<p>My daughter applied ED to a most competitive college. She was accepted but the acceptance was for a start date in January (not September as she had requested). The letter stated she is not committed to attend, although she definitely wants to attend. But she wants to start in the Fall along with the rest of her class. Has anyone experienced this situation? Does anyone know why a college would accept a candidate but offer a January vs. September start date? Are there any steps one can take to work with the college to change the date from January back to September?</p>
<p>I know for Middlebury they have a bunch of really cool get together things that make it pretty sweet. Plus you get an extra 6 months to do something sweet like volunteer, go abroad, or even get a job so that you can pay for more things while at college. I thought about applying for Jan/Feb at Midd and Northwestern because of the ability to do that, in the end I thought it could be a bit awkward to be offset with all your friends. But if I was forced to it, then I would be pretty pumped. Lots of things I'd like to do if I had that time.</p>
<p>If it is her first choice - tell her to embrace it as an opportunity.</p>
<p>I have heard of this in the past from both USC and Wash U, although not during ED round...not sure it's such a bad thing, but you may want to call the school and find out your options and when you have to commit...see what happens with your RD schools and then decide what's best...So many things you would be able to do with that time though, it's almost too appealing to pass up (IMO)</p>
<p>momanddad: this happened to my friend's daughter a few years ago. She was accepted at Washington University St Louis but could only come in January. Her parents had to pay for the full first semester and she came one weekend a month to take some courses. She became a full time student the following January and is now a senior there.</p>
<p>MD, College Park allows the February admits to take a full load of classes fall semester but the classes must start after 2PM. The kids I knew moved into The View apts and many stayed there even when they could have moved on campus. Perhaps her choice has a similar option?</p>
<p>Colleges often do this to ease a housing crunch. Many juniors leave for Spring semester freeing rooms and some frosh drop out. Some colleges also do this as a way of manipulating admissions stats.</p>
<p>I don't know why your D's school has done this.</p>
<p>If she really wants to attend the school, this shouldn't deter her. If she doesn't want to work or travel, she can take basic courses at the local CC.</p>
<p>DSC,
Northwestern has never had anything other than September admissions for freshman applicants. You're right about Middlebury - they've long held a large number of spots open (about 100) for incoming freshmen asked to begin in January. Mythmom is right about this being a housing issue, Middlebury admits this. It's a pretty strange policy, in my opinion, and probably best ended. While not the worst thing in the world, I understand the awkwardness walking in as a freshman mid-year having missed all that's already happened fall term and be asked to graduate with a splintered class 4 years later. </p>
<p>Momanddad,
I presume your daughter does not have to give the school an answer until the spring since this is not a standard ED acceptance. If not, see the good in having a guaranteed acceptance in hand and the opportunity to still look around a bit, possibly apply to only a few additional reach schools, and sit back and see what happens. Between now and April your daughter may well find another first choice. If not, she may have an even greater appreciation for this ED acceptance, even if it comes with some strings attached.</p>
<p>Bala - never researched the option at Northwestern - only saw the checkbox on the commonapp(seemed like it was the same as Midd's; did research Midd's program).</p>
<p>Since daughter already has the spring term acceptance in hand, which is much better that a deferral IMO, I do not think it would hurt to ask if she could be considered for the fall start. The worst that could happen is that they would say no. If the school has a WL maybe they will allow her to be at the top for fall.</p>