<p>Alrighty, so I applied to the state university (UNL) And also to my dream schools (UCLA, UofChicago, and USC) and since those schools aren't exactly easy to get into I was really excited when I at least got accepted into UNL, now what I am wondering is, since I won't find out whether or not I got accepted into the three dream schools until March..... should I go ahead and pay the enrollment deposit and continue my application at UNL with the housing and stuff while it is still at the point of the application that I can get everything done and ready at the "ideal" time, or would this ruin my chances of being accepted into the other schools.</p>
<p>If I did get accepted to one of the other ones, I'd probably choose one of them, and I was wondering if enrolling to UNL at this stage and getting everything done would be harmful, when I talked to my counselor she couldn't give me a straight answer to this other then I could always then either "drop out" sorta or just decline the UNL admission depending on the level it would be in, but she didn't tell me if it would ruin my chances at the other schools.... :(</p>
<p>Just because UCLA, USC, etc are your dream schools doesn’t mean you will get in! First, you have to assess whether or not those schools are reaches, targets, or safeties! I’d say if they are reaches then you shouldn’t waste your time since its very likely you will be rejected. If that’s not the case then I would say you wait to hear from them otherwise you will regret it later on after you have paid for the housing and other stuff!</p>
<p>like that’s what I’m wondering, I think my chances are off kinda so I really would like to just finish all the stuff at UNL. But would they (the other three schools) see that I already enrolled in a university and automatically reject me based on that? Or is that beyond something they can see?</p>
<p>I don’t think the other schools would check since they don’t have the time to do stuff like that but I would say play it safe and do what’s best for you! If you feel like enrolling then do so and if you don’t then just wait!</p>
<p>You pay the deposit to reserve a place in the freshman class. You don’t really “enrol” until you report to campus in September. So you will not be “dropping out”. You will likely lose your deposit though if you do not attend.</p>
<p>Thanks TomSrOfBoston, that reply clarifies things a bit more, so by doing the deposit and all that I wouldn’t be risking my other applications then, I’d just be at least securing my spot is all?</p>
<p>ASK THE SCHOOL! Honestly, just call them and ask if you can secure your deposit without dedicating to the school. They’ll give you an honest answer. Here’s a simple flow chart:</p>
<p>Can I back out once I pay the deposit?
-No → Don’t pay it
-Yes → Pay it</p>
<p>I would not pay the enrollment deposit yet-- there’s no reason to. If you’re going to be living on campus, go ahead and pay the housing deposit to save yourself a room if rooms are tight on campus (or you want to live in a certain dorm). Because you’ve already been accepted, they are not going to ‘give your spot away’-- you’ve got it.</p>
<p>I’m confused. It’s quite normal for students to wait till April 1 before picking a college. It’s then when you’ll receive all the admissions decisions. Decide then. Why are you in a rush to pay the deposit? UNL understands that you may be applying elsewhere. They won’t suddenly rescind the admissions offer. The deadline for the deposit is May 1. I don’t understand how you would benefit by paying it earlier. My sense is that you’re over thinking the situation.</p>
<p>Some colleges do not let you put the housing deposit down (or fill out housing forms) until you send your deposit. I think you can deposit, but if you decide to enroll elsewhere you MUST notify the first school immediately (you can’t double deposit), and you likely will lose the deposit to the first school. </p>
<p>Students who know a college is their first choice often do get their housing deposits or forms filled out early, and then get the best housing assignments. Especially at colleges with rolling admissions. So I see the OP’s point.</p>
<p>I think sometimes you can put in a housing deposit without putting in your enrollment deposit. But you have to look at your specific college (UNL) to see if that is the case. And the rules on whether you can get it back if you don’t enroll vary.</p>
<p>yeah, with UNL the deposit has to be paid before you can apply for housing and anything else, even going into anything about the housing requires you to have already paid the enrollment deposit, and it is also nonrefundable. And with UNL I also have an idea of the housing I’d want to try and get so that’s why I’d want to pay the enrollment as soon as I could, it’s just that I wondered about the other applications being ruined by doing this, because if they are then I’d have to take the gamble of waiting and seeing until March, which might make me lose one of the housing options I would have preferred. </p>
<p>I decided to also contact the other schools that I applied to to ask them this question, I do hope they have an answer for me ha ha, and thank you intparent for your response I found it very informative.</p>
<p>They will not tell the other colleges. But you will lose the deposit if you choose to go elsewhere, and you CANNOT double deposit (that is really against the rules!). I personally would not contact the other schools… I just wouldn’t want to rock the boat on my application at all if I were you.</p>
<p>You will lost the deposit. But you can do it, anyway.</p>
<p>If and when you are accepted to a higher choice University you plan to attend, instead, you will get in touch with admissions at UNL and withdraw. ONce you have withdrawn, you can deposit at the other school. Just make sure, before you do that, that you can actually afford the other school, etc…</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your responses! All of you have really kinda helped clear this situation up so far! I will definitely be posting on this site more often as I start wondering more about the whole process of actually getting to college… haha</p>
<p>Do you have any idea if the other three schools will be affordable based on their net price calculators? If there is no chance of affordability on need-based aid or merit scholarships that you might get, you might as well treat them as rejections.</p>
All of you have really kinda helped clear this situation up so far! I will definitely be posting on this site more often as I start wondering more about the whole process of actually getting to college… haha</p>