<p>I was recently accepted to a school off of the waitlist, but I'm on the waitlist for another school that I also want to go to. However, the accepted school is only giving me a week to put in an answer and a deposit. </p>
<p>If I get into the other school that I am still on the waitlist for, can I forgo my deposit and go to that one instead? Thanks.</p>
<p>Oh, yes. The waitlist shuffle has begun. It can be an expensive game to play.</p>
<p>I think you can, but it’s kind of unethical to take a spot off of the waitlist (where other kids, just like you, are anxiously waiting for a spot to what could be their first choice) and not end up going.</p>
<p>As long as you are committed to only one school at any given time then you should be fine. If you take a WL spot from one school then you should decline the first school you have a deposit at. Later on if you get off another WL and you choose to take it then you need to decline the first WL school. </p>
<p>The analogy I like to make is it is like engagement, you can break your engagement as many times as you want, as long as you are engaged to only one person at a time.</p>
<p>It’s not unethical at all to take a spot off the waitlist as you wait for another. It’s the most rational and reasonable plan. Make the best of your opportunities. If you end up not going, someone else will get that waitlist call eventually.</p>
<p>what school?</p>
<p>Sorry, I was under the assumption the OP wouldn’t really inform the other schools like a lot of other people I’ve seen posting about this topic</p>
<p>Not unethical at all . One of my kids only applied to 3 schools-initially accepted at one and waitlisted at the other two. Came off one waitlist in early May and lost the first deposit, came off the 2nd waitlist (at his first choice) in early June and lost the second deposit. As long as you are only deposited at one school at a time ,you are fine. We weren’t happy to lose 2 deposits but it was worth it to end up at the school that was preferred (and avoided possible transfer costs).</p>