<p>Momofthreecollegekids, it appears that some schools are using this tactic of refusing to release financial aid information until AFTER the payment of an enrollment fee, as Sybbie has brought up some such situations too. Though I feel it is unethical as do many of us, those who are in this situation have to make a decision as to what to do. </p>
<p>The problem is that the Common application stipulates that only one deposit should be made and this is something that is signed. But some schools do not use this app and are not bound by any agreements in them. It appears that that the issue occurs with state schools, and there are other issues as well with some such schools that are not on common ground with a number of schools.</p>
<p>As responsible and ethical adults on this board, all any of us can do is to go over the facts of the situation and leave it as a decision of each person having this issue. If the school is truly one that the student wants and the financial aid package is what is preventing a decision, then parent and student have to decide if they want to put send enrollment commitments and checks to the school that is currently the best choice with the information at hand, and that school that is holding out. It could be that more than one school is doing this in which case multiple schools may be involved. </p>
<p>No advice from here. Gotta be your own decisions. I’m sorry schools are putting those of you in this position into a place where such choices and such payments might be made. I could make a lot of comments but none of them would be helpful and they might not be true either. Easy to say, but I like to try to stick to the truth and the truth of all of this is simply that the process is not perfect. </p>
<p>My cousin was in tough position a few years ago when her son was waitlisted at the school where he was accepted for his ROTC scholarship. The enrollment fee was just too much for chance acceptance and the fact that her son needed to get ROTC and college placement lined up was too important for her to fool around, so the scholarship was moved to the next choice school, and thankfully there was a spot there to do this, and that was where he sent his enrollment commitment and a deposits. Then, a week later, the first choice school accepted the young man, but the ROTC spot was no longer available. THus he lost his first choice school. That’s the way it works sometimes, but I can tell you that it does give me a bitter taste in the mouth. </p>
<p>So good luck to all whatever you decide you are going to do.</p>