The Student Room Group

Can I ask for more time to respond to SOAS offer?

Hi there,

Sooo.. I applied for a SOAS development Masters on the deadline 31st July. And very unexpectedly, I then received an offer of a place just past 12 noon the next day. Is this normal? I really did not expect to receive an offer so soon, and it made me wonder if they had even properly read my personal statement!

Furthermore, when I applied, I actually wasn't at all sure if this was the correct next step for me. I know that may sound bad but things have sort of gone quite wrong in my career so far, as I didn't put into action the vision I wanted to when I first finished my undergraduate degree. This was partly due to getting caught up with the expectations of those round me + fear of not getting work and jumping into things too quickly. I then also started to suffer badly with my mental health, which then also made it hard to pursue what I really wanted to.

I ended up applying for this Masters now, as I felt that in terms of my CV/age it was the right time. But I haven't actually done all the things I had wanted to do by this stage/before doing a Masters, and now I am worried that if I do the Masters now it is actually the wrong time, and will not get me where I want to go- continuing the cycle of not following what really feels right to me inside.

I also didn't expect them to only give me a week to respond to the offer. Do you think I can request slightly more time to respond? Perhaps an extra week? I would ideally like more than that but feel that may be the maximum I could ask for. I've also realised perhaps the reason they have given me such a short time to respond is due to the time of year, and so they'd have time to offer others if I decline- so perhaps an extension won't be possible.

I would be great to hear anyone's thoughts on any of the above.

Thanks a lot :smile:
Original post by ABCBA91
Hi there,
Sooo.. I applied for a SOAS development Masters on the deadline 31st July. And very unexpectedly, I then received an offer of a place just past 12 noon the next day. Is this normal? I really did not expect to receive an offer so soon, and it made me wonder if they had even properly read my personal statement!
Furthermore, when I applied, I actually wasn't at all sure if this was the correct next step for me. I know that may sound bad but things have sort of gone quite wrong in my career so far, as I didn't put into action the vision I wanted to when I first finished my undergraduate degree. This was partly due to getting caught up with the expectations of those round me + fear of not getting work and jumping into things too quickly. I then also started to suffer badly with my mental health, which then also made it hard to pursue what I really wanted to.
I ended up applying for this Masters now, as I felt that in terms of my CV/age it was the right time. But I haven't actually done all the things I had wanted to do by this stage/before doing a Masters, and now I am worried that if I do the Masters now it is actually the wrong time, and will not get me where I want to go- continuing the cycle of not following what really feels right to me inside.
I also didn't expect them to only give me a week to respond to the offer. Do you think I can request slightly more time to respond? Perhaps an extra week? I would ideally like more than that but feel that may be the maximum I could ask for. I've also realised perhaps the reason they have given me such a short time to respond is due to the time of year, and so they'd have time to offer others if I decline- so perhaps an extension won't be possible.
I would be great to hear anyone's thoughts on any of the above.
Thanks a lot :smile:

They won't take away your offer if you ask.
Reply 2
Ok, thank you. I have just asked, so I guess I will see what they say!
I got an offer from SOAS a few weeks ago (MSc in Economics) but I'm still having second thoughts, so I've asked them for some time to read the terms and conditions. They gave me until the 8th of August, so you should receive another week if you ask nicely.
Good luck.
Original post by ABCBA91
Hi there,
Sooo.. I applied for a SOAS development Masters on the deadline 31st July. And very unexpectedly, I then received an offer of a place just past 12 noon the next day. Is this normal? I really did not expect to receive an offer so soon, and it made me wonder if they had even properly read my personal statement!
Furthermore, when I applied, I actually wasn't at all sure if this was the correct next step for me. I know that may sound bad but things have sort of gone quite wrong in my career so far, as I didn't put into action the vision I wanted to when I first finished my undergraduate degree. This was partly due to getting caught up with the expectations of those round me + fear of not getting work and jumping into things too quickly. I then also started to suffer badly with my mental health, which then also made it hard to pursue what I really wanted to.
I ended up applying for this Masters now, as I felt that in terms of my CV/age it was the right time. But I haven't actually done all the things I had wanted to do by this stage/before doing a Masters, and now I am worried that if I do the Masters now it is actually the wrong time, and will not get me where I want to go- continuing the cycle of not following what really feels right to me inside.
I also didn't expect them to only give me a week to respond to the offer. Do you think I can request slightly more time to respond? Perhaps an extra week? I would ideally like more than that but feel that may be the maximum I could ask for. I've also realised perhaps the reason they have given me such a short time to respond is due to the time of year, and so they'd have time to offer others if I decline- so perhaps an extension won't be possible.
I would be great to hear anyone's thoughts on any of the above.
Thanks a lot :smile:

Unless they are asking for a deposit, you can accept now and decline later without any repercussions.
Reply 5
Original post by nfeitoma
I got an offer from SOAS a few weeks ago (MSc in Economics) but I'm still having second thoughts, so I've asked them for some time to read the terms and conditions. They gave me until the 8th of August, so you should receive another week if you ask nicely.
Good luck.

