<p>This story is hard to believe - it just doesn’t sound right and the timing still bothers me. (clarification - I believe the OP;’ I don’t believe Pratt)Maybe it really just is the OP who lost the money and now they’re worried she’ll make a fuss so they’re pretending it was a huge mistake. I don’t think I’ll be convince that Pratt is telling the truth until I see it in the newspaper!</p>
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<p>OF, I hadn’t thought of that but I think your cynical theory could be correct. </p>
<p>Have never heard of this particular issue that OP wrote about. We DID tell S’s 1st choice what higher merit another U offered and though they said they don’t match, they did happen to increase S’s merit award to exactly what S was offered at 2nd choice U. S did attend 1st choice U and has since graduated.</p>
<p>I would be very upset by having a scholarship given EA rescinded with a 2 sentence email, followed up by a 2 sentence letter. SAD & poor PR.</p>
<p>Sadly, I think OldFort’s analysis sounds most likely. OP, I don’t think anything you did triggered this, it was a sad co-incidence and as others have said, perhaps it is for the best if the school is so chaotic that it is rescinding offers as it did for your D. Chaotic settings are pretty unsettling for everyone. </p>
<p>Another vote for OldFort’s theory.</p>
<p>Hi, sorry I missed all these posts last night. Thanks for all the feedback.</p>
<p>If it is just a cover story for Pratt’s wounded ego and they lied to me, why would they tell me something that makes them so stupid and incompetent on a large scale basis? If I e-mailed the NYT and other papers, and they followed up, what would Pratt say to the reporter? “We don’t know what you’re talking about? She’s crazy and she made it all up?” Then, wouldn’t I have even a worse story to share with you all, with guidance counselors, with anyone who’ll listen to me? </p>
<p>I’m not quite ready to say they’re outright lying just on the basis of this not having been reported in the press or posted about elsewhere on this forum. If there are others besides me, people may be busy right now fighting back – especially those in the situations I described, where there is detrimental reliance – and trying to hold them to their offer. Why bring the wrath of the press down on Pratt’s head if you’re still trying to get them to give you money? (I’m not doing that, I’m done with them, which is what I told Mr. Paisley on the phone. They can go pound salt.) </p>
<p>The embarrassment issue is another factor. Again, if there are others, people may still be in shock and regrouping – figuring out how to approach the school diplomatically, talking to their guidance counselors. It seems to me lots of parents are very skilled and savvy at this college stuff and they weigh and measure their every move. Which is not a bad thing, it just may account for why nothing has bubbled up. And maybe there’s pride surrounding the money issue, I don’t know. (Not me, I’m not proud! 
)</p>
<p>The award letter clearly stated that May 1 is the deadline to secure the scholarship, so unilaterally moving that up to mid-March is not ethical. So someone would have had to say, “Gee, how do we essentially accomplish the same thing with this kid who still dares not to accept our generous offer – how about just cop to a mistake?” And someone else said, “Great idea! Okay, who will we blame it on…how about Paisley? He sounds so young, it’s possible the mother will feel too badly for him to really ream him out. She’ll probably end up feeling sorry for him!” (They all chuckle.) William Swan, the head of admissions, then calls him and says, “Paisley, we need you to take one for the team…could you come in here?” </p>
<p>I don’t know…it seems a little much, even to my creative paranoid mind. </p>
<p>At least I’m having a little fun with this now – I do feel terrible for those people who really needed this offer and don’t have any other options at this point. But I definitely went through anger, sadness, maybe now I’m at acceptance!</p>
<p>Another thought I had is that people may be loathe to go “on the record” with the press if they are using, or have already used, the Pratt award in discussions with other schools. Better just to lay low – what if their chosen school found out that the Pratt award was reduced or yanked, and they decide to do the same thing with their awards because of that fact? </p>
<p>This might be a little more delicate and intricate than the Goucher/Vassar “Am-I-accepted-or-am-I-not-accepted?” foul ups. </p>
<p>Also, Mr. Paisley gave me his direct number and told me to have the guidance counselor call him, so he’s giving the appearance of standing by his story with others. I am going to speak to her probably next week and see what she thinks. She may have heard from other counselors already.</p>
<p>Thanks again, everyone, for your posts.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see what the HS GC has to say about this. Please share any insights you gain. Hopefully others can learn from you sad experience. I would be quite upset in your place, as it is a big difference between $12Kx4 years vs. NOTHING and no warning nor any explanation other than 2 sentences–mistake.</p>
<p>HImom, yes, I absolutely will keep you posted after I speak to the guidance office. I left a message but told her it wasn’t urgent because I know they are very busy getting the underclassmen and 8th graders enrolled in next year’s courses. I told her we could speak next week at her convenience, so I’m hoping I’ll hear back from her sooner rather than later. </p>
<p>Hmm, I would consider it urgent… maybe the GCs have some leverage with the college. Certainly they should also call and complain. Given the time of year, senior typically DO get top priority from the GCs right now.</p>
<p>She called me at 5:30. There isn’t any urgency in our case since we’re going with another school – but I did want her to be aware of this. I don’t know if anyone at our school is planning on Pratt and getting this kind of news. She hadn’t heard anything about it and was glad I let her know. </p>
<p>She thought it was horrible and was aghast, especially at the extent of the mistake. She also told me about a school not too long ago that had awarded a scholarship before the acceptance letter went out…but then the student was rejected! The counselor called the school to say, “Hey, c’mon, how can you do this? You gave her a scholarship…but you won’t accept her??” and the school just said, “Well, the scholarship people made a mistake.” But would not admit the student. </p>
<p>She also said what I had suspected – that if you had relied on the award and had chosen the school and pressed them, they would probably honor it. But this is a lot less expensive than a blanket honoring of all awards, obviously. But we agreed – talk about starting off on the wrong foot with a college. Ugh. </p>
<p>As I said, we’re moving on. I was worried that I had precipitated this by talking to another school about the Pratt award just the day before the scholarship was revoked , but maybe it was just a weird coincidence after all. Ha, I guess I jinxed us! </p>