Stuck in a situation between schools please help!

[ptlover]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was accepted to a state school that requires a $1500 deposit. The school is letting me split the payment in half,with the first payment due January 12th. BUT
this school is my super safety school.

I should be hearing back from where I received my undergraduate degree in a few days. I also should be hearing from my top choice sometime next week. My worry is that I won't hear from either school by January 12 before I have to make a deposit to my safety school. I am not a huge fan of the safety schools program and would prefer not to attend there. I know its great that I got in somewhere, but with such a hefty deposit required I don't want to pay that amount without knowing all options.


Should I decline admission and hope to get in to my other choices? Or should I pay the $750 (non refundable ) and possibly have to pay more money the same week to another school if I'm accepted?

 

[Watson27]

Have you spoken to any of the schools? Ask for an extension from your safety school. Or call up the other schools and let them know your situation. There's a chance they might give you their decision over the phone. I did both of these things and the schools were very understanding.

How confident are you that you will get in to the other schools? If there's at all a chance that you might not be accepted, pay the deposit! $1500 is a hefty deposit. They must have had a problem in the past with students changing their minds.

 

[ptlover]

The only extension option I have with the safety school is the one they gave me. I askes for the extension because I knew I wouldn't hear back from other schools in time.

I am pretty confident I will get in to one at least of my other choices. But its such a hard decision. Thank you so much for your advice. I want to call the other schools and explain my situation but man its tough.

 

[Watson27]

All you have to say is, "Your school is my first choice and I have a deadline from XX University on Friday. I really would hate to put down a deposit there, knowing that if I get in to your program I will forfeit that money. Is there any way that you could let me know unofficially if paying their deposit is a wise choice?" They might say that they can't tell you, blah blah blah, but just push them a little and try phrasing it different ways. Sometimes schools will be more willing to let you know if you won't be getting in.

Trust me, the schools know that these situations happen and that they all have different timelines. In my opinion, the good schools are transparent about their admissions process and are willing to help you out.

 

[DesertPT]

If you are unsuccessful at doing what Watson27 has suggested, all you can do is wait until Jan. 11 and if you haven't heard from any other school go ahead an put down the deposit. There was no point in applying to the first school if you had no intention whatsoever of taking an acceptance there. It sucks that this is how the system works. I got had for a $1000 deposit from my last choice school a couple weeks ago to, because I won't find out my other choices until Feb. and March.

 

[DjT3kN]

$1500... is a small sacrifice to make compared to not getting in if your other choice schools don't offer you an acceptance. Then you'll be arsed out another year and have sacrificed a year's salary because of the setback. Think long-term reality rather than short-term loss. Just my two cents....

 

[starrsgirl]

How is the deposit paid? I could pay one of mine online and I waited until 11pm the day it was due!

That said, I lost $500 on a deposit and it hurt my soul....but we are saving $80k so I suppose I can let it go lol.

 

[DesertPT]

$1500... is a small sacrifice to make compared to not getting in if your other choice schools don't offer you an acceptance. Then you'll be arsed out another year and have sacrificed a year's salary because of the setback. Think long-term reality rather than short-term loss. Just my two cents....

Yep, this is why you don't really have any choice but to cough up the bucks when you are in the situation of getting accepted to your last choice school first.

 

[DesertPT]

How is the deposit paid? I could pay one of mine online and I waited until 11pm the day it was due!

That said, I lost $500 on a deposit and it hurt my soul....but we are saving $80k so I suppose I can let it go lol.

Exactly the same story for me. Now we wait to see if I get into the school that will save $80k lol.

 

[PT2Bee]

Schools have a reason for staggering their acceptance notifications lol....$$$$$$$. They know they can have you for your money if you are waiting for another school's decision. No one wants to be the person that declined admission and then didn't get into school B. In my opinion, you shouldn't have applied to any schools that you wouldn't want to attend. Put down the deposit. In a few years 1,500 won't be that big of a deal, but every year it's getting more and more competitive so who knows if you would get in next cycle?

 

[ptlover]

I don't want to go there because the other programs I have gotten interviews from/applied to have the type of program I'd like to attend. I applied because I had a good chance of getting in. Believe me I want to be a PT at any cost but with others schools that will be notifying so close to the deposit deadline, it was a hard pill to swallow. With that said the program is a good one just not for me unless I have to. I contacted 3 of the schools I am waiting on and 2/3 will be notifying me this week instead which is great. They were very understanding. Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll keep everyone posted on what happens!

 

[Archline]

This same situation happened to a friend of mine. She put down a deposit, and then got accepted to her first choice a few days later. She called the program and requested a refund. She was also prepared to cancel the payment through her credit card provider. I don't know which situation was successful, but she got the money back. So if it within a few days, you can try that. THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE!!!

 

[ptlover]

This same situation happened to a friend of mine. She put down a deposit, and then got accepted to her first choice a few days later. She called the program and requested a refund. She was also prepared to cancel the payment through her credit card provider. I don't know which situation was successful, but she got the money back. So if it within a few days, you can try that. THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE!!!

It totally is a good problem to have. I am grateful to have gotten in no doubt. Intially I didn't know if asking the program to notify me a week earlier was ever done. But its good to know ppl have !! Thanks for the support

 

[Dragon416]

I was accepted to a state school that requires a $1500 deposit. The school is letting me split the payment in half,with the first payment due January 12th. BUT
this school is my super safety school.

I should be hearing back from where I received my undergraduate degree in a few days. I also should be hearing from my top choice sometime next week. My worry is that I won't hear from either school by January 12 before I have to make a deposit to my safety school. I am not a huge fan of the safety schools program and would prefer not to attend there. I know its great that I got in somewhere, but with such a hefty deposit required I don't want to pay that amount without knowing all options.


Should I decline admission and hope to get in to my other choices? Or should I pay the $750 (non refundable ) and possibly have to pay more money the same week to another school if I'm accepted?

I hope your number one is Loma Linda! 🙂