When do students usually accept an offer firm?

Applying to College
1

My daughter has her acceptances already including unconditional for her current top choice. She is an international student from the U.S. She is pretty sure she will attend QUB but isn’t ready to commit just yet. The accommodations open next month and I’m worried how this will all work if she doesn’t accept sooner than later but cannot spend the money if she changes her mind. She is still waiting to get acceptances in the US and other countries. Even though she is very likely to go to the UK regardless, she still wants to see those responses first. Any advice is appreciated.

2

Note you say unconditional, but current.

I can’t speak to England, but here, if you want to see more, you wait.

The exception to that is housing - some schools have you pay to apply for housing, even before you are accepted.

In the end, pretty sure but wanting to see US and other country offers means she’s not sure.

So find out from that school specifically - when is their deadline and how does housing work? If housing is first come first serve and sells out, then you have to decide, is what you need to spend now worth it to you for protection, even if you go elsewhere and lose what you spend?

Good luck.

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3

You need to check with the school to see if they have a housing deposit deadline and if an earlier deposit will allow you to have better room selection options. Housing deposits are usually in the $100-300 range so you’d lose that money if she decides to enroll elsewhere.

If there are no advantages to paying this deposit earlier, there’s no harm in waiting. U.S. schools typically have a May 1 commitment deadline date, but UK may be different. Check with the UK school to see when the commitment deadline is.

4

Really? Which schools make you pay for housing before even getting an acceptance? That’s pretty ridiculous. Or are you talking about a housing deposit?

5

I’ll correct. Pay to apply. Thx

6

My friend’s daughter’s school in the UK guaranteed housing up until the end of June. They only had a conditional offer so they had to wait until the last minute and she still ended up with a lovely suite.

Double check with QUB but I think you’ll be OK waiting.

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