<p>Hi! I just figured out (today actually) that paying an enrollment deposit at a college is basically saying "I am definitely probably coming to this school!" Yesterday, I paid the $500 enrollment deposit at Baylor. Baylor is my first choice and I <em>really</em> want to go there. I don't know if I'll be able to, though, unless I am a National Merit Finalist (I'll find out in February). Do I need to retract my enrollment deposit until I know for sure I will attend?
Another facet of this question-- would it be unethical to submit an application to another college at this time (while I've paid an enrollment deposit at Baylor)? I don't want to game the system so please tell me what you think is the right thing to do!
Thanks for your advice!</p>
<p>If you applied Early Decision, the expectation is that you will not apply anywhere else once you have made that deposit. </p>
<p>If you applied Rolling Admission or Early Action, and you are awaiting your final financial aid package, then things are different. In that case, paying the deposit to get yourself on the list for better housing or registration times or whatever does make sense. This is pretty much the equivalent of making a deposit while waitlisted, or making a deposit in the US while still finishing up the paperwork for a university in a country that follows a different calendar.</p>
<p>What is generally considered to be wrong, is to make deposits at more than one place at a time.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! 
What about applying to other schools though?</p>
<p>Go ahead and apply. In this instance I would do it to reduce risk you’re stuck later. If you can’t afford Baylor then you’ll probably lose the deposit but have another school you can attend. Make sure it’s one you can afford.</p>
<p>EowynInk, read this: [Baylor</a> University | Texas Undergraduate University Admissions, Texas University Undergraduate programs at accredited Baylor University || Types of Application Deadlines](<a href=“Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University”>Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University). The answer to your question is there. I’m kind of surprised you didn’t look at this page before you posted a question online, frankly.</p>
<p>As happymom and Erin’sDad have said, there’s nothing wrong with depositing at multiple colleges or universities serially, but you shouldn’t put down deposits at multiple colleges *simultaneously<a href=“other%20than%20a%20brief%20overlap%20while%20College%20B%20is%20processing%20your%20deposit,%20before%20you%20withdraw%20your%20earlier%20commitment%20to%20College%20A”>/I</a>. </p>
<p>You should expect that when you renege on a commitment to enroll, you won’t get your deposit back. But you shouldn’t worry that people in the admissions at the college you’re leaving will be shocked or horrified; it happens every year. It’s quite common in the spring when students are admitted to colleges from wait lists.</p>
<p>My friend has this exact question on Friday. She thought she was putting a deposit for housing at Baylor and did not understand it was for enrollment. She called Baylor and explained that she was trying to reserve for housing and that her child still was undecided and was waiting to hear back from other colleges. Baylor told her not to worry and that she was fine. </p>
<p>I had explained to my friend the ethical issue that you cannot double deposit on school so she raised that with Baylor. Baylor told her they do not tell other schools that a student has deposited and for that reason make their deposit refundable until April 30. </p>
<p>Normally I would say you can’t double deposit but Baylor seems to be the exception since they don’t let you deposit for housing separately.</p>
<p>There are a lot of universities where the housing deposit is the enrollment deposit–and where it’s non-refundable.</p>
<p>Baylor is unusual that their deposit in refundable. I have found most schools’ enrollment deposit is non-refundable but the housing is refundable (at least, the ones my kids applied to).</p>