Senior families, are your acceptance letters implying—or outright stating—that waiting until May 1 to commit could somehow have adverse implications, like being left out of classes, housing, or special programs? If so, please read this past post, Do you really have until May 1 to decide? (Spoiler alert: as long as you didn’t apply in a binding admissions program, yes, you do have until May 1.) I’ve updated the links and the screenshot to include the most recent language from the policies governing colleges’ behavior in these areas.
It’s a big decision. You can’t buy more time past the deadline (which I address in the aforementioned post). But if you need time, don’t let anyone, least of all the colleges themselves, pressure you into making a decision sooner than the rules allow.