Hello. I have an early decision application and early action application going on right now. My early action is coming out this Saturday and I prefer that school much over my early decision. So if I do get admitted, I would like my ED application to be moved into RD pool. However, since the admission office is not operating over the weekend, I would have to call on Monday if I get into my EA, which is the day the result for the ED comes out. Would it be too late to call the admission and ask to get moved to RD? If anything I am willing to withdraw the application if possible. Also if it is possible, would there be any disadvantage? Thank you!
If you get in EA on Friday, then at a minimum send an email to your ED school telling them that you are either withdrawing your application or asking them to change it to RD. Understand that in switching to RD they may choose to deny you. Also, I would not open or navigate to the portal for your ED school until you have talked to them on Monday and given them the opportunity to withdraw their electronic response. You may wish to check with your guidance counselor as well, though I imagine you are trying to avoid that by posting here. This is admittedly an awkward situation. The reason I say send an email is so that you have a written record of withdrawing your ED application in case they try to enforce that commitment. Don’t wait until Monday. If you are switching to RD because you need to compare financial aid packages, then I would tell them so. Talk to your parents obviously. I am interested in what others have to recommend as well. Also, it is possible that your ED school may release decisions early, thereby undercutting your efforts to withdraw your ED application over the weekend. For that reason, and others (ie; that school is no longer your true first choice), you may want to change it to RD now.
My EA result will come out Saturday so I will not be able to do that on Friday. The reason for me not sending an email right now is because the chance of me getting into ED is much higher than getting in to EA. However, since my EA school is much better than my ED, I do not want to get binded by it. It is a really awkward situation, but I don’t mind not getting to my ED as long as I am in my EA school. I am just worried if I try to change it to RD, the college will inform other schools and it would affect my other schools’ regular applications.
I think it totally depends on the school. They might say you could change to RD and then actually consider accepting you in RD. They also might say it’s too late to change and send you an ED result on Monday. Or they might change you to RD and realize (correctly) that you are not really that committed to them or to your ED agreement and let that be a factor in turning you down in RD.
What you are trying to do seems to be exploiting a loophole in the system, which is not generally a great thing to do. On the other hand, the ED system favors colleges more than students, and if you manage to stay within the letter of the agreement (if not the spirit) I don’t know if it’s as bad as it sounded to me at first.
One unquestionably honest thing you could do is call the ED school today or tomorrow. Ask to switch to RD, and if they say no, either withdraw your application or accept you have a commitment to your ED school if you get in.
Then if you get into your EA school on Saturday, send an email on Saturday (and maybe leave a voice mail message) with your ED school changing it to RD or simply withdrawing the entire application. Withdrawing the application entirely would be cleaner end to the situation. Also, you might want to read the ED agreement you and your parent signed to see if it provides for some other way to withdraw your ED application. If not, your email and phone message might be an option. Dare I say, “consult your attorney” because nobody on this board will give you legal advice.
If your ED portal gives you a link to withdraw your application, then use that before Monday. You probably should copy your guidance counselor as well, and probably discuss this situation with him/her before the weekend. Let me know how it all turns out (PM if you like).
- Why did you apply to an ED school that was not your top choice? That was your first mistake.
- Talk to your guidance counselor ASAP.