<p>Why would anyone in his right mind risk having the ED offer rescinded as a consequence of playing cutesy semantic games around the difference between “withdrawing an application” and “declining an offer of admission”? </p>
<p>You know perfectly well what the ED deal is: if the ED school accepts you, you agree to forsake all others, regardless of where you stand in the admission process. The only “out” is a bona fide inability to attend because of inadequate FA. Don’t make things difficult for yourself by pretending you didn’t understand the contract, or by willfully reading it in a hypertechnical way that distorts its meaning. And don’t jerk somebody else’s kid around by holding onto an offer of admission at some school you have no intention of attending. Just say “yes” to the ED offer (if it occurs) and turn everyone else down, whatever language you need to use to accomplish that (“I withdraw my application” or “I decline your offer of admission”). It’s the only honorable thing to do, even if you have buyer’s remorse. Buyer’s remorse is not an acceptable reason for walking away from an ED offer. If that’s not a deal you can live with, then you should withdraw the ED application before the ED offer is extended.</p>