Need advice regarding what to do with acceptances

[BackToTheWall]

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Need some advice ASAP.

I just received an acceptance letter to Berkeley and they want a reply whether I will be attending their program within two weeks time.

The problem is... I won't receive my other acceptances for another 2-6 weeks after the deadline!! So what should I do? I don't want to tell them that I won't go there only to be rejected by all other schools.

So I guess my question is :
#1 Can I tell them I will be attending their program only to bail out later if something better comes along? Are there any repercussions in doing that? ie they notify all other schools you bailed out on their program?

#2 If you were in the same position what would you do if Berkeley ranked as number three on your list of schools you want to go to?

Oh and I have great scores, excellent letters of rec, and decent gpa... I believe i am a very competitive applicant at the other two schools that I want to go to above berkeley.

Thanks for the help

 

[xzophiax]

I'm not super sure, but I think your safest bet would be to reserve a spot by putting in the deposit then if something that you'd prefere comes allong to pull out. If its anything like med school, that happens all the time. My best friend was waitlisted at UC Irvine med school so he accepted at USC, he had actually allready started at USC when Irvine said someone had dropped out, so he pulled out of the program and went to UCI, he just lost his deposit and there weren't any other repercussions. I've heard of a bunch of other cases like this, so I think you'd be fine but just ready to sacrifice the deposit. I'm in the same boat right now having gotten into Emory which is my third choice, so I'm just saying yes until I hear back from my other top schools, so actually I'm doing exactly what you're asking about! Good luck!

 

[Maya_M]

Congrats on your acceptance to Berkeley. I'm actually in the same situation, having received my acceptance letter almost 2 weeks ago (on 2/3).

First off, there is no set date you must reply by. I think I remember the letter saying that they would appreciate it if you replied within 2 weeks of receiving the your acceptance letter, but there is no hard fast deadline you must respond by, which led me to not really stress about getting them a response.

As for your #1 and #2 schools, I would call the admissions office, explain how you've received your Berkeley acceptance, but you really want to go to their school. Then ask if they can accelerate the review of your application and let you know their decision before they send their letters out. I don’t know if it will work, but it will let schools 1 and 2 know you’re seriously considering their programs and if they don’t want to lose you to Berkeley, they will give you a call and let you know their decision early.

You can also try calling or emailing the folks at Berkeley to ask for a real deadline for your response. I’m sure they are aware that most applicants have not heard from other schools yet and that people want to consider all of their options. Admissions officers are really friendly, so don’t be worried. They want you to come to their school!

 

[Maya_M]

Ok. I spoke to an administrator at Berkeley today and they said the real date you must respond by is April 15.

I also got an acceptance from Columbia today and they want a response from me by April 10.

 

[BackToTheWall]

Ok. I spoke to an administrator at Berkeley today and they said the real date you must respond by is April 15.

I also got an acceptance from Columbia today and they want a response from me by April 10.

Hey Maya,

Thanks a lot for doing the leg work and finding out. Also Congrats on the acceptances to Berkeley and Columbia. My first choice is actually Columbia so I'm still waiting on receiving a letter from there... even though my file has not been declared 'complete' yet according to my account info. 😕 I hope that my materials did not get lost in the mail. What program did you apply to and which schools are you leaning towards?

Once again congrats

 

[Maya_M]

Hey Maya,

Thanks a lot for doing the leg work and finding out. Also Congrats on the acceptances to Berkeley and Columbia. My first choice is actually Columbia so I'm still waiting on receiving a letter from there... even though my file has not been declared 'complete' yet according to my account info. 😕 I hope that my materials did not get lost in the mail. What program did you apply to and which schools are you leaning towards?

Once again congrats

I applied to Health Policy and Management MPH programs. I was leaning towards Berkeley since it was the first school I heard from, but now I need to research Columbia more! I'm pretty surprised that I got into both schools and that I heard so early.

I hope you hear from Columbia soon! You could call them and see if they really are missing some stuff or if it just hasn't been entered into the computer yet.

Best of luck to you!

 

[skier06]

My first choice is actually Columbia so I'm still waiting on receiving a letter from there... even though my file has not been declared 'complete' yet according to my account info. 😕 I hope that my materials did not get lost in the mail.

hey,
i wouldn't worry too much about your columbia materials. i, too, am waiting on one recommendation to arrive there that was sent out on 2/1. i called yesterday to check and see if it had been received, and it still hadn't been entered into my application. the woman i spoke to said that they had a ton of mail from the last couple of weeks that hasn't even been processed yet, so just to keep calling. frustrating i know, but i hope this alleviates a little of your anxiety!
also, congrats on berkeley! 🙂

 

[ultane123]

does anyone know when Harvard mails out their letters?

hey,
i wouldn't worry too much about your columbia materials. i, too, am waiting on one recommendation to arrive there that was sent out on 2/1. i called yesterday to check and see if it had been received, and it still hadn't been entered into my application. the woman i spoke to said that they had a ton of mail from the last couple of weeks that hasn't even been processed yet, so just to keep calling. frustrating i know, but i hope this alleviates a little of your anxiety!
also, congrats on berkeley! 🙂

 

[hopeful1]

hi
i hav also applied to UC Berkeley for MPH. i dont know where to check the status of my application. r they going to email me or post it somewhere on their website?

 

[BackToTheWall]

hi
i hav also applied to UC Berkeley for MPH. i dont know where to check the status of my application. r they going to email me or post it somewhere on their website?

Hopeful, I got an email telling me that my application was complete but that was far back in january. I would say you should call them to receive confirmation... or even ask if you've been accepted or not cause a few of us have already received letters. best of luck to ya