<p>I’ve heard that if anyone from your high school ever was accepted by Brown for early decision and turned it down, that the Brown admissions officers hold it against the school and penalize all future ED applicants from that school. Can they possibly be that vindictive or is that just an urban myth? Thanks.</p>
<p>You can’t turn down an ED agreement… you’re obligated to attend Brown if you get accepted ED.</p>
<p>Financial aid is the only loophole.</p>
<p>Generally yes, they will hold it against your school because the guidance counselors at the school can not longer be seen as being reliable since they have allowed a student to break a binding decision. However, if the student had a VERY VERY VERY good reason for turning it down then it may be overlooked. That is not to say, though, that an amazing applicant from that school will be denied or deferred simply because of something the school did. He or she will probably still be admitted. It is the border line cases that will be threatened by the school’s negligence.</p>
<p>it’s a myth. they have no reason to hold it against you</p>
<p>I hope you’re right dcircle. i don’t want to be penalized for something done by some moron many years ago. They can’t possibly be that short-sighted and petty.</p>
<p>i mean it’s not an auto blackball, but after that they take anything your guidance counselor says about his students with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>i dont understand how ED can truely be binding. I mean they can’t force you to attend their school. What happens if you get in somewhere ED and just dont want to go?</p>
<p>jsmall, it is true that they can’t legally force you to go to their school. But they can send your name to other, similar schools (like, the rest of the Ivies), and these schools can decide to deny your admission. While financial reasons are typically accepted as a reason to turn down an ED acceptance, the ED school would then expect you to go to a state school, which costs less. I’m sure other reasons – a death in the family, health concerns – would let you out of an ED acceptance. </p>
<p>By applying ED, you are making a contract with the school. It may not be legally binding – but it doesn’t say much for your integrity or ethical standards if you view it as a contract that can be broken at your whim. How would you feel if you were accepted ED, and then in March got a letter from the school that said, “gee, we found a better applicant than you so we’re revoking your acceptance. Good luck finding another school now!” </p>
<p>As for the OP question – how long ago did this happen? If it was last year, then it might cause some problems for you. If it was a decade ago, I doubt anyone remembers.</p>
<p>there is an interschool agreement among american universities to abide by ED. if you breach the contract it is unlikely you will be accepted anywhere else for that admission cycle without an extenuating circumstance.</p>
<p>dcircle is right as always. Turn down ED, welcome to the Blacklist.</p>
<p>The adcoms or at least the Deans of Admissions all talk, and all share info in circumstances like this. They’re not oblivious and will hold you accountable.</p>