<p>DS has been admitted to his top choice music program, and we are awaiting news from the financial aid office to see what a package may look like. Is it better to send a deposit and risk losing it so that the professor knows the student want to study with him?</p>
<p>Congratulations on his acceptance! Exciting times! If the studio spot was offered in the admission letter, then you do not have to rush to accept it. You have until May 1. If you want to reassure the professor, you can always send an email.</p>
<p>However, I’d be inclined to wait till financial packages are in before doing anything. Some programs figure aid later than admissions, and if you send in your deposit and say, “Yes, I’m coming!” they won’t be motivated to sweeten the pot.</p>
<p>I’m with binx, but if there is a separate deposit required for on campus housing, I would consider sending that. Many schools do have a housing issue, and assignments are made in priority of the date the housing deposit is received. In that case it may well be worth losing the housing deposit, with or without knowing the full financial aid package.</p>
<p>We do have a modest merit scholarship from the music school, and the professor has told me that if the numbers are close, but not quite what we need, then we should be in touch with him directly to see what he can do. </p>
<p>Our son’s second choice school is much less expensive, so there will likely not be much need-based aid at school #2. </p>
<p>The school wants to net 4 slots for the incoming class. That leads me to think we’d be better off sending in the deposit and working with the school–so that they know that our son really wants to study in this program. </p>
<p>I appreciate the thoughts of those who have been through this process already. Thank You!</p>
<p>Housing deposits are almost always refundable if you later decide not to attend but housing selection for Freshmen is often based on the date the housing deposit was received. So send the housing deposit (if refundable) but hold off on the school deposit until FA is compared.</p>
<p>tuition deposits are usually refundable as well as long as the refund is asked for BEFORE May 1st.</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS!!</p>
<p>That’s great info about the housing deposit. I know at Cincinnati they won’t take your housing info until you commit to the school. However, we were really interested in the German house at Oberlin and would consider making a deposit there just to keep that option open. I think I will call tomorrow and find out if they refund in case you don’t go there. Thanks for that idea.</p>
<p>While not directly in response to the OP’s question, here’s a link to the parameters set forth by The National Association of College Admissions Counseling <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/875533-school-not-abiding-may-1st-deadline.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/875533-school-not-abiding-may-1st-deadline.html</a></p>
<p>For the “first timers” sending a kid to college, it is well worth the read.</p>
<p>And thanks to soozievt for posting it.</p>
<p>My daughter just got accepted to a program today… but in the letter they state an April 7 deadline (it is a small program within a larger university.) They do state that you can request an extension. I can imagine being able to answer by April 7 since we may not even have all of our financial aid letters by that time. But I think that their loophole may be that they are a program within a larger university.</p>
<p>glassharmonica, being a “small program within a larger university” does not give them a loophole. The fact that they have stated that an extension can be requested is evidence that they know the rules and will abide by them.</p>
<p>I’d cover your bases and request the extension be granted in writing.</p>
<p>Again, I’m assuming this a regular decision, not an ED one.</p>
<p>Thanks, Violadad. It is a regular decision application. So I guess we should request the extension in writing. Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>When using the NACAC information, it helps to keep in mind which colleges are actually members. Many non-members may voluntarily subscribe to the same admissions practices as their members do, but you can’t go back to non-members and say, “Look at this document to which you have signed on.”</p>
<p>Some of the schools that are discussed more frequently here and are NOT on the current NACAC list (at least that I could find - it is not alphabetized particularly well) include:</p>
<p>Boston Conservatory
Chicago College of Performing Arts (or Roosevelt U, with which it is affiliated)
Curtis Institute of Music
Manhattan School of Music
Mannes College (or The New School, with which it is affiliated)
Rutgers University
St. Olaf College
San Francisco Conservatory
University of North Texas</p>
<p>There may be more. It is possible to search NACAC’s institutional membership list without being a member, but you have to register with them and obtain a login to their system.</p>
<p>Ah, BassDad herein may lie the rub.</p>
<p>Of the schools you list above, all but Mannes, Manhattan and San Francisco are accredited members of the National Association of Music Schools, and the NASM guidelines are effectively the same as those of NACAS.</p>
<p>They have agreed to effectively abide by similar (if not identical) rules.</p>
<p>N8Ma posted the NASM guidelines here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064226212-post23.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064226212-post23.html</a>, and the institutional look up page is here [Member</a> Lists](<a href=“http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Member%20Lists]Member”>http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Member%20Lists)</p>
<p>I am glad to hear that. It helps to have some written guidelines to fall back on when a school (which should know the rules) is exerting pressure on a student (who may not even be aware that there are rules of this sort). The key for those students is to know where to find such information and when it is applicable.</p>
<p>The NASM guidelines are particularly important for those contemplating a transfer from or to an NASM member school. It is not as simple as applying to a new school and walking away from the old one, at least when there is scholarship money at stake.</p>
<p>In post 13, the link no longer works. The actual thread is <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/874241-when-do-we-hear.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/874241-when-do-we-hear.html</a>, the post is #23.</p>