<p>OK, I will take full responsiblity for being stupid on this one.</p>
<p>Here's the situation. DS gets a great offer from an excellent state school. He gets in all but one of his offers from the private schools, and none are really in the ballpark money wise. He figures the one private left, originally his top choice a year ago, won't be providing any merit money because the merit awards are very, very limited and the applicant pool is excellent. </p>
<p>So he goes ahead and sends his enrollment deposit to the state school 5 days ago so he can be assured of the housing he wants (must be enrolled to submit housing deposit).</p>
<p>Low and behold, what shows up in the mailbox today (albiet late) but a merit award from the private school. </p>
<p>Is state school a done deal? If he decides he wants to go to the private school can we call the state school admissions office and explain what happened? Will they care?</p>
<p>If he ends up at the state school, he's fine with it. We just want to know if the choice still exists.</p>
<p>If it wasn't ED, which it looks like it wasn't, I don't think you have a problem. You've probably already searched their website about this. If not, try that. Or call them, anonymously if you wish.</p>
<p>Some of the state schools (and some privates) encourage you to send the deposit even if you're not sure, as otherwise you will lose out on housing. Could this be one of those?</p>
<p>Finally, some deposits are actually called refundable. Have you checked whether this was one of them?</p>
<p>Bottom line, I think he can just let the state school know that he got an unexpected merit award (congrats by the way!) and will be withdrawing his deposit. It might not even have been cashed yet and you could stop payment.</p>
<p>I believe you can withdraw from a school you deposited with, and then accept the second one, without being considered to have violated any procedural or ethical considerations, especially as it is not yet May 1. And also especially in this case, since the state school was using housing to encourage an early enrollment.</p>
<p>I see no reason your S can't attend the school he really wants to.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son. Keep in mind that a housing deposit is not an intention to enroll. Since May 1 is the national common response date, you should be able to contact State U and tell them of your plans and withdraw your son's intention to enroll (however, they will decide as to whether or not your deposit is refundable).</p>
<p>Yes, the choice still exists so long as his acceptance wasn't binding ED. He has untill 5/1 to accept the private school. If he does accept the private school he should call or write the state school to cancel his enrollment. Schools expect a lot of movement of accepted students before the fall semester begins as many students will receive waitlist acceptances.</p>
<p>I want to make sure you know it's that he sent in an enrollment deposit. They say it takes two weeks to process the enrollment, and then he can sign up for housing.</p>
<p>I think all the advice still stands. Call and write the state school withdrawing the acceptance, monitor that they truly cancel it, send acceptance to new school, have a great college experience.</p>
<p>And congrats to your S for getting the scholarship.</p>
<p>May 1 is a nation-wide common reply date; every school must give you at least until then to make up your mind (unless you apply through an Early Decision program). </p>
<p>From the National Association of College Admissions Counselors:</p>
<p>a. It is understood that May 1 will be viewed as the postmark date and/or
the receipt date for electronic submissions. Colleges that solicit
commitments to offers of admission and/or financial assistance prior to
May 1 may do so provided those offers include a clear statement in the
original offer that written requests for extensions and admission deposit
refunds until May 1 will be granted, and that such requests will not
jeopardize a student’s status for admission or financial aid;</p>
<p>b. When May 1 falls on a Sunday or holiday, May 2 becomes the recognized date.</p>
<p>My daughter enrolled in a school with every intention of enrolling, but an unexpected death in the family changed things. She sent a letter to the school explaining the situation and not only did she receive a beautiful letter wishing her well, but the school also refunded her non-refundable deposit. Point being, be honest, be courteous and be prompt and you should have no problem since it wasn't ED.</p>
<p>Cancel the enrollment check if it hasn't been cashed yet. Have your S e-mail the school immediately withdrawing his acceptance of their offer. He then can accept the other college.</p>
<p>If you don't cancel the enrollment check, you may not get that $ back. Otherwise, however, that's all that you have to lose. Usually, too, state universities have an overenrollment problem and are very loose about letting students go elsewhere who accepted their offers.</p>
<p>May I suggest that your S makes sure he wants to attend the private school (has he visited?) before deciding whether to withdraw his acceptance at hte state school? It may be that the private isn't what he hopes and the state school IS what he wamts. Just becaues there's merit money doesn't mean he'll still want the school...</p>
<p>But otherwise, since it's not after May 1, I don't think you have an ethical dilemma is withdrawing from the state school, should your son so choose. A nice letter is always appropriate, though.</p>
<p>I am just a little concerned seeing so many kids making decisions <em>right now</em> and senidng in deposits, etc. when they have a month to mull things over. I think I would advise my kiddo, once he makes a decision, to live with it for a week or two and see how it feels -- just to rule out the regrets, what-ifs, the money issues, etc. I could even live without him telling me that decision until he feels it's right in his gut (but I'm sure I'll be here venting next April while that takes place!!!).</p>
<p>It is nice to see that "trip and fall" is a gross exaggeration. Instead it sounds like good luck and the worse that can happen is you lose some deposit money.</p>
<p>I also take exception to the topic title!! You were about to settle for second place when the guy in front of you tripped and fell, and you won!! er.... something like that.</p>