Would this jepordize my chances?

D_yer_Maker
Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:40:38 +0000

@olivia567: First of all, if she copied the letters from the other schools she could prove her predicament. That’s not why Hotchkiss won’t bend. They won’t bend the rules because they agreed to set a single, uniform date. It’s like asking the flight attendant if the pilot will return to the departure airport because you left your cup of coffee in the waiting area. The fact that the plane will continue along its merry is not a matter of being unable to prove that you left the coffee there.

Secondly, while I suggested above that she contact Bill Leahy at Hotchkiss; note that I did NOT suggest that she contact the local schools. Here’s why…and this is a lesson that I try to impress upon even some mid-level management people: Don’t ask a question unless you’re prepared to abide by the answer. Asking Hotchkiss if they’ll make an early decision is fine because she can live with the “wrong” answer. But going to the other schools may not yield a satisfactory answer. It’s possible that the schools will say, “No, you can’t have an extension. And do not say ‘yes’ and take a spot unless you’re sure, by OUR deadline that that’s your final decision.” In that case, she’ll be worse off. Instead of just sticking to the rules, she may be asked to give her word that her local school decision is final. And I don’t think she wants to be boxed in like that – pitting a possible shot at Hotchkiss against breaking a promise (not to mention that that promise was a lie). It probably wouldn’t go down quite like that. But it COULD. It’s plausible. And, like I said, it’s wise to only ask for permission or advice from decisionmakers if you’re going to follow their advice.