Are decisions made faster later in the cycle?

[jrafert]

Greetings,

I applied very late -- I sent my applications between March 1st and March 20th. I have already received several fast responses from schools, luckily, but now I am in a pickle because the applications that I sent March 20th are actually for two of my top choice schools - while I am seriously considering the schools I've heard back from I would really like to have answers from them before accepting an offer.

I was just wondering if any schools tend to accelerate their decision making process once April hits? Many 1st seat deposits are already due and the second seat deposits will be due in early may. I thought perhaps because schools know after the first seat deposit that some people are *not* coming, they might be more likely to quickly issue acceptances after that date.

thanks in advance.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi J,

The schools certainly know decisions are time sensitive, but they are also in a balancing act with the responses they are receiving from students. This means that those seat deposit deadlines are sometimes what they are waiting for in order to make decisions. At that point they can then see how the yield goes as well as start release a wave of decisions accordingly. So, it means that for some people the deadline doesn't speed things up but slows it down (but it may also open a door that might no otherwise have opened). The situation is different for each school, and changes every year, so there's no consistency to this process, unfortunately.

Keep in mind that you can seat deposit at a school (or more than one) and then later choose an entirely different school if you get a better offer. It costs you the deposit, but at least it's one path around deadlines in situations where other, more desirable schools haven't replied to you yet.

Please let me know if that makes sense. Thanks!

[jrafert]

Hi Dave,

First of all a big thanks for your podcast on balancing prestige and scholarship offers from lower ranked schools - just listened to it the other day and I agree with your colleague that it's super generous of you to personally answer so many of these questions for free. Your time is appreciated!

Your response does make sense. And I am in the very lucky position of having the funds to pay several seat deposits to hold my place as I make a decision, so I am doing so during the first round of deposits (at a handful of schools I'm seriously considering). However I thought that I read somewhere that after May 15th you can't pay multiple seat deposits because schools get data on the other places you've put one down and will pull acceptance/scholarship offers if you have more than one?

Thank you again for taking the time to answer so many questions!

Best/J

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Dave,

First of all a big thanks for your podcast on balancing prestige and scholarship offers from lower ranked schools - just listened to it the other day and I agree with your colleague that it's super generous of you to personally answer so many of these questions for free. Your time is appreciated!

Your response does make sense. And I am in the very lucky position of having the funds to pay several seat deposits to hold my place as I make a decision, so I am doing so during the first round of deposits (at a handful of schools I'm seriously considering). However I thought that I read somewhere that after May 15th you can't pay multiple seat deposits because schools get data on the other places you've put one down and will pull acceptance/scholarship offers if you have more than one?

Thank you again for taking the time to answer so many questions!

Best/J

Hey J,

Awesome, glad I've been able to help!

That is indeed when they get the most complete data, but I've never seen any offers of admissions or scholarship get pulled yet due to multiple seat deposits. So, you probably need to make a decision fairly soon after that date, but certainly up until then and for a week or two after, there's no issue. And very likely no issue even later

Thanks!

[jrafert]

Ok great! Thanks for the info!