I have applied ED2 to Mount Holyoke College and got accepted. I also applied for financial aid and got a package. However, the remaining cost is too high for my family to pay so I am waiting for other colleges to see if any of them would offer me a package that meets my family’s need.
The thing is, I’ve already accepted the offer of admission since it said that the reply deadline is Feb 1. However since my family might not be able to pay the remaining cost, I have emailed them that I might need a reconsideration. As such, I haven’t paid the enrollment deposit either.
So my question is that suppose there is another college that offers me a financial package that meets my need, can I decline the offer from Mount Holyoke?
I am also afraid that the fact that I am still waiting for other colleges and haven’t given a clear answer to them, is there any chance that they will decline me?
I’m in a mess right now. Please help me on this problem.
Call MHC and tell them you can’t afford it and decline your admission offer. That’s what your ED contract stated you would do. Do it NOW. You can either afford it or not.
You were also required to withdraw all other applications at time of ED acceptance. If Mount Holyoke is unaffordable now insufficient aid from other colleges will not make it affordable in the future.
This is going to seem harsh…but you are trying to have your cake and eat it too! ED means…you apply and if you get accepted and can afford to attend you withdraw ALL other applications. OR it means that…you apply and if you get accepted and the financial aid package is not sufficient - you inform them that you can not attend.
It NEVER means you can apply ED…get the financial aid package…keep your other applications in play…compare financial aid packages…and THEN decide whether you will attend or not. THAT is what RD is for that that is why many, many students do not apply ED.
I think you are going to get yourself in hot water playing this game.
You need to decide ASAP if you will attend Mt. Holyoke - if not - decline immediately. If so, withdraw the other applications.
Applying ED means you cannot compare the financial aid package with other schools. If you found the ED school unaffordable, notify them immediately for withdrawal. If you accepted the ED offer, you should have withdrawn all other applications already. It has been 4 weeks and you have obviously violated the agreement you signed.
I am going to assume your family was not clear about affordability and/or did not understand. Did you not do the NPC beforehand? I also assume there was wishful thinking going on in your household that somehow they could figure out how to make it affordable. Now you know you can’t, give MHC a call and decline the admissions. I hope one of your other colleges ends up being affordable. If you have not done the NPC for them yet, do it now. Make sure you have applied to a financial safety.
Tell them what financial figure works for you and your family, and to have your aid reconsidered. Otherwise you need to ask to be released from the ED agreement. You need to start now!
They won’t let you wait. If your family cannot afford the cost, you can ask MoHo to increase the financial aid package or you can decline your admission.
Those are your only choices.
If your family CAN pay but would rather not, then you have three choices - the two above plus accept MoHo and pay the cost.