<p>When we were at Temple yesterday, during a Q & A session with two faculty members (Nancy Boykin and I can't remember the fella's name), it was mentioned that they were perplexed that students didn't call or e-mail them back once offered a spot, just to say "Thank you for the offer and I will let you know my decision", or something like that.</p>
<p>I must be honest, I had never thought of this. I always thought that once the offer was out there, D would contact them when a decision was made one way or the other. From the way they were saying it, they were quite surprised that they don't hear from the students right when the offer is put out there. D jumped right on that and acknowledged the two offers she received.</p>
<p>Looking back to last year, I guess my D did acknowledge the offers in a way. She sent emails either setting up visits, asking more questions or letting them know she was waiting on the FA package and asked for an extension on the date they wanted to know by. In those initial emails she did thank them for the offer.</p>
<p>That’s not something I’ve ever heard said before either! It’s always important to respond to a waitlist offer, saying whether you want to stay on it, but otherwise it’s been my understanding that you have till May 1st to reply. Interesting remark from the Temple faculty; I’d like to know whether people have heard this from other schools. Oh and for the record, my son (and my older non-BFA kids) only responded immediately to waitlist offers and otherwise waited till they were ready to accept and/or decline their admissions.</p>
<p>Our D also sent email thank-you’s in response to offers. I’m sure that the schools would like to know that their offer has been received - how many times does email or snail mail not make it to a destination? Often enough in my business.</p>
<p>Thinking back, I’ve realized that my son received no news (offers or rejections) via email. Either they were phone calls or online portals (and one artistic rejection came by snail mail). Since the schools track whether kids view those online portsls, an email response wouldn’t be needed for the school to know that he’d seen it.</p>
<p>He did get an email from a professor, telling him he’d be getting a departmental acceptance letter soon, and my son responded to that right away (he’d already been accepted to his first-choice school). </p>
<p>I do think it’s fine to deal differently with offers that come from the admissions office versus a direct communication from a department chair or theater admissions coordinator.</p>
<p>If you get an email, I think it’s only proper (and simple!) to respond with a “Thank you, I am very excited, I am considering all of my offers, etc” email. That way we know you even received it, and are still interested in us. Conversely, if you are NOT interested in the school anymore, tell them that too. As soon as you know. They may be bummed, but not offended, and will be happy to know and move on to a spot on their waitlist (if they do that).</p>
<p>My daughter received an offer last week for a theater department scholarship. It required her to accept in writing, and when I was pulling the form off (it was embedded in the email) I did notice that she’s sent a thank you to the department head when she received the offer. I never would have thought to do it, so I guess she has more manners than I thought!</p>
<p>I guess it would depend on how much time you have to accept the offer. If you receive an offer in Feb but aren’t responding until May, it would be good to acknowledge receipt of an email offer, but if you only have 2 weeks to accept or decline, I’d go with the actual acceptance or decline as good enough. You don’t let the bride know that you’ve received the wedding invitation before you actually RSVP. I don’t think kids who don’t respond are rude, just busy.</p>
<p>My son has sent two email to his first choice school, telling them how excited he is to be accepted, asking questions, and requesting information for an upcoming visit. They have not yet been answered.</p>