Actually, committing to a school can have a detrimental effect in this case because the school now “knows” that you will be going there. In your case, however, you have committed to several schools. As others have pointed out, this is not considered good form and a school could rescind your acceptance if they learned about it. As others have pointed out, you will certainly be out the deposits at the five schools you ultimately choose not to attend.
My point, Adwaya, is that you don’t have so much leverage at this point because the colleges will treat you as being a committed student, not a student who is deciding between options. Also, U Michigan will not be impressed by your acceptance OSU or “match” tuition since it will not see OSU as being in the same academic league. And OSU is already cheaper and may not be inclined to provide additional financial assistance to a student who has already committed.
The good news is that these schools are all very good and U Michigan would be considered in a tier above very good. With your parents covering the cost for most of it, you will be in a position to get a very good education, regardless of which school you decide to attend.
That was a coincidence in timing on the FA package. You are correct to take starting salaries with a grain of salt. The list of top starting salaries by colleges is slanted towards schools with high percentages of engineering majors where starting salaries are high. Doctors, Allied Health, law all skew averages down because of the time between undergrad and first real salary. Business can skew it as well where starting salaries are lower than engineers, except Wall Street/investment banking, but salaries 10-15 years later are higher for many business majors.
Don’t overthink this. If you don’t have a strong feeling towards one or the other, follow the money, work hard, and enjoy college.
@Adwaya, it is when you are uncommitted that colleges try to woo you to commit to them. I will echo @Sportsman88’s remark, it was a coincidence that your FA came in when it did. When students wait to the end to commit, they still get financial aid offers.
However, I think @ClaremontMom could be right that colleges might not act on a double deposit before May 1st, as they haven’t gone to the waitlist yet. I do hope you make a decision for a school before May 1, and let the other schools know you’ve changed your mind to avoid repercussions.
What’s problematic is double-depositing on May 1st. Until then, it’s okay - many deposit at their state flagship to secure a spot in housing, and then deposit elsewhere later on, but cancel at the flagship or the other one, by May 1st. Many universities even pay your deposit back. On May 1st, you should only be enrolled at ONE university and THEN it becomes a problem for you if you didn’t. The only excption is waitlists: After May 1st, you’re allowed to deposit at one place while being on many waitlists, then accept the waitlist spot somewhere else, and then you lose your deposit.
@MYOS1634 : I hav already notified the universities which i wont attend, on the grounds of weather,… While UMich told me to reconsider my decision, the rest of them(except UW-Madison and Rutgers) returned my deposit… guess i gotta tell UMich I cant stand lakes…
You crack me up, @Adwaya – if UMich is reluctant to lose you, then why don’t you tell them it’s a matter of money? Maybe they’ll give you more…?? Tell them there’s a $20K difference (or whatever it is).
@choirsandstages : wat makes u think they will believe me if i tell themm…? they will just think that i am just bluffing to make them give me more money…and i think they will be real pissed if they come to know that i hav chosen OSU,
@adwaya It’s not that personal to them–they are not going to be “pissed.” Why don’t you email and ask them if you can do a financial aid appeal? We did an appeal with the UMichigan school my daughter was accepted to, and they actually sent a survey form asking how much merit aid she was getting from other schools we were considering. And our appeal was successful. (It was not for a large amount, but if you can make the case for it, larger amounts may be possible).
thank u for ur reply…though i wish i had done that now…the thing is I have already mentally committed myself to OSU…Its final and my parents too approve my decision…i dont want to look back again and keep this decision in doubt any longer…
While UMich told me to reconsider my decision, the rest of them(except UW-Madison and Rutgers) returned my deposit… guess i gotta tell UMich I cant stand lakes…