Graduate Program Acceptance Dilemma

Graduate School
1

I recently applied to three graduate programs for Speech Language Pathology.

School 1 - Top choice
School 2 - Second choice
School 3 - Third choice

I was admitted to the graduate program at school 2, and I have to let them know my final decision by April 14th. My dilemma is, the school I was accepted to is not my top pick; however, I have not yet heard anything from my top pick school. Should I accept the spot at school 2, and then if I am later admitted to my top choice just tell them I changed my mind? I don’t want to tell school 2 no, because then if I don’t get in anywhere else I will have to wait an entire year to reapply.

I have heard that it is not recommended to email a graduate program to check on the application status because it may come off as desperate or pushy. Is this true? Or should I attempt to email my top choice school and let them know my situation?

Thanks!

2

Take the spot. Your plans may change in the future, but until they do change, you will have a spot for the fall.

3

Call school #2 and say you need more time. Ask for an extension - say about a week. Then call School #1 and ask about the status of your application and when you will hear. Explain you have applied to other schools who are waiting for your response.

I had to do this when I was considering grad school and one department unexpectedly accepted me rather late in the process. I had to call the other schools for an extension. They all did.

Good luck.

4

^What @SlackerMomMD said.