<p>I know that if you apply Early Decision and you are accepted it is a binding agreement, but what does that agreement mean? I assume that means you have to pay the specified deposits. What if you have changed your mind on the school? I know that should not happen but I would imagine that it has happened. Does the student 'have to go to that school'? Or do they just have to 'pay the non-refundable' deposits?....And therefore, can apply to a regular decision school?</p>
<p>A binding agreement means that the student must attend that school. When a student agrees to apply ED to a school they sign an agreement that if accepted they will attend and will not apply to another other schools or withdraw already sent in applications to other schools. </p>
<p>The only real way to get out of an ED agreement is if they do not give the student enough FA, but from what I have seen that is pretty rare.</p>
<p>I think that the only reason that you can withdraw from an early decision agreement is if the financial aid package they give you is not adequate enough.</p>
<p>Apparently, you can withdraw from an ED agreement without the basis of a lack of sufficient financial aid... But the consequence is being blacklisted for enrollment at other schools. </p>
<p>Mainly the only acceptable reason is FA, but it's very rare.</p>
<p>There's an arguement thread about ED somewhere that brings up what I mentioned in the beginning..</p>
<p>Breaking an ED agreement is huge. Firstly, the college will likely blackball your HS and your counsellor staff won't lift a finger to help you apply to other colleges. Secondly, other colleges may and will revoke your offer if they know you reneged on an ED offer -- unless for a very good reason. ED is a privilege with benefits and responsibilities. If one cannot accept those responsibilities, then one shouldn't even CONSIDER ED (which hopefully your GC will tell you)</p>
<p>if you break an ED agreement at an Ivy or similarly ranked school dont expect to get in at any of its peer schools. Years ago a kid at our school broke an ED to Brown for no good reason and instead applied to all the other ivy's. Eventually tried to enroll at Cornell (was accepted at several others too) but his acceptance was revoked when they were informed he had broken an ED and the student had to go to a CC. Brown has not accepted a student from our school since (8 years now). No one even bothers applying anymore since we are essentially blacklisted. Cliffnotes: you dont break and ED agreement.</p>
<p>You can apply to other schools but if you are accepted ED you MUST withdraw all other apps. Like mentioned you can get out of the agreement if they don't give you the money but again that is rare. If you really don't want to go you can tell them that you are just not going but think of it as bieng blacklisted because the other schools you applied to will find out and they look down upon that heavily.</p>
<p>WOW. Thanks for explaining. I had no idea of the repercussions you all have mentioned. We only have a junior S so he hasn't even applied yet. I'm just trying to figure all of this out! I hear and read the word 'binding' all the time, but now I understand how serious it can be. There seems to be quite a few ED'ers out there so they must be quite sure they want to attend that particular school. Thanks. This site is the BEST!</p>
<p>I didn't know the repercussions well either. Thank you for the information everyone!</p>