what do you do, when you're only waitlisted at your first choice, have a merit based scholarship at your second choice and have to decide what to do soon. I can hardly count on the wait list, so should i enroll at the second choice, but give up the scholarship, so that in case i would just lose the deposit? or should i accept the scholarship as well, since the chances are so low anyway?

Thanks for an advice for this

I understand your dilemma, but require more information...

Which schools/programs are you considering, and what is the amount of the scholarship that you've been awarded?

Which school/program is the closest "match" to your particular scholarly interests?

How soon do you need to commit to your "second choice"?

When will your "first choice" begin reviewing wait-listed candidates?

hey badkarma, thanks, i sent you a pm

anyone else got any idea of how to deal with scholarships? can you accept it if you plan to go there but would probably choose a "wait-listed" university, if you unexpectedly got the chance later on? or is it better not to accept it?

Marli, I've replied to your PM.

If the scholarship amount is really good, one should inform the school about a conditional acceptance, reserving the option of not joining if finally accepted by the school where you are waitlisted.

At the most, the scholarship granting school may ask you to deposit the confirmation amount which risk is worth taking.

I received scholarship offers from several schools but the amount was not sufficient; Finally, I deposited the confirmation amount with Vanderbilt requesting to defer my admission and consider me for Fall 09 as an early applicant for scholarship.