<p>I was deferred EA, and I sent them a letter saying that Yale is my first choice and if accepted, I would enroll. Does this mean that I must go to Yale now that I am accepted?</p>
<p>I don't think so, but I think some ethics are involved.</p>
<p>If ( :eek: ) you decide to attend another school, I think another thorough letter - of explanation - would be in order. Yale can't do anything to you if you do not enroll, but it wouldn't look good for you. (Yes, now I'm trying to guilt you into coming. :p)</p>
<p>Why in the world would you not go?</p>
<p>I think suburbian was admitted to Harvard as well...eww. :p</p>
<p>EDIT: Just checked her posts - she was also admitted to Princeton and Brown PLME.</p>
<p>I still don't see why she wouldn't go, though. Haha. :)</p>
<p>Thanks vivaldi that explains things (hehe)</p>
<p>I think that this has placed you in a very akward situation. I don't think that the other schools you are looking at would be very appreciative of this fickleness (I'm sure you have great reasons, its just that they may not be able to see that). I would be careful that they do not contact other schools. They've got your words on paper, and signed. Like I said, a very akward situation indeed.</p>
<p>But then again this is probably a stretch and I am just far too gone under with conspiracy theories....</p>
<p>A first choice letter like this imposes no legal obligation, and the other schools to which you've been accepted would not revoke their acceptances even if they knew about the letter (nor would they otherwise hold it against you). As to whether your letter imposes a moral obligation, this is between you and your conscience. I take my word seriously, so if it were me, I would honor the letter. On the other hand, I would never have written the letter in the first place, as I find the practice of "first-choice" letters inherently objectionable.</p>
<p>If there are any third parties involved (e.g., you asked someone to intervene on your behalf with the understanding that if you were admitted you would go), then I definitely think you should feel obliged to honor your commitment. If not, then it's a balance between your conscience and your belief (assuming you believe) that another school would suit you better.</p>
<p>students are not admitted to yale on the basis of a letter they write saying that "yale is my top choice." Yale knows that without a doubt it is the top choice of a vast majority of the students that apply, and so, I doubt your letter did much other than reaffirm what they already knew. </p>
<p>If you have legitimate reasons for not going, then please dont. Nobody wants an unhappy Yalie (as though such a thing ever existed!). </p>
<p>Go where you'll be best, I honestly beleive you'll be ok.</p>
<p>I would withdraw the offer since you no longer want to honor it. That is the right thing to do. You never know when you will run into the same person again. Maybe when applying for a grad school program. The world of academia is small and the oddest coincidences happen. Also as kids say these things or write these things so blithely, each time someone disregards their terms, it makes the situation meaningless in the future. Right now, I think there is a residual good to writing and asking your counselor to back you up on how a certain school is first choice and you will go there if accepted. As kids just break their words on this, it will count for nothing.</p>
<p>
Do you mean legally binding? I'm not a lawyer, but I very much doubt it. Morally binding? In this instance, since I don't feel there's a major crime against humanity at stake, I believe that's more of a matter for you and your conscience than for others to dictate. If you were my child, I would hope that this experience would be unsettling enough to make you think very carefully before giving your word from now on.</p>
<p>But for me, pragmatism trumps preachiness in this particular situation. If you don't want to go there, Yale will get over it, and you'll be freeing up a place for someone who wants it very much. I personally would rather see that outcome than teach you a lesson that won't make anyone happy.</p>
<p>Can they force you to go? No.</p>
<p>Will it look favorable if you decide to apply for graduate school? No.</p>
<p>Will they blacklist you and your future generations? Probably not. :)</p>
<p>did you sign your name on the letter?</p>
<p>Cuz then it could easily be interpreted as a contract. You stated a condition under which you guaranteed you would matriculate, Yale has met that condition, and you signed to it.</p>
<p>I'm not sure since I'm certainly no lawyer, but that sounds like a contract to me.</p>
<p>If it wasn't legalized by a notary public, it isn't a contact. Unless I am mistaken?</p>
<p>A signed letter is definitely not a contract...</p>
<p>lol i highly doubt they keep track of things like this.</p>
<p>Here's the low down:
It'll make you look bad, but that has no permanent effect on you because you won't go to yale.
The permanent black stain, however, remains on your school, ESPECIALLY your college guidance counselor.<br>
The fact that you got into Yale attests to your academic promise and your supposed integrity. You are harming your school's reputation and seriously hurting the underclassmen that apply to yale in the next few years.
I mean, this depends on what type of school you go to. The smaller your school, but more true this is. In general, the more prestigious your school is, the more true it is.<br>
Hope this helps.
Write a letter. if you decline
But, don't decline. Yale is great. Harvard is anti-great. You'll see after Bulldogs day...</p>
<p>out of curiosity, if i may ask,</p>
<p>why don't you want to go to Yale any more?</p>
<p>I mean assuming you meant it before when you said you would go, what could have happened that would strip it of it's number one spot title.</p>
<p>I think it's still my first choice. I just never realized that I would get into so many good schools, and I have a lot more options. If my agreement were binding, I might actually be happy since I wouldn't have to worry about having to decide since the decision has already been made. There's nothing about Yale that I don't like. Maybe I really should go... :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
There's nothing about Yale that I don't like. Maybe I really should go... :)
[/quote]
Agreed. :)</p>
<p>Since I have a younger sister, ruining my school's reputation might be particularly bad. But my gc is retiring this year, so it doesn't really matter for her. She knows that I sent them the letter in january/february, but she hasn't talked to be about it, even though she knows I'm considering other schools as well.</p>