Curious about Early Decision Contract

Hi!!!

I have a question regarding Early Decision. I applied to around 50 schools and was recently accepted to my top choice Early Decision, and I am very excited to attend in the fall!

However, because I spent so long on these 40-something other applications, I would still like to see which colleges I ended up getting into, even though I’m not interested in attending any of them. I’m technically not breaching my contract, as I will withdraw my applications and reject any other offers of admission, and the contract doesn’t say I need to withdraw them immediately. I would still like to see my other decisions, just to see if I got into any T20 schools for future bragging rights lol. I’m just scared that I’ll get in trouble with my school’s administration! Please let me know, thanks!

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Withdraw your applications as soon as you sign the ED contract. Applying ED and wanting to find out all your results are not compatible. Also, not withdrawing could affect admissions results for others in your high school.

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You will be taking a spot that someone else could have with regular decision. The need for “bragging rights” goes away quickly. You made a commitment and needed to keep it as soon as you heard. If you wanted to see where you got in, you could have taken your chances with regular decision.

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This would be a bad idea for many reasons.

Do what you committed to do.

And rightly so, given the potential impact on your school’s future students

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Withdraw as soon as you accept. It’s not fair to the other institutions. They will be waisting time reviewing you, allocating funds to you if you get in and then possibly listing you as one of the admitted students. Great you plan to say know but it isn’t fair. They only allow in so many students. Having you in the pool of possible messes with other applications. Due the right thing and withdraw as soon as you accept your ED. Why does it not say right away? Easy is does take time on your end to withdraw and some schools do not make the process so simple. My daughter has withdrawn hers and the schools that has accepted her she told no. At least two of them aren’t understanding the withdrawal and thanked her for communicating and now want her deposit. She is going back and forth with them explaining that she is already enrolled elsewhere.

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Aren’t you contractually obligated to withdraw all other applications within a short time frame after your ED acceptance? How is your GC ok with you holding on to the other applications?

The bragging rights you’re thinking of will have no value. And you’re impacting other applicants’ chances at those other schools.

When you applied ED you made a conscious choice knowing the rules and the pros and cons.

Do the right thing. Withdraw!

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Withdraw the other 49 applications. When you applied ED, you gave up the ability to compare other admissions.

Please be honest about this. You know this is what you are supposed to be doing. Just get it done…withdraw those other applications…And any acceptances you may have already received.

It’s the right thing to do.

ETA…if you REALLY want to know about the other 49 application outcomes…decline the ED acceptance now.

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OP can’t, unless she can successfully demonstrate to the school that they didn’t meet her financial need (not easy to do)

Also, shaking my head at the 50 college applications.

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According to Forbes and other articles, EDII is not legally binding. You signed a contract but it is basically a “gentleman’s agreement”/honor code agreement. You can talk to the admissions office if you are truly unhappy with your school, but you say it is your top choice so this is not relevant.

Applying to 40+ schools was not the wisest course in the first place! Too much work and too much money.

If you DO want to attend your EDII school, you absolutely must withdraw your other applications. Note in the article the possibility of schools sharing a list of applicants accepted via EDII as well as those who have not abided by the agreement and have declined, even if for financial reasons. Here is the content of the article

Can Students Get Out Of ED? (forbes.com)

Is ED Legally Binding?

If you do get accepted into a college you applied ED, you are bound by an honor code to attend. Remember, you, your parents and even your guidance counselor signed a contract that stated if you were accepted into the college, you would enroll. However, while you did sign an agreement, it is not legally binding, and there will be no legal ramifications if you do reject the offer. The college cannot force you to attend or hold you legally responsible for the tuition and fees associated with attending. If you do decide to reject the offer due to financial reasons, you won’t have to pay a deposit or owe the college any money. No ED “rules” or honor code is broken, and you are free to attend another college.

One of the main reasons students reject an ED offer is due to financial reasons. Perhaps you were expecting a more substantial scholarship, and it is just not financially viable to go to that college. In that case, let the university know that due to your economic situation, it will be a financial struggle to attend the college. Your parent or guardian does not need to show any proof or documentation of financial need. However, if you can demonstrate financial need, there is a higher chance the college would increase your offer of financial assistance to make it viable to attend. Remember, the college accepted you and wants you to enroll. Many students mistakenly think that they cannot negotiate their financial award; they are wrong.

How To Negotiate

If the college doesn’t offer you enough money, you can negotiate. The parents/guardians can explain in a letter that they need more financial aid to make attending possible. It is advisable to also set up a meeting with the college. The parents can demonstrate that they need a more significant financial package to make attendance possible. It is also a good idea to go into the meeting already know how much money is required.

The college can choose to reject, negotiate or accept the parents’ offer. It is now back up to the parents and students if they want to attend. Remember, if you do still choose to reject based on financial reasons, you aren’t breaking any ED “rules.” Also, if the college does not offer any additional financial aid, they will not withdraw your offer of acceptance. The worst that can happen is they say “no.” You are still accepted into the college and able to attend.

Breaking ED For Other Reasons

Backing out of the early decision offer varies depending on the college. Some colleges are much more lenient and accepting of other reasons, whereas others take it much more seriously. Rod Oto, the associate dean of admissions at Carleton College, said that if a student wants to withdraw from an ED offer, he will first try to follow up with them to discover why. Oto said he might call other colleges the student has applied to or the high college counselor. While it isn’t his intention to get every college to withdraw their offers of admittance, he does want to make sure the student knows that Carleton College is not happy. However, the bottom line is that an early decision offer is just a gentleman’s agreement, and the college can’t force you to do anything.

While it might seem far-fetched that colleges will communicate with each other, it is a real possibility. In 2016, Katharine Fretwell, dean of admission and financial aid at Amherst College, said that her college and about 30 other colleges, share lists of students admitted through early decision. She said that she is likely also to share names of students who were accepted during ED, but choose not to attend to due to financial aid or other reasons. Currently, the Justice Department is investigating this issue of colleges sharing information.

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No school is going to force a student to accept an ED acceptance and enroll. This student absolutely CAN decline the ED acceptance.

BUT in declining…this could affect future ED applicants from her high school.

But really, she signed a contract for ED…she needs to decline all other acceptances and withdraw all other pending applications…and the same time as she accepts that ED offer.

And the OP knows this!

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Even if this is a valid post, which I doubt given the similarities to the below thread, there is nothing left to say. Closing

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