<p>So, I was accepted to Harvard EA. Before Dec. 14, I had already submitted six other applications. So lately I've been getting calls for interviews, etc. Even though I'm almost definitely going to Harvard, I still want to do the interviews (for experience, for fun, or just because I feel bad saying no I don't want to go to your college). I also started to apply to three other schools and decided not to send in the last parts of my applications. I have already had to tell two schools that I won't be applying there anymore and don't need an interview because I got into Harvard. They offered their (faked) congratulations, but there was still a touch of disappointment, leaving me feeling like I had done something wrong.</p>
<p>Anyone else experiencing this? Feeling guilty for telling people you don't want to go to their college?</p>
<p>I'm applying to three other schools. Would've been four had I not missed the deadline of the fourth. And I don't feel the least bit of guilt. After all, non-binding EA is non-binding EA.</p>
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<p>Anyone else experiencing this? Feeling guilty for telling people you don't want to go to their college?<<</p>
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<p>There is absolutely nothing to feel bad about. This whole college admissions thing is a two way street. How many tears do you think the school officials would have shed had the rejected you? How many will they shed over they thousands of kids they will reject in RD?</p>
<p>PorSK--That's flawed logic. If he applies, they accept one more student from the year. They have fixed standards, not a fixed number of spots. And if you are right, then say his app pushes out Person A, who would have gotten in otherwise. Our friend here turns this school down and Person A, who got waitlisted, is then allowed in ;)</p>
<p>Today, I sent in a letter to withdraw my application to another Ivy. I had sent it in on 12/31 because I wanted that extra option, but now I am sure that I want to attend Harvard. If other kids are applying from your school and you could potentially be a better applicant, then you should withdraw.</p>
<p>As much as they say they don't, admissions committees do compare kids from the same schools, and you could be changing your good friend's life for the next four years (and beyond) by taking his spot at a school that you are certain you do not want to go to. Even if that friend would get waitlisted and then supposedly be granted admittance, why risk it if you are not going to attend?</p>
<p>I say this only if you are 100% sure about Harvard. If there is any doubt, keep your options open.</p>
<p>Actually yeah I'm going through similar stuff too. I sent withdrawals to another Ivy and a liberal arts college this past week, but I made sure to express how much I still liked the schools even though I am no longer applying... sad... I wish I could attend them all! like pokemon!</p>
<p>I think it is pretty selfish to apply after getting into Harvard and knowing you will go there. You'll probably end up keeping other deserving applicants out of their top choice colleges. Someone in my school got into Stanford, but still applied to Harvard. Maybe this person is just sadistic.</p>
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If he applies, they accept one more student from the year. They have fixed standards, not a fixed number of spots.
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<p>I absolutely think they have fixed numbers---if they admitted everyone who meets their standards, they could triple their class. And I agree that it's not ethical to potentially take someone's spot just to boost your ego, ie. if you have no intention of considering the school. Pushing another candidate to the waitlist is needlessly causing someone else a very difficult time, regardless of whether they eventually get in.</p>
<p>Then why does the number of accepted students vary every year?</p>
<p>If you think a school's standards would triple their class, then I'd imagine their standards are about three times tougher than you think they are :)</p>
<p>Well, they do have fixed freshman class sizes, and I know many schools vary their number of acceptees based on their rankings in USNews, which in turn determines their matriculation rates. Based on this projected rate, and the fixed class size, they are able to determine the number of acceptees.</p>
<p>Harvard's rank in US News hasn't changed in a while. The number they accept rarely varies by more than 100 people or so but the number still varies.</p>
<p>But I see now that you had meant the variance in the number of people Harvard accepts. Who knows...perhaps by analyzing trends they are able to predict their matriculation rates for the upcoming year and accepts that number of people accordingly.</p>
<p>I have to admit it was really tough for me to withdraw my other application, for a few reasons:
1. I took the time to do the essays (on the 30th and the 31st)
2. I had already paid the $70 application fee
3. I wanted some sort of out in case I found out something terrible about Harvard (not that something like that exists :) )
4. The feeling of an acceptance letter is nice...I wouldn't mind another one.</p>
<p>" I still want to do the interviews (for experience, for fun, or just because I feel bad saying no I don't want to go to your college)."</p>
<p>So, you won't mind saying in April, "No, I don't want to go to your college that just accepted me?" If you are good enough to get into Harvard EA, unless you blow off your other apps, you'll get more acceptances, and also will be the type of student who'll have to field calls begging you to commit to going to those colleges. For most people, it's more difficult turning down those kind of calls than it is turning down interviews by saying one already has an EA acceptance to the college of one's choice.</p>