Accepting a school: Back up plan?

[portlandpt]

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Question: I have been accepted to a DPT program and need to put down a deposit in the next 4 days if I am going to accept. I like the program alright but it is not my top pick. I am still waiting a few weeks to hear back from another couple of schools id rather attend. So here is the problem...Starting this year, schools using PTCAS can see what programs you have accepted. Will accepting this school (as a back up plan) negatively affect my chances of getting into the schools I am still waiting on???

Thank you!

 

[nicolej5]

No. Many people get multiple acceptances after the initial one. Put down the deposit and then just withdraw if you get into your number one choice.

 

[okramango]

Question: I have been accepted to a DPT program and need to put down a deposit in the next 4 days if I am going to accept. I like the program alright but it is not my top pick. I am still waiting a few weeks to hear back from another couple of schools id rather attend. So here is the problem...Starting this year, schools using PTCAS can see what programs you have accepted. Will accepting this school (as a back up plan) negatively affect my chances of getting into the schools I am still waiting on???

Thank you!

Where did you get your info that PTCAS schools can see where you have accepted? My understanding was that PTCAS schools don't get any info like that until late spring, when the application cycle is over.

 

[portlandpt]

I cant remember where I read it but I thought I saw that for the 2012-2013 cycle, all programs would be notified when a student placed a deposit...

 

[nicolej5]

https://portal.ptcas.org/applicants2013/faq/ptcas_admissions.shtml

says they don't release the name of the school you hold an acceptance with. I highly doubt this holds any water as far as getting an acceptance from the school you want. After all, you have deposit and tuition $ they want, so they won't deny you just because another program accepted you.

 

[rockstudy]

My understanding is that if you accept multiple offers, only those schools who have accepted you can see that you have other offers. They can not see the name of the other school or schools during the admissions cycle. I don't believe they can see that you have an acceptance until after they have accepted you.

 

[portlandpt]

Was finally able to remember where I read that. From the PTCAS instructions pdf:


Sharing of Admission Decisions:

PT programs will notify applicants directly regarding all admission decisions.
Beginning in spring 2013, any designated PTCAS program that offers you admission will know how many offers of admission you have received from and accepted at other PTCAS institutions. Programs will not know how many applications you have submitted or any other admission decisions made by other PT programs at that time. A PT program that has placed an applicant on a wait-list will not have access to that applicant’s admission status at other PTCAS institutions. Wait-listed applicants should contact the appropriate program directly for specific information on that program’s wait-list policy.
After the completion of the 2012-13 admissions cycle in fall 2013, programs will be able to view the other programs designated by their applicants and the final admission decision reported by each competing institution in PTCAS.

 

[okramango]

Was finally able to remember where I read that. From the PTCAS instructions pdf:


Sharing of Admission Decisions:

PT programs will notify applicants directly regarding all admission decisions.
Beginning in spring 2013, any designated PTCAS program that offers you admission will know how many offers of admission you have received from and accepted at other PTCAS institutions. Programs will not know how many applications you have submitted or any other admission decisions made by other PT programs at that time. A PT program that has placed an applicant on a wait-list will not have access to that applicant’s admission status at other PTCAS institutions. Wait-listed applicants should contact the appropriate program directly for specific information on that program’s wait-list policy.
After the completion of the 2012-13 admissions cycle in fall 2013, programs will be able to view the other programs designated by their applicants and the final admission decision reported by each competing institution in PTCAS.

Thanks for this. It looks like programs will not see any info regarding your other admission offers until they actually invite you for admission. So accepting at a program will have no influence on your chances of being admitted to other programs.

 

[rockstudy]

Sharing of Admission Decisions:

.
After the completion of the 2012-13 admissions cycle in fall 2013, programs will be able to view the other programs designated by their applicants and the final admission decision reported by each competing institution in PTCAS.[/QUOTE]

When this goes into effect I can see where the schools would like it. Not so much for students though. This could work against applicants in alot of ways.

 

[rockstudy]

Double post - Sorry !

 

[okramango]

Sharing of Admission Decisions:

.
After the completion of the 2012-13 admissions cycle in fall 2013, programs will be able to view the other programs designated by their applicants and the final admission decision reported by each competing institution in PTCAS.

When this goes into effect I can see where the schools would like it. Not so much for students though. This could work against applicants in alot of ways.

They don't release this information until the application cycle is over and students have already been accepted to programs, so it actually won't work against applicants at all. Schools just use this info for statistical purposes once all the decisions have already been made.

 

[rockstudy]

They don't release this information until the application cycle is over and students have already been accepted to programs, so it actually won't work against applicants at all. Schools just use this info for statistical purposes once all the decisions have already been made.

You're right okramango. After re-reading I understand now.

 

[RU13]

Wouldn't it be great if all of the schools had the same pre-requisite requirements?

Wouldn't it be great if all of the schools notified you with a decision at the same time?

I feel like this whole process could be more standardized and be made easier for both the students and the schools. But I suppose there's good and bad to everything.

 

[rockstudy]

It would be nice if more schools would make available an approx. timeline for interviews, acceptances, etc on their website. They could post updates when firm dates are known. I know a few programs do this but not very many. This would help ease the week after week stress of waiting for the unknown. Why is it such a mystery ?

 

[portlandpt]

I know! If schools can link up application deadlines, the least they could do is link up decision deadlines. That would make life so much easier for students trying to decide which program to attend

 

[NewTestament]

We need to view the situation from their side too. I know I sound preachy here ("how would you feel?"), but consider the volume of applications these schools are receiving. It takes tremendous time and effort to process of all of these applications. Not every school starts at the same time, has the same level of staffing, the same number of applications, or the same size of class. I think these schools work as hard as they can to process your application. Remember, it's not just you who's applying, it's hundreds (or 1000+) other people.

Kevin

 

[rockstudy]

We need to view the situation from their side too. I know I sound preachy here ("how would you feel?"), but consider the volume of applications these schools are receiving. It takes tremendous time and effort to process of all of these applications. Not every school starts at the same time, has the same level of staffing, the same number of applications, or the same size of class. I think these schools work as hard as they can to process your application. Remember, it's not just you who's applying, it's hundreds (or 1000+) other people.

Kevin

I agree that processing all of these applications takes a tremendous amount of work, and I don't think it's realistic for all schools to have the same timeline. I just think it would be nice if more schools would post on their website an approximate timeline for interview invitations, acceptences etc. If it was going to take longer than expected they could update. This way applicants would have some idea of when they might hear something instead of wondering for weeks or even months in some cases. I believe this would help to eliminate alot of unnecessary stress.