<p>I applied for masters programs at 8 schools (in environmental policy). I recently received a great offer from one of the (less prestigious) schools… free tuition and a stipend (not huge, but enough to live on). I know this is fairly unusual for masters programs in this field. </p>
<p>great news- but there are two problems:</p>
<li><p>i would have an assistantship position, but the school doesn’t know what it will entail or who I’ll be working with (and it’s a sizable time commitment)</p></li>
<li><p>They have given me less than a week to decide and I haven’t heard back from most of my other programs.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It seems a little strange to make me decide so early, and I suspect it’s partly because they know I won’t have heard from anywhere else (typically the programs announce decisions between March 15 and April 15). I am really not ready to make a decision yet, but I’m afraid if I stall, they’ll pull the offer. I’m not sure I’ll get this kind of aid package anywhere else, and money is definitely a factor. What would you guys do?</p>
<p>how much is their deposit? I would seriously consider committing to them and then making the real decision when you have all your admissions and financial aid packages in hand.</p>
<p>Other than that, talk to them and say, I'm waiting on schools X, Y, and Z, and don't see how I can make a commitment until then. The schools know who their competition is, and when that competition makes their decisions.</p>
<p>Very few schools would be able to tell you what you would do in an assistantship or with whom you would be working. There's just too many variables involved -- the grad students currently there, new faculty they are hiring, the progress on on-going faculty research projects.</p>
<p>Well, I don't know the details of stalling but if you can't, and if it was me, I would probably take it. I am applying for PhDs b/c most masters are not funded. Good luck!</p>
<p>I direct a graduate program, and I think that if they have made it clear to you that their (bizarrely early) acceptance deadline is absolutely inflexible, they are acting unethically. (April 15th is the guideline suggested by the Council on Graduate Education.)</p>
<p>You need to contact the Director of Graduate Studies directly and tell her/him that you cannot make an informed decision until you hear from University of X, Y, and Z. </p>
<p>You first may want to contact Universities X, Y, and Z to find out about their notification dates. That way you can propose an alternative date to the folks at this university.</p>
<p>I realize that you are feeling very pressured because of the offer that department is extending, but you should not allow this program to bully you. </p>
<p>They are probably pressuring you because they are aware of their ranking, and are trying too hard to get desirable candidates into their program. But in my opinion, this tactic is neither wise nor ethical.</p>
<p>To be very honest with you, I would think twice about affiliating myself with a program that puts students that it should be <em>courting</em> in such a difficult position.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar position. PhD program at good but lesser-known school wants a decision from me by March 21 (received the official offer yesterday but have known for about 2 weeks that I would be admitted w/ funding).</p>
<p>I'm not particularly distressed by this, but I expected to have until at least April 15 to decide (the decision is between accepting the offer or staying with my current job and re-applying to programs next year). </p>
<p>In a sense, at least it forces me to make a swift, absolute decision and doesn't give me much time to waver.</p>