<p>Is is common for schools to ask for a deposit and commitment BEFORE financial aid and availability of assistantships are determined? Accepted in a Masters program with rolling admissions and they want an answer before the assistantship/interview weekend. Other schools with regular admissions will not have given notification. In undergrad it’s pretty standard that you commit by May1 with all the cards on the table. Is it totally different in grad school?</p>
<p>Most graduate schools seem to stick to the April 15 reply date put forward in a resolution by the Council of Graduate Schools. The resolution states that “students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15” (emphasis mine). </p>
<p>Your program seems to work around this resolution by requiring a response before offering you financial assistance. Not very nice of them.</p>