<p>OK, so here's the deal. DD got the large envelope from Penn State-University Park on Friday. This was a big surprise; we had heard Admissions was going to be very selective this year, and we thought at best she'd get into our local satellite campus or perhaps have to settle for starting at University Park in the summer. But she got into University Park, for Fall '07, for her desired major. This is big, really big. Lots of jumping up and down, screaming (even the next-door neighbors heard us and they came over to see what was going on). Lots of back-and-forth phone calls to the cousin who's a freshman there (and a long discussion with her parents, as she was home for Thanksgiving).</p>
<p>But we have a dilemma.</p>
<p>This year's freshman class at PSU-U.P. was the biggest ever--they actually overenrolled by over 1,000 kids. There are kids sleeping in converted study lounges and converted storage rooms. These are the kids who sent in their enrollment fees later in the Spring. It's not a great situation.</p>
<p>The bro and sis-in-law have advised us to send the enrollment and housing fees NOW ($300.00), even if she doesn't end up at Penn State. This way she gets a room, and will most likely get her first choice of dorms. If she decides on another school, we loose only the $100.00 enrollment fee and we get the rest back.</p>
<p>She'd really be very happy there, and she knows it. We're in-state. My grandfather went there! Everyone I've spoken to who has an educated opinion says go for it. She loves everything about the school (except the size), so we'd still keep on with the application process for the other schools on her list. I don't see any other downside to this, other than losing the $100.00. Can anybody think of anything else I haven't thought of?</p>
<p>I can't believe we're actually getting ready to send a college deposit. Wasn't she just learning how to ride a two wheeler yesterday?</p>
<p>If there is the remotest possibility that she will matriculate, send in the $. It's very little in the scheme of things, compared to how much you will be paying over the next 4 years! The kids at our State U send in their $ on the first day allowed even before they apply, or else they won't get housing if they are accepted.</p>
<p>Last year I was in the same situation with DS. We decided to go ahead and send the deposit. It is worth risking the $100. to assure that if she goes there she will get a dorm room and her first choice. I say go for it.</p>
<p>I agree with the prior posters! If there is nothing to lose other than $100, mail it in now! BTW, as big as they are, they have an 81% 5 year graduation rate. I am impressed by their high graduation rate.</p>
<p>My computer just crashed. So here is the rest of what I wanted to say, CONGRATULATIONS to your DD!</p>
<p>Send it in. But be aware it doesn't guarantee that she won't end up in a triple (converted double). My neighbor's son had that situation. He was notified just before school started that they had jammed a third kid into the room.</p>
<p>Congratulations!! I am sure that this acceptance definitely takes some of the pressure offr. $100 is a small price to pay to ensure that D has housing. I agree with the other posters, send the deposit</p>
<p>I went to Penn State and thoroughly enjoyed myself there. Even back then (I graduated college in '85) there was overflow in the dorms; I still remember having to pitch a tent and wait on line for a couple of days to get back into the dorms the following year! (The key to avoiding that was to join an interest house...then you were automatically "in".) Anyway, I remember the study lounges being using as dorm rooms even back then, and it was no fun for the residents who could never really get comfortable in their temporary situation.</p>
<p>So I say send in the deposit. It's worth having the peace of mind.</p>
<p>Take the advice of brother, sister-in-law and the oh so wise posters here and send in that deposit now.</p>
<p>Cangel-what would be so bad ending up in a converted study lounge. Surely you don't think that it would be open to study groups 24-7 do you?;-) Now storage rooms w/o windows would be a bummer.</p>
<p>Congrats!! $100? Think of it as another 1.5 application fees... or a couple of score reports.. ie nothing in the grand scheme of things. Some universities would compensate for an overenrolled year by underadmitting the following year, which could make things much better for your D. Not sure if big State U would do that.</p>
<p>We had a similar situation three years ago (wow does time fly) and it turned out that in that case the amount was refundable if we notified them by May 1, which we did. And we got the credit.</p>
<p>These are state U's, so they're used to minds changing. </p>
<p>FWIW, fall dropouts are so common at some state U's that they overenroll every year. So I don't think they 'adjust' with the following year.</p>
<p>Do it. By all means. But if she's admitted somewhere else she likes better, you really should inform PSU right away. That might free up a spot for another student eager to go there. Congrats!</p>
<p>I doubt that this will pertain to you, but I do want to warn you that some highschools, primarily the independent schools, do not permit more than one acceptance at a time. My sons' school has that ruling and they do enforce it if it comes to their attention. Don't know if it's ok to accept and then continue the admissions process elsewhere since the case that I have seen involve multiple acceptances until the kid decides where he wants to go, in essence, buying a month or so in time. Also, if it is just a housing deposit , it would not fall under accepting. The only exception the school permits is if you have a wait list situation, is what I was told. </p>
<p>I personally find that the rule is not a sound one, given today's environment in admissions. Often, merit awards go to those who accept the offer earlier, and certainly housing does. Unless the college specifically prohibits multiple acceptances, it is just part of today's admissions scene, in my opinion. I certainly believe that accepting Penn State and then immediately withdrawing the acceptance upon acceptance from another college is perfectly fine. In certain situations, I think multiple acceptances that the college does not specifically prohibit are fine too. I do not believe it is the business of the highschool, unless it is specifically against a the rules set forth by the college in question. I am just bringing this up so that should your school be "funny" about this situation, you might be aware and remain discrete about what you are doing. I truly believe that you should reserve a room asap, particularly for a freshman. Both of my boys had to take shuttles to the main campuses, and in the winter and odd hours, it was a pain and an issue, for all the hype of how it was not from both schools. For freshman year, optimal housing is important. Thereafter, since the initial adjustment issues have emerged, it isn't such a big deal for the student to live right on campus. In fact many students move off campus in to more apartment style living. But that first year, you want it to be as easy as possible as he/she learns his way around the school.
Congrats to your Daughter on this acceptance! Penn State is a great school.</p>
<p>Cpt interesting. I never heard of the high school dictating your kids acceptances. Last I checked we did live in a free world, I'd tell that high school to stick it and do what I and my kid wanted.</p>
<p>It is a standard provision in many of the selective independent, "prep" schools and all schools where the college counselors belong to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). To quote from our student handbook, and it is taken verbatim from NACAC papers:</p>
<p>You may confirm your intention to enroll and, if required, submit a deposit to only one college or university. The exception to this arises if you are put on a wait list by a college or university and are later admitted to that institution. You may accept the offer and send a deposit. However, you must immediately notify a college or university at which you previously indicated your intention to enroll."</p>
<p>We could tell the school to stick it and be asked to withdraw our son. There are many things that these private schools can dictate as you are bound to their rules when you sign that enrollment contract. So it is with most colleges. There is not that obligation to educate or place your kid that public highschools have. It's take it or leave it. The alternative, which a number of families do is quietly do what they please in cases like this. If discovered, however, most often from small talk from the kids, as schools like this keep on top of the gossip and kids websites, you will be asked to to do as the rules dictate, and upon refusal to do so, be asked to withdraw your child (no tuition refund either, as that situation is clearly covered in the enrollment form). Not a free world anytime you want to be part of an organization that has rules for its membership, whether it is a private school, job, club.</p>
<p>cpt. Ah that explains it. Somehow I wasn't aware that yours was a private HS..yup, not a free world. Out here in the boonies we are stuck with the public school--good and bad.</p>