Hi! so I applied and got accepted to an EA school but I’m still waiting to hear back from my RD schools. Here’s the thing, I really like my EA school and want to commit in the next couple of weeks but I still want to know if I can get in to my RD schools. So if I commit to my EA, can I not withdraw the rest of my apps? or will I get in trouble. My RD schools are fairly competitive so idk if I can even get in so if I don’t, then I would’ve wasted my time waiting for them when I could’ve just committed and be at ease. What should I do?!
EA is not binding so you can accept your EA school without withdrawing your other applications. If you change your mind about your EA school, you will forfeit your original deposit.
You aren’t required to accept before you hear from the other schools, so why are you not at ease? You’re accepted- yay! They’re not gonna take it back because you don’t accept right away.
“I could’ve just committed and be at ease”
You got in EA, so you have a spot in the freshman class, they cannot take it away from you and give to another student. There’s no reason you should fell uneasy. As long as you give the deposit by the deadline they mentioned in your letter, you’re fine. Enjoy your senior year, see how the RD apps shake out and relax. Good luck in RD as well!.
Most EA schools do not require your commitment until May 1 (check for your particular school), but if you should accept then you should withdraw from your other applications. If I were you I would wait until May 1 to commit.
You do not have to wait until May 1st and you are under no obligation to withdraw your apps when you do accept if you applied under EA.
Some large public schools do housing priority based on date that you deposit. There is a reason for depositing early even if you aren’t 100% sure. It is fine to do this while you wait for your other decisions. If you do get into a school you prefer you can then inform the first school that you won’t be coming after all. You will probably have to forfeit the deposit.
The point of committing is that you are ready to commit- and you obviously aren’t. So, why do it? In most cases there is no need to commit early, no pressure to do so, and no real benefit. If you like your EA choice enough to walk away from your RD options- do it. Or, if there are any of your RD schools that you already know you wouldn’t take over your EA school, go ahead and withdraw from them, and leave the rest as active applications.
Then you go do other stuff- you don’t ‘waste your time’ worrying about those applications- b/c there is no bad outcome! You can be as much “at ease” knowing that you have a really good option in your back pocket and can look forward to the possibility of other good choices without stressing about it.
Thinking of the question as “will I get in trouble” and 'I can just ‘be at ease"’ is kid-think. Committing is an adult responsibility, so take it seriously.
First of all I’d like to thank everyone who replied! it’s highly appreciated 
My case is like @me29034 said, my EA school does housing according to deposit date so that’s why I wanna deposit and basically accept the offer now. However, I wanna wait for RD’s as well in case any of them accepts me and gives a scholarship. That’s why I’m asking if I accept and deposit, am I under obligation to withdraw the rest or not.
It is perfectly fine to deposit at your EA school and keep your other applications open. I’ve heard of people doing this for the exact reason you mentioned.
If you decide to stick with your EA school then you will simply turn down any future offers you get from other colleges.
If you get an offer of admission down the road that you prefer to your EA school then you must notify your EA school in writing that you will not be attending and you would be free to deposit at the college you prefer. The only penalty if you do this is that you will lose your deposit at the EA school.
If there are a limited amount of good dorms at your EA school, or if you wanted something in low supply such as a single room, then I would do the deposit now. Something you’ll need to do some reasearch on sooner than later.
It’s the same exact thing as accepting a school and going on a waitlist. Then choosing drop school “A” for waitlist school, if you are admitted. If you can afford any non refundable deposits. It’s actually a great idea.
The only caveat being you want to be excited about school A, which you liked enough to go EA. Psychologically speaking. Don’t want you to feel let down. So make sure you get “into it” a bit with school A. Good luck.
If you accept the EA offer and put a deposit down, you can always unaccept that offer before May 1 and accept another school. As long as you are only enrolled at one school at a time, you are okay. I am pretty sure they would give you back any deposit you put down before May 1.