<p>Hey, I was just reading an article about what happens if you break an Early Decision agreement and I read that one consequence is that the college can inform other schools of your decision and effectively blacklist you. Does that really happen? Do colleges share our files and their opinions about them with one another? Isn't that kinda of, um, illegal?</p>
<p>Yes they can. It's not illegal to share information about ED candidates. They definitely do it in the Ivies, probably in other ones as well. They have a list of who applied and who was accepted. When accepted you are expected to withdraw other apps. </p>
<p>When you sign that form stating you agree to the terms of early decision you are essentially entering into a contract. If you break that they have all the right in the world to black list you.</p>
<p>Well what about RD applicants? Can they share our essays, activities, or chosen majors? B/C I've changed activities & my major since my EA application...and it would seem like an incongruity. Can they see that/share that?</p>
<p>No, they don't share application specific information. They share names on ED lists. EA is non binding, unless it is SCEA and they could check if you were applying elsewhere. No they can't see the information, don't worry. The main point is to make sure people aren't applying ED to one place and RD to a bunch of others, or ED to more than one place.</p>
<p>I dont think its just name,, I mean there are alot of people with same names and all (especially asians)</p>
<p>Name, identifying number, something that would identify the person. I highly doubt colleges make copies of everyone's application and send them around.</p>
<p>Hmm...scarletleavy...are you from the adcoms......how come you know so much!! :-0</p>
<p>hahaha. no. I'm just very involved in the college search process and have done a lot of research.</p>
<p>Yes. Absolutely do not back down from ED contracts. Not only will it "black list" you, but the school will probably black list your high school, as well.</p>
<p>Yeah, someone from my school backed out of Princeton ED about 10 years ago, and we didn't get anyone into Princeton again until a couple years ago. The same people Princeton rejected got into other HYPSM institutions. I can see that happening once or twice, but not for 7 or 8 years in a row.</p>
<p>Similar thing happened at my school. Granted we're a relatively small catholic school, but we haven't had anyone get into Princeton since that occurance. At the same time, we've had people apply who've gotten into Yale, Dartmouth, MIT and the like.</p>