<p>What stops you from breaking early decision? My school counselor said that colleges have some sort of a national educational student tracker or something like that.</p>
<p>if you use the search function, there are a number of threads about breaking ED ranging from:
Columbia U's take on ED (they state on their website that only 1 to 3 families are released from ED, to attend their state university) </p>
<p>MIT director of FA stating that if money is an issue, do not apply ED</p>
<p>The joint statement of the Ivy league stating in writing that they they will honor another school's ED commitment.</p>
<p>Counselors build their business on establishing relationships with admissions officers, and how a student compromises that counselor's integrity, when they break ED because the counselor is suppose to make sure the student understands the ED process and has to sign off on the application.</p>
<p>To yes, colleges do share ED lists.</p>
<p>One shouldn't question this penalization system. It's in place so that the students who go thru the trouble of applying ED can feel confident that if they are deferred, the ED admit spot went to someone who is really committed to the program as much as they are. Otherwise, the whole thing ends up in shambles. No one is forced to apply ED. However, under no circumstances, should it be entered into lightly. There are constrictions but there are benefits too.</p>
<p>I also recommend looking for the other posts. The short version is that schools do not share their lists with every other school in the US but it seems they do share the lists with other similar schools. So, for example, trying to break an ED agreement at one IVY to go to another IVY will be spoted and probably frowned upon. To break an IVY ED commitment because of financial reasons to go to your local teacher's college would probably be OKed by the ED school.</p>
<p>Ok, I dont mean to sound stupid , but... If I am deferred after applying for ED, does it release me from the commitment to attend the college of my choice?</p>
<p>if you are deferred to the RD pool, there is no longer an ED commitment so yes, you can attend the college of your choice.</p>
<p>Yes, it does. Being accepted after you are deferred makes you subject to the same conditions as any other RD candidate because you would now by an RD candidate.</p>
<p>Cross-posted with sybbie.</p>