<p>It's not honorable to cave to a system which benefits a certain demographic unfairly, IE the rich in this case. The OP wants to go to that school, but can't because of financial reasons. That is COMPLETELY legitimate. It's a really sad state of affairs when people are trying to coerce a person who can't afford a school into attending because that school can't free up a little of its resources for the OP's aid.</p>
<p>Sounds like a lot of you must've been rejected from your ED school, or gone through the process and realized you made a serious mistake.</p>
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Part of her ED contract was to withdraw all RD apps when she was admitted. She knowingly, purposely did not do so.
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<p>Question: If she had called her ED school imediatly upon resiving the pliminary package, while leaving the other apps in in case the issue could not be resolved, would you say that she broke the contract? I wouldn't, and the only differance I see here is that she waited to get the official package before starting to really worry, which was, as I said, a mistake, but I DON'T see evidence of manipulation--just a misinterpretation of when she should start dealing with the finaid issue. It 100% sounds to me that if she had gotten a finaid package that she could afford, sh would have withdrawn her other applications.</p>
<p>Raftysworld: No, we're trying to tell someone who willingly and knowingly went against a contract that they signed that it is unacceptable to back out just because they did not consider the consequences of what ED really means. It means Early Decision, and that decision is final. If you wouldn't choose a school you couldn't afford during RD, why would choose it during ED?</p>
<p>It was irresponsible, and the OP should do the right thing and face the consequences.</p>
<p>Edit: Weskid, she should have withdrawn all her other applications upon acceptance. I believe the Common App Ed form is pretty explicit in saying this:</p>
<p>"Yes, I wish to be considered as an Early Decision candidate. If I am accepted under the Early Decision Plan, I will matriculate in the fall. In addition, I understand that, if accepted under Early Decision, I must withdraw all my applications (if any) to other institutions and make no new ones."</p>
<p>It is my understanding of ED contracts that they are not one way, at least with most schools. The student agrees to attend if accepted, while the school (at least schools that agree to meet 100% of need, which I got the impression this was) agrees to meet all demonstrated need, or, if unable to do so, release the applicant. Now, obviously, if you want to get the best package, it is not a good idea to apply ED, because the school does not offer to give you a great deal, just a livable one — however, the OP seemed willing to pay any package that was within reason. What the school offered? IMO is not in reason, and in cases like those, the student should talk to the school about it — BEFORE withdrawing other apps, because the contract has not necessarily been filled on both sides, and the school might end up letting them go. As I said, the OP should have done this sooner, but not doing it was only naivet</p>
<p>"The fact that she didn't withdraw her other applications or turn down her merit offer from the other school indicates she was trying to game the system."</p>
<p>That is a truly incredible leap of logic.</p>
<p>And her classmates will TELL on her? Her classmates aren't CCers, they're ordinary people.</p>
<p>"And her classmates will TELL on her? Her classmates aren't CCers, they're ordinary people."</p>
<p>If you check earlier posts in this thread, you'll see a quote by a Macalester adcom saying that students' classmates typically tell them about students who have gotten admissions from other colleges after getting an ED accept from Mac. Apparently "ordinary people" become angry when they see their peers gaming the system.</p>