Why An MBA Beats An Undergrad Degree

How to Delay an Acceptance Offer

You sent out an application? You got accepted. Time to celebrate it, right? Acceptance offers mean opportunities. But what if you get more than one? And what if you’re waitlisted at your top choice?

Stacy Blackman, a contributor at US News, recently discussed some strategies applicants can take to delay an acceptance and help bide time while waiting back from a top-choice school.

Simply Asking for a Delay

The easiest strategy is to simply reach out to a school and ask for more time to decide.

“Although there are clear response steps in place once an offer goes out, MBA admissions is a very human process, and relationships and conversations have power,” Blackman writes. “Many of our clients have received an extension for myriad reasons simply by asking.”

In addition, Blackman says, applicants can try reaching out to their top-school to check on the status of their application.

“One client we worked with went to speak with the director of admissions of a local school in person,” Blackman writes. “The official agreed to let him know of the school’s decision early so that he could act on another offer that included a scholarship before the deadline.”

Pay Your Deposit

Putting down a deposit to secure your spot can help you buy more time.

Generally, you’ll have up to a month accept your offer. But, Blackman says, if you’re accepted off a waitlist, your time can be cut down to mere days.

Once you get that offer from your top-school, it’s important to reach out to other schools and notify them of your decision.

“If your dream school comes back to you with an admissions offer a few weeks later, contact the first school, explain your decision and request to withdraw your application,” Blackman writes. “The admissions team won’t take it personally; they’ll simply move on to the next person on the waitlist.”

What to do if Waitlisted

If you’ve been waitlisted at a school, there are a number of steps you can take to improve your chances of acceptance.

Most importantly, be sure to notify a school of any updated GMAT scores, grades from supplementary classes, promotions and awards, or additional recommendations, Nisha Trivedi, a contributor writes for P&Q.

“As you await the admissions committee’s final decision, focus on figuring out your Plan B,” Trivedi writes. “Will you apply to additional programs this season, start readying yourself to reapply next year, or instead pursue a new job more closely aligned with your career goals? Now is a great time to fully consider and research all your options.”

Sources: US News, Poets & Quants