<p>I know this may sound like a ridiculous question, but...my son has gotten 2 acceptances so far (drexel and penn state), and he says he doesn't have to do anything yet to hold his spots. Is this true? I don't have access to anything that they've sent him (he has user names and passwords that I don't know) so I can't log on to double check this. He's my 1st one, so I also have no history. Is this the norm? You get an acceptance either by email or mail and you can just ignore it until April or May? Don't you have to acknowledge somehow? Please advise.</p>
<p>Someone with experience with those particular schools can advise, but as far as admissions, that is generally correct. However, for an ED admission, the rules may be different. Also, housing deposits can be due earlier.</p>
<p>I would advise you to ask your son to print out anything online about this, including any emails or screens with info on acceptances, reply dates, deposits, etc. Start a file for the info.</p>
<p>I’ve read on this site that Penn State has housing issues–some people have put down housing deposits there even though the student may not ultimately go there. Definitely check emails and the web site to make sure you don’t miss out on any deadlines.</p>
<p>Juniormom…Congrats on your son’s acceptances!!. While I have no experience with any of those two schools. Below are links that you may be able to pose your questions.</p>
<p>There are some schools (publics usually) that do require some sort of housing deposit once you have been accepted. Do have your son read whatever literature may have been sent to him and proceed accordingly.</p>
<p>[Drexel</a> University - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/drexel-university/]Drexel”>Drexel University - College Confidential Forums)
[Penn</a> State - University Park - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/]Penn”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/)</p>
<p>I would just call up the admissions office at each school; tell them your son’s been admitted, and ask if there’s anything you have to do to hold his spot. I mean, you want to back off and let him do it but you also don’t want him to screw it up.</p>
<p>Congrats to your S. Check out these links. Both schools have reply deadlines of May 1st. </p>
<p>[Sessions</a> for Accepted Students - Penn State Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/accepted/]Sessions”>Accepted Students - Undergraduate Admissions)</p>
<p>[Accepted</a> Freshmen | Undergraduate Admissions | Drexel University](<a href=“http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/about/freshmen/accepted/]Accepted”>http://www.drexel.edu/undergrad/about/freshmen/accepted/)</p>
<p>You do not have to do anything until May 1, but might want to submit a housing deposit for Penn State. D was waiting to hear from Schreyer (which has guaranteed honors housing regardless of date of housing deposit) so we did not bother with the housing deposit. Schreyer seems to announce at the end of February, which still leaves time (I think - might want to check) for a housing deposit if your student has applied to Schreyer, did not get in, yet still wants to go to Penn State. (Several strong students from our high school have gone to Penn State and thrived there, without Schreyer.)</p>
<p>We found it worthwhile to attend accepted students functions at Penn State while D waited to hear from other schools, for both the department and Schreyer. Other schools with rolling admissions also have these events. We found it helpful to get these out of the way before other acceptances (and invitations to accepted student events) came in during the spring. It is likely that you will continue to receive lots of mailings from schools that have accepted your son, all the way through to May 1.</p>
<p>In any case, congrats to your son for already having two acceptances in his pocket.</p>
<p>My son was also accepted at Drexel but since he still has to hear from other schools and get the financial aid package before making a decision, we will not be putting down their (NON-refundable) deposit. All freshman are guaranteed housing at Drexel.</p>
<p>Thanks all! This was very helpful!</p>
<p>Like others have said, housing can be short, and/or the great housing gets swooped up quickly, so make a deposit now. Almost all are fully refundable.</p>
<p>D was accepted to her favorite school earlier this week. We put down the housing deposit that night. Her package also had an honor college application (requiring more essays) and info about other scholarships for which to apply. </p>
<p>That is the one thing I’d look at - if your student is serious about these schools, get on their website and see if there are additional scholarship opportunities. My son was interested in being in choirs and some of the schools had non-major musical performance scholarships. After Christmas we looked on line and found that the deadline for one of them was January 10th! School didn’t start untl Jan 3rd or 4th and he needed two choir director/voice teacher recs, so that was quite a fire drill to get done in time.</p>
<p>BTW, I’m not really a helicopter, but since we are paying for our kids’ college education, I take it upon myself to research the scholarhip opportunities and nag the kid until all scholarship apps are completed.</p>