How soon do I need to withdraw my acceptance?

[Starsinthesky]

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I'm currently holding an acceptance at a school that I would be very happy to attend, but which gave me pretty meh financial aid. Last week I was accepted off the waitlist at my top choice school (yay!), and right now I am just waiting for the financial aid package to come through. Unfortunately this new acceptance is at one of the schools that requires NeedAccess information for need-based aid. I've been given exactly one week from the date when I got my acceptance notification to make a final decision. However, it's not looking like I'll get my aid package in time, and there is still a small chance that I would decline this acceptance if there was a large cost difference since money remains a significant factor in my decision.

At this point I think I have two options. One is to ask the school I just got into for an extension to make the decision. I would feel bad about that though, because I wrote a LOI practically begging them to let me in. I meant what I wrote, but I thought I could at least have the financial aid info before I signed off on the deal permanently.

My other option is to accept the new offer and not withdraw from my first school right away, just in case the financial aid package turns out to be terrible. My question (finally...) is this: Do I have some flexibility in the timing of my withdrawal? Is there some way for either school to find out that I was, at one point after May 15, holding two acceptances for a period of two to three days? Has anyone successfully nagivated a similar timing issue? I'd appreciate your advice, thank you!

 

[acridknight]

As per AAMC recommendations, schools should give you two weeks. http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/policies/admissionofficers.htm

However, some schools try to push applicants so they can more quickly solidify their class. We are still relatively early in the process (assuming both of your schools start classes in Aug). That being said, the school accepted you b/c they want you, and they most likely will not be too bureaucratic and rescind your offer exactly at 7 days. Schools typically begin to pressure students (eg. by threatening letters) if you wait past their deadlines.

I'd wait it out... if you do, do you know when your fin aid package will be in? Have you called the school 2 Fin Aid office to try to expedite your fin aid? If you do want to see your fin aid before you accept school 2, I would not "accept" the new school just yet b/c your first school will see this in AMCAS, thereby giving them (school 1) more leadway to rescind your initial offer. This latter point also answers your second question... schools can see all acceptances and your withdrawals as of a month or two ago. They prob don't check amcas each day, but they can. Again, you can always cite AAMC recommendations, and, more importantly, they shouldn't drop you off exactly at 7 days (they will initially pressure you, and then drop you if you do push it too long).

Last point: each school is different. If you want more specific advice, I suggest you disclose your two schools (your discretion).

Good luck , and congrats! 🙂

 

[Starsinthesky]

Thank you for the advice acridknight. As it turns out, I got my financial aid letter just as I was finishing writing an e-mail asking for an extension to school 2.

Whew 🙂

 

[ACGator09]

this is just for others who might one day read this thread... i was accepted to a school and given 2 weeks for a decision (this was pre-5/15 by the way). i kinda forgot about it and around week 3 they sent me an email telling me that they've withdrawn my application since the deadline passed. so a word of warning: the only form of "pressure" they put on you might simply be an email telling you that they've rescinded their offer

 

[acridknight]

this is just for others who might one day read this thread... i was accepted to a school and given 2 weeks for a decision (this was pre-5/15 by the way). i kinda forgot about it and around week 3 they sent me an email telling me that they've withdrawn my application since the deadline passed. so a word of warning: the only form of "pressure" they put on you might simply be an email telling you that they've rescinded their offer

well, that's lame. you prob wouldn't want to go to that school anyway. they accepted you b/c they want you... if they don't give you any heads up, they may not be the best fit for you (it certainly wouldn't be for me..... that's very poor student communication).

on the other hand, this may also be a confusion with the school since you were doubly accepted as the may 15th date was passing.

FYI for future readers: i was accepted off of the wait list on may 15th. I had previously reduced my acceptances to one just before may 15th, and the extra, last minute acceptance put me over 1 acceptance again. I immediately sent an email to the dean of admissions at the first school where I had decided upon before May 15th and cited the AAMC 2wk notice. Communication both ways is key. Ultimately, everything worked out, and I got the 2 weeks to think about my choice. I stress again, though, knowing whom to contact and how to present your case to this person is key. If you leave any ambiguity for any school, you may be unexpectedly dropped.

 

[pianola]

Yeah I got 1 week to make my decision off the waitlist.