Has anyone tried manipulating ED to hear early without being binding?

I’m I would love to apply to Syracuse ED but finances would be an issue as 1) my non-custodial parent would definitely disqualify me from getting aid so that would be a risk and 2) I’m currently working in internships during gap year to best focus on what area of art/design to go into in college and it may be difficult to lock myself into to one major in VPA. Im applying to other art schools like RISD, Pratt, Parsons, MICA, SVA, RIT, Ringling etc but I really loved Syracuse VPA. I’ve seen that the policy w/ ED is that it’s only binding if I were accepted to my “first choice school”. Has anyone ever tried to apply to a highly selective college like Newhouse to deliberately get rejected, to still hear back early for their actual top choice college and compare it to other EA schools? Or would Syracuse catch a trick like this making it too risky?

Where did you read this? What matters is what’s in the ED agreement. If you’re accepted ED you have a limited time to accept the offer. If Syracuse uses the CSS Profile and the income of your noncustodial parent would make it unaffordable, I wouldn’t waste your ED app on them.

The spirit of ED is that you apply early to your first choice school and get an early answer. You’re not supposed to compare offers. Violating the ED rules isn’t a “trick,” it’s cheating. If you can’t honor the agreement, don’t sign it.

Of you’re deferred from your first choice school, you’re not going to hear back early, but during the regular round like everyone else. The only “advantage” perhaps is you would know if you’ve been rejected early.

Why even apply if you can’t afford? Unless the application is free and you like having a letter to put on your wall, what is the point? It’s like waiting in line for a ticket that may or may not be there and not being able to afford the ticket if one does exist.

Totally unrelated but what internships are you involved with? I’m also taking a gap year and am interested in going to Syracuse, I am definitely not as accomplished but I wish I was.

I recently attended a SU admissions meeting at the Falk School (Sports Management). The AO explained that when you apply, you list your top 2 programs/schools. Your ED binds you to choice #1 only. So, there are a few possible outcomes with your ED: (1) you get in to what you applied for as #1 choice at Syracuse; (2) you get deferred, all binding commitments are off; (3) you get rejected from your #1 choice & SU counters by offering your #2 choice – at this point you are NOT bound to go, however you still get an “early” acceptance; & (4) rejected/WL.

I agree with posters above that you should not apply ED unless you know you can afford it & are going to commit. Otherwise, you’ve bumped someone else out of a spot that would have been taken.

You’ve got to figure that any school that’s decent enough for you to want to attend can probably spot this sort of scam a mile away.

This is your first rodeo. It’s not theirs.

Your attempt at manipulation is, at best, unkind to someone else who really wants the spot. At best, it could spell big trouble for you.

That is really unethical. In so many ways.
You shouldn’t apply ED if you dont intend to follow the ED requirements.

And, you might be a “smart kid” where you are from, but… I wouldn’t get cute with college admissions. You think you are going to outsmart them? You think you are trying something that no one else has tried? Do you know how many smart kids’ apps they have seen? Do you really think people in elite college admissions are dumb?

But, that isn’t the reason not to do it. Because: Can you be a person of character? Can you have some integrity?

You’re lucky this forumn is anonymous. You could be Einstein, but… character counts.