<p>In roughly ten days I will be required to accept/decline offers of admission to various schools for a masters in library science. However, of the five schools I applied to, one has yet to give a decision on admittance and none have given me funding information. I received emails from two yesterday: one to say they're accepting applications for graduate assistantship positions due April 13th, the other to say they had received several emails inquiring about financial aid and anyone who was interested in a scholarship should send in a little form also due April 13th. A third school has stated directly that they intend to inform students of packages in late April, and there's nothing but dead silence from the fourth (who sent me the acceptance letter back in January). In summary, I won't have a full picture of who's giving what to whom until May at the earliest.</p>
<p>I really don't want to respond to these schools until they've told me, definitively, whether I'll have help or be on my own. But at least one has stated that they'll rescind the offer of admission if I don't accept it by April 15th. I don't think begging with the offices for more time will work, but what else can I do?</p>
<p>I don’t see why you can’t call these schools and ask them what are your options financially. Tell them you can’t make a decision unless you have something to compare. Apply to the graduate assistantship and scholarship positions. You’ve been accepted. Be proactive.</p>
<p>I empathize. I’ve been accepted by a couple different EE engineering schools. Both have informally strongly indicated I’ll get funding eventually, but god knows when I’ll hear back. One of the schools is actually still in the process of admitting me. I was also told informally at both schools that there would be some delay in funding me. I talked to the financial aid liason at one school, and he said they do used the April 15th response deadline for the first picks of those they want to give aid to, however they feel perfectly comfortable both accepting people and funding people before or after the April 15th date…almost seems like the April 15th is just a tool used to pressure students. I am not under that deadline yet. My advice would be to call up the one school that is giving you the April 15th date and nicely(always be very nice…at least at first…that is my style) ask if the date can be extended. After reading post here it seems that funding can sometimes take forever, so it would seem unfair in many ways to impose this April 15th date. Try reading the following thread…it may be helpful.</p>
<p>I still am surprised about a drop dead accept or decline our admission by April 15th. Usually most Grad Schools give a final date of May 15 or something…in part so that financial aid can reasonably work out. Usually, April 15th is just a Financial Aid date. What university is making you decide by April 15th without aid? Definitely double check the April 15th date and ask their Financial Aid officer whether there is any reasonable chance you’d get aid. I’d be interesting how things work out for you?</p>