I have two main schools that I am interested in attending. My first choice won’t give me a response until March, but I already have a response from the second choice that I have been admitted. I am just waiting to hear if I got into the Honors College. The problem with the College #2 is that housing is not the best, and runs out fast (as I’m sure that is the case with most colleges). I don’t want to wait until the last minute to find out I may not have gotten into College #1, and then apply and get bad housing at College #2.
I want to pay my deposit for College #2 now, and put in my housing information. If I find out in March I got into College #1, then I would withdraw my admission ( and not get my money back, I am aware) and commit to College #1. However, I’m worried if College #1 (or other colleges) find out I have committed to another school, they won’t accept me/withdraw their acceptance. I am aware that College #2 may not like me possibly withdrawing but I’m not exactly concerned as long as it doesn’t affect my chances at either schools.
Is this normal? Neither of my schools are CommonApp, and I wouldn’t drag this out past May 1st, so I wouldn’t go into the Summer still claiming I have 2 schools. I have heard mixed reviews about this, so I just want to make sure. Thank you!
It’s not double depositing if you withdraw at one to deposit at the other. People do this all the time, it’s fine.
Even if I commit for housing as well?
Yes. It is fine to deposit for the college and the housing now. If you opt to go to college 1 then you can withdraw from college 2 (do it in writing) before (or at the same time) you send a deposit in to college 1. That way you won’t be double depositing since you will only have a deposit in at one school at a time. You will lose your first deposit, but given the circumstances, it sounds worth doing.
This happens all the time not only in your situation, but if a person gets in off of a waitlist to a preferred college etc.
You can double deposit until May 1. At tat point you need to notify any school where you put in a deposit that you are not attending, and depending on their policies and the type of deposit, you may lose all or part of it.
Yes of course, I understand that I’ll lose the deposit. At this point, it seems worth it because it seems unreasonable to wait until March, just to find out that I possibly didn’t get into College #1, and miss out on somewhat good housing in College #2. Thank you so much for your responses!