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hopefulkid · 2008 March 5th, 01:30 PM

Hello. First time poster here.

I want to ask you people about a concern I have. I have been waitlisted at my dream PhD program. Suppose I am admitted at one of my safeties as well.

The safety will probably ask me for a decision before April the 15th, right?. However, I have been told by the priority school they will probably have no news before that date, because they can't make students confirm their admission before that.

Here's the question: what if I accept the lower ranked school offer, and then I find a slot has opened at my dream program? What are the consequences of turning down an offer?

Help, please!

Thanks in advance

Antonio · 2008 March 5th, 01:43 PM

The safety will probably ask me for a decision before April the 15th, right?.

Why??? I can't see this point.
You should have time until 15th of April for every school.

By the way, which are your safety and dream school ?
Maybe some TM fellows could help you by rejecting their offers and you can help one of us by rejecting your safety...

loudandclear · 2008 March 5th, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

By the way, which are your safety and dream school ?
Maybe some TM fellows could help you by rejecting their offers and you can help one of us by rejecting your safety...

I wouldn't do that; there are no guarantees that you will get a TMers spot if they reject an offer, and there are no guarantees that one will get your spot if you reject the offer. It could work out that you end up with neither.

If I were you (take this for what it's worth), I would speak to someone at the school where you're waitlisted. Explain your dilemma, and ask how people usually deal with this problem. I'm guessing it's a fairly common problem, so someone is bound to have some good advise.

stupidolive · 2008 March 5th, 02:09 PM

I think even for your safeties, you won't have to tell them until that day. And if, for some reason, you get admitted to your dream school on 4/16 or so, you can still ask the school you accepted on 4/15 to release you from the obligation and you can still enroll into your dream school.

fp3690 · 2008 March 5th, 02:28 PM

Any school is not allowed to ask you to commit yourself before April 15.

MzSunshine · 2008 March 5th, 02:32 PM

I think the OP's question is - he/she has to tell the safety on April 15 at the latest, but might not hear from the dream school until the 16th (when their admits say Yes/No). So what happens then? If you told your safety on April 15 "yes, I'm coming" but your dream school tells you on the 16th or 17th "we have a spot for you now if you're still interested", then what?

As far as I understand, and as stupidolive said, I think it's possible to ask for a release from the safety school. But how hard is that to get? Since you will have signed a contract... And what does that entail - how would one go about getting the release?

stupidolive · 2008 March 5th, 02:36 PM

Well I did ask to be released from OSU. I don't think they would cause you any trouble, just that they will be annoyed with you

asquare · 2008 March 5th, 03:38 PM

Here's something I posted about the April 15 deadline on the FAQs about funding (FAQs about funding) thread:

April 15 is the last day you can turn down an offer of funding at one school in order to accept an offer of funding at another school. You can accept a school and back out later, and schools can offer you funding after April 15. Schools cannot require you to make a decision before April 15. This deadline is the result of an agreement between the many schools that form the Council of Graduate schools, and you can read about it here.

asquare · 2008 March 5th, 03:41 PM

Also, here's an old thread about waitlists (Catch 22: Waitlist) that might be helpful.

jukebox hero · 2008 March 5th, 10:34 PM

I think you have two obligations in this process. The first and most important is to yourself. You've worked hard to get the admits/waitlists that you've earned and you deserve to go to the best school (subjectively defined) that you've been admitted to.

The second obligation is to be honest and straightforward with programs. Yes, you need to accept somewhere by April 15th, and if that date rolls around and you haven't heard from the waitlists, then your only option is to tell the school where you've actually been admitted that you're coming. However, if the other school gets back to you the next day, and you think it's better for you, then go there. You've acted in good faith, and you shouldn't feel ashamed backing out. No school is going to force you to attend if your heart is somewhere else.

The rules are set up so that the whole process functions with as few hitches as possible. They aren't set up to hold you to some bizarre moral code where the words you say on April 15th are somehow more important than your future.

Good luck.

2008 March 5th, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
hopefulkid I JUST got here. Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 15	Help with the meaning of April 15 Hello. First time poster here. I want to ask you people about a concern I have. I have been waitlisted at my dream PhD program. Suppose I am admitted at one of my safeties as well. The safety will probably ask me for a decision before April the 15th, right?. However, I have been told by the priority school they will probably have no news before that date, because they can't make students confirm their admission before that. Here's the question: what if I accept the lower ranked school offer, and then I find a slot has opened at my dream program? What are the consequences of turning down an offer? Help, please! Thanks in advance

2008 March 5th, 01:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Antonio Within my grasp! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 362	The safety will probably ask me for a decision before April the 15th, right?. Why??? I can't see this point. You should have time until 15th of April for every school. By the way, which are your safety and dream school ? Maybe some TM fellows could help you by rejecting their offers and you can help one of us by rejecting your safety... _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Having F above 10 now makes your instrument stronger; I need you to do the math now 'cos I am the lead co-author.... ....submit the paper right now!"

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2008 March 5th, 02:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
stupidolive aja aja fighting Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 464	I think even for your safeties, you won't have to tell them until that day. And if, for some reason, you get admitted to your dream school on 4/16 or so, you can still ask the school you accepted on 4/15 to release you from the obligation and you can still enroll into your dream school.

2008 March 5th, 02:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
fp3690 TestMagic Guru Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,214	Any school is not allowed to ask you to commit yourself before April 15.

2008 March 5th, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
MzSunshine Trying to be patient Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 75	I think the OP's question is - he/she has to tell the safety on April 15 at the latest, but might not hear from the dream school until the 16th (when their admits say Yes/No). So what happens then? If you told your safety on April 15 "yes, I'm coming" but your dream school tells you on the 16th or 17th "we have a spot for you now if you're still interested", then what? As far as I understand, and as stupidolive said, I think it's possible to ask for a release from the safety school. But how hard is that to get? Since you will have signed a contract... And what does that entail - how would one go about getting the release?

2008 March 5th, 02:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
stupidolive aja aja fighting Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 464	Well I did ask to be released from OSU. I don't think they would cause you any trouble, just that they will be annoyed with you

2008 March 5th, 03:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,725	Here's something I posted about the April 15 deadline on the FAQs about funding (FAQs about funding) thread: April 15 is the last day you can turn down an offer of funding at one school in order to accept an offer of funding at another school. You can accept a school and back out later, and schools can offer you funding after April 15. Schools cannot require you to make a decision before April 15. This deadline is the result of an agreement between the many schools that form the Council of Graduate schools, and you can read about it here.

2008 March 5th, 03:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
asquare TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,725	Also, here's an old thread about waitlists (Catch 22: Waitlist) that might be helpful.

2008 March 5th, 10:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
jukebox hero Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 15	I think you have two obligations in this process. The first and most important is to yourself. You've worked hard to get the admits/waitlists that you've earned and you deserve to go to the best school (subjectively defined) that you've been admitted to. The second obligation is to be honest and straightforward with programs. Yes, you need to accept somewhere by April 15th, and if that date rolls around and you haven't heard from the waitlists, then your only option is to tell the school where you've actually been admitted that you're coming. However, if the other school gets back to you the next day, and you think it's better for you, then go there. You've acted in good faith, and you shouldn't feel ashamed backing out. No school is going to force you to attend if your heart is somewhere else. The rules are set up so that the whole process functions with as few hitches as possible. They aren't set up to hold you to some bizarre moral code where the words you say on April 15th are somehow more important than your future. Good luck.

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