approach saying that they need to give you full tuition plus stipend since you are being offered half-tuition at school X is not the way to go. I do think its appropriate to express your true feelings to the professors at the school you are looking into. Feelings such as concerns about funding, atmosphere, classes, and other questions you may have.

[jose]

I agree, you should be honest about which other schools you applied to. I think an ambiguous answer is kinda shady, that gives them the chance to speculate for better or for worse.

[Genomic Repairman]

I sit on an Adcomm, and implore you to tell us. If you have competing offers it will push our hand to be more aggressive and quickly extend you an offer if we know you have others. Don't be ambiguous either, we might peg you as a liar trying to BS us. So your candor will really only help you. Be proud of your success and your offers.

[dant.gwyrdd]

Like others, I'd also go with the candid approach.

@medanthrograd: I'd tell the school which you seem to like more, but provides less funding something along the lines of: I'm really happy about their offer, that they are my first choice, BUT that I might be forced to go to University Y because they are offering me 5 years of funding instead of 2. I would add that even though I love the program of the first school, it is possible that I couldn't afford to go there with their current funding offer.

Edit: But that's only if you actually got the other offer already and are not just basing it from other people's experience.

Edited February 23, 2010 by dant.gwyrdd

[Pamphilia]

Why you would be ambiguous at all? You've already been accepted. What could happen other than that they might "be more aggressive" about recruiting you, as Genomic Repairman says? For what it's worth, my advisor also told me to disclose my acceptances to the schools where I've been waitlisted because they might make me seem like a more desirable candidate.

CONGRATS on your results!

[chimerical]

Be honest and specific about the other schools you're considering. They're not going to rescind your acceptance and if anything might try to recruit you even harder. You'll also find that professors are often happy to give their honest opinion about the relative merits of other schools, sometimes even if their school is no longer on your shortlist. If you don't already have faculty contacts you trust to help you make a decision this can be very helpful.