Got Accepted...But Need Advice!

[TennisBoy78]

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I recently got accepted to one school (to which I first interviewed) this past Friday via regular mail. However, I would prefer to attend another school, to which I interviewed the following week after the first school's interview.

I could be receiving an acceptance from my #1 choice anyday, but the first school wants a deposit to hold my seat in one week. Would it be advisable to call my #1 choice and tell them about my situation. I really don't want to pressure my #1 choice to make a decision if they are not ready, but since I'm on a timeline to pay a deposit fee for the other school, I'd rather not waste money if I could get a decision from my #1 choice soon.

Please help! Thanks!

 

[sdn1977]

How badly do you want to go to pharmacy school and how much is the deposit?

Everything has a value & a consequence.....you and only you can choose which is more valuable to you at the time.

Good luck & congratulations (there are lots of folks who wish they had this decision to make!)

 

[TennisBoy78]

How badly do you want to go to pharmacy school and how much is the deposit?

Everything has a value & a consequence.....you and only you can choose which is more valuable to you at the time.

Good luck & congratulations (there are lots of folks who wish they had this decision to make!)

Thanks for your insight, but my question pertains to how I should proceed by calling or not calling my #1 choice. I am fortunate to get an acceptance, and would attend if not accepted by my #1 choice. But I would like to know if it is OK to call my #1 choice and request a decision soon.

 

[aboveliquidice]

I recently got accepted to one school (to which I first interviewed) this past Friday via regular mail. However, I would prefer to attend another school, to which I interviewed the following week after the first school's interview.

I could be receiving an acceptance from my #1 choice anyday, but the first school wants a deposit to hold my seat in one week. Would it be advisable to call my #1 choice and tell them about my situation. I really don't want to pressure my #1 choice to make a decision if they are not ready, but since I'm on a timeline to pay a deposit fee for the other school, I'd rather not waste money if I could get a decision from my #1 choice soon.

Please help! Thanks!

That is close to a million-dollar question... I don't think anyone can answer it but you. I know if it was me, I would pay the deposit and wait for my number 1 choice. If I get the number 1 - I'm out some money. It sucks, but then I had to be certain that I got into at least one school. If I don't get my number 1, then playing on the side of caution worked in my favor.

Either way - congrats!!!

~above~

 

[sdn1977]

No....it is not ok to call your school on Nov 13 to request a decision soon on your status. They know you are fortunate & won't view being rushed the week before Thanksgiving by your own personal desires as anything more than self-serving. I'm not certain committees actually meet this week. I know you don't see it that way, but they might.

It would be a totally different question if you were on the wait list on June 13 & had the same question to answer.

At this point...you have a bird in hand, so to speak. You can roll the dice to see if your apparent winner comes in...or you can spend a little money, have a nice & relaxing Thanksgiving (unless you are Canadian...then you already had one!) & wait to see what happens.

It won't be the last time you blew off some money on a bet, but it may be your only ticket to pharmacy school....your choice!

 

[TennisBoy78]

Should I call or not call my #1 choice to request when a decision will be arrived, noting to them that I am on a timeline to secure a deposit at the other school. I agree with everyone's postings, but I would like an answer to that question.

 

[TennisBoy78]

No....it is not ok to call your school on Nov 13 to request a decision soon on your status. They know you are fortunate & won't view being rushed the week before Thanksgiving by your own personal desires as anything more than self-serving. I'm not certain committees actually meet this week. I know you don't see it that way, but they might.

It would be a totally different question if you were on the wait list on June 13 & had the same question to answer.

At this point...you have a bird in hand, so to speak. You can roll the dice to see if your apparent winner comes in...or you can spend a little money, have a nice & relaxing Thanksgiving (unless you are Canadian...then you already had one!) & wait to see what happens.

It won't be the last time you blew off some money on a bet, but it may be your only ticket to pharmacy school....your choice!

Would it be OK to request when a decision will be arrived?

 

[aboveliquidice]

Should I call or not call my #1 choice to request when a decision will be arrived, noting to them that I am on a timeline to secure a deposit at the other school. I agree with everyone's postings, but I would like an answer to that question.

I think it is kosher to consult the school concerning when a decision will be made. They might give you a brush off - saying that the adcom is working out, and when a decision is made - you will be notified. On the other hand, they might just tell you. I highly doubt it would have a negative impact on their opinion of you. I would call - IMHO

~above~

 

[slimcutt]

Suck it up and pay the deposit. Don't risk losing your seat at the school you got accepted to and then not getting accepted to your #1 school.

 

[TennisBoy78]

Even if my #1 choice's Admissions Committee does not convene until a later date, I was thinking that my notification to them of my other offer may inspire them to make an early recommendation. I know it is not a guarantee, but it may compel them to accomodate me because I really want to attend their school.

 

[mustangrolla]

For all they know, your #1 school may just think that you're just pressuring them to make a decision and somehow make it an exception for you when other students are also in the same situation. I have to put a $2000 deposit b/c I want a guaranteed seat. That's the whole purpose of a deposit. AdComm needs to know if u want the seat or not so they offer it to someone who wants it more than you do and is more willing to pay the deposit.

