<p>I have applied to one university (Willamette University) where I was told that, despite their efforts, the decisions may not be released until the first week of May - after the 1st deadline! The problem is that WU is my first choice, but if they do not get back to me, I will have to enroll in another school I was accepted into.
Is there anything that I can do to encourage them to respond faster? I took a meeting with the co-president (sorry for the poor terminology) of admission, but she said that it was a long process because of the unexpected surge in Frosh. applications.</p>
<p>SO.....what can I do at this point to help them get the answer to me by May 1st? Can this be done?</p>
<p>Definitely do NOT do that… Just pay the deposit for the other school and then rescind it if you are accepted to WU.</p>
<p>Ask the schools you’ve already heard from to give you an extension for replying.</p>
<p>Agree with the previous two posters. Bugging them about giving you an answer may get you an answer, but it won’ be the one you want. </p>
<p>I’d try to get the deadlines extended first. Be honest about the situation without focusing on the fact that they’re not your first choice. Maybe you want to “make an informed decision after you’ve heard back from all of the schools.”</p>
<p>If that doesn’t work, just eat the deposit on a school. I did that when I applied out of high school, and while it was a bummer to waste a few hundred bucks, there are worse things in the world to worry about.</p>
<p>O.P</p>
<p>So the deposit is not always binding?</p>
<p>No, it’s not. You can take back your acceptance of their offer at any time; you just won’t get your money back.</p>
<p>Schools expect a certain amount of “summer melt” (kids who pay a deposit but don’t show up) and plan for it in their yield calculations; there are many reasons why it happens. Don’t worry about it, but you may or may not get your deposit back, depending on the school and circumstances.</p>