<p>I recently was accepted into a "more select" university and given a scholarship for community service. I would like to send back my enrollment deposit, however, someone told me that if I pay my deposit (which is refundable) then I will lower my chances of getting a fellowship that I am applying for. They told me that "The school won't be as enticed to award me a fellowship if I have already given my deposit." Is there any truth to that statement. It doesn 't sound right to me. Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>If you are planning to atttend that school with or without the fellowship, then send it in. And since it is refundable, send it in anyway. My guess would be that your competitors for the money are all pretty equal to you in qualification, so there would be no strong reason for the school to try to woo you over them. If they take the risk of giving the money to an uncommited student, and that student turns down the money, then they have to back up and reconsider applicants again… so they may give preference to those who’ve paid the deposit.</p>