I don't think you should call them because it does appear self-serving and there's no way for them to know that they are truly your #1 school. They may even think that you're using the same line with every school to do something they don't have control over. Adcom meet on very specific days and i don't think their schedule allows for them to meet early just for one person.

Just pay up. You'll make enough money after pharm school in 4 years. When you look back, your only saving a lil while risking so much by making that request.

 

[sdn1977]

Even if my #1 choice's Admissions Committee does not convene until a later date, I was thinking that my notification to them of my other offer may inspire them to make an early recommendation. I know it is not a guarantee, but it may compel them to accomodate me because I really want to attend their school.

You can certainly call to see when the committee meets. Sometimes, it is weekly, sometimes twice a month. But, this is a week preceding a holiday. Many of these are professors - they are busy. The secretary is NOT & I repeate NOT going to send a bulk email to the whole committee about you & it is the secretary you'll be speaking with. Again...it would be different altogether if it were June 13!

You do NOT want to be known in this fashion. Trust me - they don't want you that badly - otherwise, they would have recruited you. There are several hundred people who would do just as fine in that seat as you.

Now...tennisboy....you don't want to hear this, but you need to decide for yourself. How comfortable do you want to be over this long holiday? Pay your money, know you have a spot & relax.

If later...your number one spot gets offerred, you decide it was just a life experience - like that warranty on that X-Box you never needed, but bought anyway....

Or....you call roll the dice. But..you & only you can make that decision. You have opinions here from those from both sides.....now its time to choose your route.

Good luck....and keep remembering....congratulations (don't lose site of all those people who would like to have your choice!).

 

[SunFlower2008]

How confidence u think u gonna accepted by your 1st choice school. If you pretty confident, why not just gamble on it. I am assume you are not just apply for 2 schools, u still have chance to get in other school, like 2nd choice, 3rd chice, etc.(sounds like the school u got accepted is not 2nd choice either) right? Gamble！That's what people do when they young. Good Luck

 

[senzabee]

I have to agree with sdn. You don't want to be known by the school as someone who is pushing for answers. I don't see a problem in asking, "Around when will be notified?" because that's a general question we all are wondering...just don't expect to hear an exact time (you'll probably hear "oh, we'll notify you as soon as we make our decision" 😛 ). By telling them that you have another school on hold, you're telling them that you're not fully into their school. I mean, of course they know you're not only applying to one school, but you definitely don't want to display that to them while you're with them! You want to be focused in on their program and show them how excited you are about THEM, not another school. So...don't tell them. Make the deposit. Your $200-2000 is an investment you're making into your future. You'll be spending just as much (if not more) to apply next year if you don't get into any school. If you do get in to your #1, oh well, it's the price you paid to assure yourself a spot in a school. Good luck with your interview.

 

[a504n]

If it were me, I would just pay the deposit, because at least I know I am guaranteed a seat in Pharmacy school. That money you might lose is nothing compared to the money you will make after you graduate. This is your future you're dealing with, don't risk it over $2,000 or whatever you deposit is. I wouldn't call either, because I do not want to come off as the applicant who was rushing their admissions committee to make a decision so he can save some money on a deposit. They probably don't care if you lose the deposit money or not, and I doubt they would stop what they're doing to make a decision if they are going to accept you or not because you have a deadline to meet for a deposit. Also, I don't think you letting them know you got accepted to another school would make them rush their decision process. They probably have a lot of other applicants who have the same stats as you and can fill your spot. Just pay the deposit.

 

[DrEaMeRcHiCk]

Don't call the school, that's just pushing it.

Let me give you my friends situation last year, he was also in the same boat you were and made the decision to pay a $2000 deposit at the school that accepted him first. A week later he got his acceptance from his #1, gave up his seat at the initial school and lost his $2000 deposit. When I asked him if he'd do the same thing again, he says definitely because in the long run for him, he wanted to go to pharmacy school and $2000 is worth it especially if he didn't get into any other schools. And I asked him this after he got into all the schools he applied to...his justification is that you never know what might happen so always better to be safe.

 

[acetyl]

Fork over the bungalows and be quite.

The only guarantees in life are death and taxes.

 

[foroneaudience]

I know that the school where I got accepted didn't meet to decide until the day before they let us know. They most likely haven't even mad a decision, or they would have contacted you. By calling them and asking for an answer it might keep you from getting in. I don't know how many times during the interview the dean of pharmacy told us not to call them because as soon as they knew they would contact us. I think you would just make them mad and should probably just pay the money or chance it, but don't call the school.

 

[TennisBoy78]

The reason that I feel compelled to request when a decision will be made is because of the fact that I have already interviewed and because I am one of the first to be interviewed as well. It seems highly unlikely that I would have been one of the first to be interviewed if I am not considered a strong candidate.

 

[ForcedEntry]

Well if you are so confident then reject the acceptance you already received.

 

[LaoSaint]

Must be nice to have more than one choice!