Early Decision

Applying to College
1

I applied ED (binding) to College A and accepted admission but it was technically not binding because of financial aid so I did not stop applying to other colleges. I was offered admission to College B and would like to defer to Spring semeter (completeing my Fall semester at College B) Is this allowed? Would college A find out?

2

I meant completeing my Fall semester at College A

3

I’m guessing your ED to College A is technically binding. You can get out of it if they don’t offer you enough financial aid per your EFC. Most ED options require that you withdraw all other applications upon acceptance. If you did not withdraw your applications, you broke the spirit of the agreement.

I think that planning to attend for just one semester is not the right thing to do. It’s not fair to the college and it’s not fair to the other applicants. I don’t know how the logistics would work in terms of completing one semester at College A and one at College B. For starters, you’ll need to be truthful about why you’re requesting a deferral; if you don’t tell the truth and College B finds out, they could rescind your acceptance. If, as you say College A is not binding, then why not just start in the fall at College B?

4

Wrong question. The right question is whether you want to be the sort of person who lies, cheats and breaks promises.

Also, what do you mean it was technically not binding? My understanding is that if you’re accepted ED and the financial aid package is is really untenable, then your only option is to decline the offer. There is no option to accept the offer and keep applications open at other schools.

What do your parents and your GC think of this plan?

5

College A would not find out, but is this what you would like to do?

6

What are you going to do if College B permits deferral until Spring, but contingent on you not taking classes anywhere else? This is quite common. Your credits won’t transfer plus you risk College B rescinding their offer. Plus you’re being unfair and dishonest and what goes around comes around.

7

You would have to report your Fall “College A” transcript to “College B”–it’s a requirement–making you a transfer student rather than a spring admit/deferral. Neither college would like to know about it, as you know, which is why you’re trying to hide it. If you feel like you have to hide it, chances are it’s wrong.

tl;dr: don’t do this @anongirl215

8

Also you would be a transfer and not eligible for freshman scholarships.

If you can afford College A, then you must attend college A.
For college B, you have to tell them you took classes at another school.

9

So we apply to school A, with need base grant in mind, and assume the NPC is remotely close.

But what if the grant is not what we were hoping for? Is it still a binding agreement when the price is not what we expected or “assumed?”

Thanks in advance for any comment

10

Terrible idea in every respect.

  1. If you can’t afford College A for four years you would have to decline the spot once you get your financial aid offer. However, I guess technically you would fulfill the ED requirement by attending College A for a semester.

  2. But, you would have to let College B know that you will be attending College A first semester. Then you would no longer be a freshman at College B which would change your financial package (typically no merit aid for transfer students). You would have to submit a transfer application to College B.

  3. It is considered unethical to put a deposit down at two colleges simultaneously.

  4. Why wouldn’t you just decline College A based on the financial package and start at College B as a first semester freshman – that is where a lot of friendships are formed, you can get comfortable in the school, get a dorm with other freshmen etc.?