Teach Me How To Juggle Admissions Letters!
January 24, 2011 6:18 PM Subscribe
Is backing out of a degree program after you’ve committed and sent the deposit in a common practice, or am I screwing someone else out of the chance for an education?
I’ve recently been accepted into a nursing degree program. Hooray! However, the school I’ve been accepted to is not my first choice, and they want a yea or nay answer by this Friday (along with a non-refundable deposit.) My first choice school, however, likely won’t start mailing decision letters for another month. So, my thought is to accept the offer from the second choice school, and then back out from that commitment should I get accepted to my first choice. (For what it’s worth, these are the only two schools I’ve applied to.)
While not ideal, I’m OK with eating the deposit if necessary. What I really DO NOT want to do, however, is screw someone else who would’ve been admitted in my place if I’d originally turned the offer down. While I’m pretty sure this is why waiting lists exist (and this school does indeed have one), I’m hoping folks that are more familiar with admissions processes than I am will chime in. Am I being an ethical sleazeball by committing and then potentially backing out a full month later, and possibly preventing someone else from attending the program? Thanks in advance.
I’ve recently been accepted into a nursing degree program. Hooray! However, the school I’ve been accepted to is not my first choice, and they want a yea or nay answer by this Friday (along with a non-refundable deposit.) My first choice school, however, likely won’t start mailing decision letters for another month. So, my thought is to accept the offer from the second choice school, and then back out from that commitment should I get accepted to my first choice. (For what it’s worth, these are the only two schools I’ve applied to.)
While not ideal, I’m OK with eating the deposit if necessary. What I really DO NOT want to do, however, is screw someone else who would’ve been admitted in my place if I’d originally turned the offer down. While I’m pretty sure this is why waiting lists exist (and this school does indeed have one), I’m hoping folks that are more familiar with admissions processes than I am will chime in. Am I being an ethical sleazeball by committing and then potentially backing out a full month later, and possibly preventing someone else from attending the program? Thanks in advance.
I don't know if you will or wont be screwing someone out of a place, but I've heard of plenty of people using this strategy to delay decisions. Seems pretty common to me.
posted by milestogo at 6:21 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by milestogo at 6:21 PM on January 24, 2011
Best answer: This is why they have wait lists! In my nursing program, they were admitting people off the wait list up till a week before classes began.
posted by shiny blue object at 6:25 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by shiny blue object at 6:25 PM on January 24, 2011
Best answer: This happens pretty frequently. That's the whole point of a deposit: it provides a financial penalty for backing out, in order to cover the institution's loss if they don't fill the spot (or the extra work required to find someone else to fill it).
I directed a graduate program in history for a few years. I would get pretty ticked off if someone told me two weeks before the semester started that they weren't coming. But a month after the decision date? No problem.
By the way, many US graduate schools have agreed to accept April 15 as a common deadline for accepting offers of admission. If school #1 is in the US and has subscribed to this resolution, then you might want to point out that their deadline violates the resolution--unless the problem is that school #2 has an even later decision date.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:00 PM on January 24, 2011
I directed a graduate program in history for a few years. I would get pretty ticked off if someone told me two weeks before the semester started that they weren't coming. But a month after the decision date? No problem.
By the way, many US graduate schools have agreed to accept April 15 as a common deadline for accepting offers of admission. If school #1 is in the US and has subscribed to this resolution, then you might want to point out that their deadline violates the resolution--unless the problem is that school #2 has an even later decision date.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:00 PM on January 24, 2011
i'd look into the fine print, it probably says on their website. but when i applied to med schools there was some deadline before which you would get your deposit refunded if you backed out. so the common practice was, send the deposit everywhere you are accepted, and only start declining offers when you get better ones, and settle on one by said deadline. i got my money back from the schools whose offers i declined (although for some of them it took so long i thought they forgot . . . but i digress.)
if you can't find info about the refund deadline, ask. i'm sure it exists at most places. oh and congrats on your acceptance!!
posted by GastrocNemesis at 7:11 PM on January 24, 2011
if you can't find info about the refund deadline, ask. i'm sure it exists at most places. oh and congrats on your acceptance!!
posted by GastrocNemesis at 7:11 PM on January 24, 2011
I'm pretty sure my school anticipates a few abandoned deposits each semester as part of its budget!
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:29 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:29 PM on January 24, 2011
If it's January and this is for September admission they are practically asking for people to commit and then back out. In fact, the non-refundable deposit for such an early early deadline makes me think they're almost counting on it as a source of income. But maybe that's just the cynicism talking. I say accept and then renege with a clear conscience.
posted by PercussivePaul at 7:55 PM on January 24, 2011
posted by PercussivePaul at 7:55 PM on January 24, 2011
Why not call them and ask if they can extend the deadline a bit? I'm not familiar with nursing school specifically, but they may well be understanding if you explain the situation and tell them that you'd rather not say no, but also don't want to say yes if you're not sure. They may tell you to just go ahead and put down a deposit, but they may also allow a bit of leeway.
posted by dizziest at 7:11 AM on January 25, 2011
posted by dizziest at 7:11 AM on January 25, 2011
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posted by toxic at 6:20 PM on January 24, 2011 [2 favorites]