Oh that is so useful to hear, thank you. How long in total did they give you as extra time? Just so I know what can be possible. Maybe the same won't be possible for me though I guess, as it is later in the year. My current deadline is also 8th August same as yours.
Reply 6
Original post by threeportdrift
Unless they are asking for a deposit, you can accept now and decline later without any repercussions.

Oh wow, really, I didn't know that. I guess the only thing is is that I don't want to annoy them at all- and maybe doing that would do. As I think if I didn't do the Masters this year, I probably would want to do it at some stage at this same universite/course. Thanks for the heads up in any case though, and I will certainly consider this option.
Original post by ABCBA91
Oh that is so useful to hear, thank you. How long in total did they give you as extra time? Just so I know what can be possible. Maybe the same won't be possible for me though I guess, as it is later in the year. My current deadline is also 8th August same as yours.

They gave me one week. The unconditional arrived on the 1st of August. I saw the 31st of July deadline and asked them for a few days to understand what I am committing to. They were prompt and gave me one week to get back to them.
Reply 8
Original post by nfeitoma
They gave me one week. The unconditional arrived on the 1st of August. I saw the 31st of July deadline and asked them for a few days to understand what I am committing to. They were prompt and gave me one week to get back to them.

Oh great, thanks for letting me know. I don't think I fully understand though. So did you get a conditional offer three weeks ago, but then it became unconditional on 1st August? And what do you mean 31st July as a deadline, if the offer only came on 1st Aug? Sorry I just really want to understand so I know how it could relate to my situation :smile:
Original post by ABCBA91
Oh great, thanks for letting me know. I don't think I fully understand though. So did you get a conditional offer three weeks ago, but then it became unconditional on 1st August? And what do you mean 31st July as a deadline, if the offer only came on 1st Aug? Sorry I just really want to understand so I know how it could relate to my situation :smile:

Correct, as I received my grades from the OU on the 23rd of July, I submitted them a few days after but I already had an offer (conditional on my BA > 2.2). Perhaps you are expected to accept the offer before it becomes unconditional, this is my speculation. Nonetheless, when I received my unconditional on the 1st of August, I saw in the portal that it said "deadline for accepting your offer, 31st of July".
Thus as this point I decided to ask if they would not mind allowing me to revise all the documents throughout the weekend, and they gave me until the 8th of August (good people in admissions).
Original post by ABCBA91
Oh wow, really, I didn't know that. I guess the only thing is is that I don't want to annoy them at all- and maybe doing that would do. As I think if I didn't do the Masters this year, I probably would want to do it at some stage at this same universite/course. Thanks for the heads up in any case though, and I will certainly consider this option.


It's entirely standard in the UK, postgraduate acceptances don't mean a commitment. Applicants routinely say yes, and later say no. If a university wants to stop this and have yes mean yes, they charge a non-refundable deposit.
Reply 11
Original post by nfeitoma
Correct, as I received my grades from the OU on the 23rd of July, I submitted them a few days after but I already had an offer (conditional on my BA > 2.2). Perhaps you are expected to accept the offer before it becomes unconditional, this is my speculation. Nonetheless, when I received my unconditional on the 1st of August, I saw in the portal that it said "deadline for accepting your offer, 31st of July".
Thus as this point I decided to ask if they would not mind allowing me to revise all the documents throughout the weekend, and they gave me until the 8th of August (good people in admissions).

Oh OK, great to understand, thanks!
Reply 12
Original post by threeportdrift
It's entirely standard in the UK, postgraduate acceptances don't mean a commitment. Applicants routinely say yes, and later say no. If a university wants to stop this and have yes mean yes, they charge a non-refundable deposit.

Oh OK, good to understand, thank you. And do you think if you reject a university one year, it would lower your chances of acceptance another year?
Original post by ABCBA91
Oh OK, good to understand, thank you. And do you think if you reject a university one year, it would lower your chances of acceptance another year?

They don't keep applications from year to year, so unless you have an extremely memorable name/profile no-one would know. Even if they did, there are so many entirely valid reasons for not being able to take up an offer, what would be the reason for not giving a second offer if it was warranted?

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