Accepting Acceptances

[davedavedave]

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say you get accepted to a safety school early on in the process, do they require that you make a decision to matriculate there in like 2 weeks or can u hold on the acceptance until the last possible minute ie the last possible day youd get off a waiting list at a better school?

 

[stinkycheese]

say you get accepted to a safety school early on in the process, do they require that you make a decision to matriculate there in like 2 weeks or can u hold on the acceptance until the last possible minute ie the last possible day youd get off a waiting list at a better school?

I am sure they give you a deadline for the deposit. I doubt it's within two weeks. You can't hold an acceptance that you're not going to accept past May 15th anyway, so you can't wait until the last possible minute. Don't think that they're not going to release your seat to someone who wants to go there, cause they will, unless you get your deposit to them in a timely manner. A deposit is not a binding contract, anyway.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Everyone just sits on their acceptances until May 15th, at which time they can decide which one they want to go to and withdraw from the rest

 

[hapkidochic]

you generally do have to accept an acceptance within about 2 weeks. upon accepting, most schools require that you send in a deposit (usually $100-200) that's refundable until May 15. So initially, you can accept as many acceptances as you want, but come May 15, you can only be holding one.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Some schools do require a deposit within a certain amount of time, say two weeks. Thus, if you drop their acceptance, they still keep your money. You're out however much the deposit is, but you get to go to the better school.

 

[10minutes]

I am sure they give you a deadline for the deposit. I doubt it's within two weeks. You can't hold an acceptance that you're not going to accept past May 15th anyway, so you can't wait until the last possible minute. Don't think that they're not going to release your seat to someone who wants to go there, cause they will, unless you get your deposit to them in a timely manner. A deposit is not a binding contract, anyway.

True, but some schools like UVA don't require a deposit. Usually you must reply within 2~3 weeks. You can hold on the multiple acceptances until May 15th. 🙂

 

[superdevil]

do a lot of schools do the "non-refundable deposit" thing? if so, they suck.

hopefully at least some of the schools i applied to don't have deposits at all....how much does this process have to cost the students, anyway?

 

[DrThom]

AAMC guidlines says that the deposit is refundable until May 15th....some schools, like Tulane, don't follow the guidlines very well and as soon as you pay your money, they get to keep it.

 

[Howard Roark]

LECOM requires a NON-REFUNDABLE $1000.00 deposit to hold your spot!!!!!!!!!

yikes!!!!!!!


it was a worst case scenario back-up for me but I did not give them the money. i took my chances elsewhere and it paid off


good luck all

 

[LionInTheDark]

Pitt required a response within two weeks, but they wouldn't accept our deposits until after May 15th.

 

[gaf]

You can't hold an acceptance that you're not going to accept past May 15th anyway

Close. You can't hold more than one acceptance past May 15. So if you're accepted at your 3d choice, you hold it. On June 1, when your 2d choice accepts you, you accept there and decline the 3d choice. If your first choice offers you a place, you accept there and decline the #2 school.

Oc course some or all of these schools will want money.

 

[i61164]

Close. You can't hold more than one acceptance past May 15. So if you're accepted at your 3d choice, you hold it. On June 1, when your 2d choice accepts you, you accept there and decline the 3d choice. If your first choice offers you a place, you accept there and decline the #2 school.

Oc course some or all of these schools will want money.

So, if you are holding an acceptance and you get off of the waitlist at your 1st choice after May 15, you get to go to your 1st choice, but you lose the deposit that you paid to the other school.

How long can you hold out for that last minute acceptance? In other words, when are you officially "enrolled" or "matriculated" at the non-1st choice school? The first day of orientation? First day of classes?

 

[WiscoFan14]

Actually you are wrong about Tulane:

If you get in before May 15, you can reserve your spot in the class with a letter stating that you wish to enroll. After May 15 you owe them a 500 dollar non-refundable check...which is how it works at most schools.

 

[redstar18]

How long can you hold out for that last minute acceptance? In other words, when are you officially "enrolled" or "matriculated" at the non-1st choice school? The first day of orientation? First day of classes?

You are officially enrolled when you attend the first day of orientation.

 

[leechy]

Pitt required a response within two weeks, but they wouldn't accept our deposits until after May 15th.

Are other schools like this? This seems like a weird way of doing things. Say you get into school x in January, and send in an acceptance letter within the required two weeks. Then, a month later, you get into school y, which you like better, and they require a response within two weeks. So you write a letter to school x rescinding your acceptance, and write an acceptance letter to school y.

and this process keeps on going for half a year or more???

 

[IndyZX]

Are other schools like this? This seems like a weird way of doing things. Say you get into school x in January, and send in an acceptance letter within the required two weeks. Then, a month later, you get into school y, which you like better, and they require a response within two weeks. So you write a letter to school x rescinding your acceptance, and write an acceptance letter to school y.

and this process keeps on going for half a year or more???

No you can collect acceptances like sweet, caramel candy until May 15. You don't have to officially withdraw until then.