It seems as though you’re also worried about the idea of being able to attend graduate schools in the future. Although it is not unheard of, you’re more than likely not going to get a full ride for grad schools and a top tier medical school will leave you with a hefty student debt to pay. But this is something that everyone goes through… my parents used to tell me that you might initially pay a certain amount of money but it is all worth it when your introduced into the work force. There’s the fact that WashU is an amazing school with prestige (especially premed). As for whether or not WashU will be angry is not something I know enough to talk about. Also, dont bank on your brother going to a state school…personally, I have an older brother who recently got accepted into a top 15 school and is going even though our family has to pay 50k+. My parents have explicitely stated that they can’t pay for my college as well and that any debt will fall on my hands so I would also take your bro’s case into mind.
@chobani2023 - That is a valid concern, and really the one I would be focusing on (not the contract or moral issue). My gut feel is that WashU would not communicate with your state school - there are antitrust sorts of issues that get implicated when schools share information - and even if it did I am not sure the state school would care. However, I would ask the forum here if anyone has any specific experience with this question as there is a wealth of wisdom here. I do not have any specific experience with this question.
But it occurs to me, how about just calling up the state school admissions office and having a frank talk with them? You are obviously a great candidate as evidenced by your EDII acceptance to a T20 school as well as your merit scholarship. The state schools obviously think you would be a huge asset to their class. Pick up the phone, what do you have to lose?
If you do ask to void the ED agreement with WashU, they will not contact the other schools where you have been accepted…because they don’t have that information. A number of posters have suggested you go to WashU and then transfer, but transfers generally do not get much in the way of merit aid, so I doubt the full tuition offer you have now would ever be an option again. Lastly, if you do void the agreement, WashU med school would be unlikely to have that information…something you stated as a consideration.
Wow, that would blow your cover as someone skating out of an ED agreement right there. Most reputable schools would then RESCIND their offer to you.
Regarding paying for post-college education… odds of you getting to medical are honestly fairly low. Most pre-med students don’t end up staying with pre-med and then getting an acceptance to med school. Many, many students go to med school without parent funding support, too. And honestly, most masters degrees are just a money making enterprise for their universities, not a ticket into improved career opportunities. Finally, if you decide to go the PhD route, your degree will be funded by the university – they will be paying you, you won’t be paying them.
Given your vague ideas about possible grad school, I’d say that isn’t a good financial reason to withdraw.
Also… your GC plays into this. Their reputation is on the line. If you back out without a change in financial circumstances or not getting sufficient aid (which you apparently didn’t apply for), they are not going to be happy with you. Some GCs refuse to play along and send school reports to other schools if they think you reneged on your ED agreement without good cause.
If ED candidates were regularly given the same consideration for merit aid…well, I’d still feel like these agreements are elitist and unjust, but I’d be more inclined to feel it’s transparent and a fair-ish agreement.
Idk about WashU but it’s certainly not that way at many private colleges. Merit aid is to persuade students to choose their acceptance over others. At the very least, if merit aid is only offered in RD, schools should provide stats or odds and amounts of merit aid that might be left on the table. For us, it was a $120,000 difference.
@SatchelSF I really like your idea of calling my state school and explaining the situation. Should I just ask if my scholarship would still be available if I declined ED to WashU? I also am wondering if I should wait to see if I am a finalist for one of their merit scholarships before seriously considering declining. I doubt I will receive one being an ED, full pay applicant (my essays were well written, but I don’t think the extracurriculars I discussed were particularly noteworthy seeing as I come from a small, rural public HS), and I need to consider the time factor if I follow through on this decision.
I’m not sure I’d tell the state school. If you feel you have good communication/relationship, I’d speak to your GC first.
@Leigh22 The reason I feel like I should tell the state school is for sake of transparency. If they find out that I covered up what I was doing, they would definitely not offer me any aid and maybe even rescind admission. My GC and I have a good relationship, so I will probably talk to them too.
Do not do this! Your state school does not know you applied, or were accepted, to WashU. If you decline your ED admission, it is highly unlikely the state school would find that out either.
WashU merit scholarships are very competitive, perhaps posters familiar with these scholarships can provide some advice if you post your stats.
I hope future ED applicants will read this thread and think things through.
You should speak with your GC and parents. But, there is no requirement to tell your state school that you applied ED somewhere. If you get out of your ED agreement with WashU due to financial reasons, your state school is highly unlikely to find that out. When is the deadline for accepting WashU’s offer?
Should I email WashU and explain the situation now? I will eventually have to contact them if I try to decline ED, so maybe they will have some insight? I do not know how empathetic they will be, seeing as I am trying to back out of an agreement. Also, I just want to gather opinions on this: is WashU worth the money? Most of my reservations stem from this question. I would not be questioning my acceptance so heavily if I knew that the cost of a WashU undergrad degree was worth the connections, education, and experience that WashU provides.
@mwfan1921 The enrollment deposit is due on February 28th.
Maybe I’m missing something but I thought two things…
- A student can apply to their instate public universities while also applying ED to a school.
- A student can decline an ED acceptance if the finances don’t work out.
So…if you are 100% positive that you want to attend your instate public…regardless of the cost…than you can decline the acceptance to Wash U because your family has decided the finances won’t work for them.
@chobani2023 - I think the advice you have gotten regarding not calling the state school on balance is better than the suggestion I offered. And in doing a little digging, and actually looking at the legal language of typical ED “contracts,” it’s probably not necessary.
Many posters are saying that you can back out if there is a “change in financial circumstance” or similar, but there is no language to that effect. Only an implied condition regarding financial aid, if you applied for it. This brief article seems worthwhile (if you haven’t come across it already): https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2016-10-24/what-happens-to-students-who-back-out-of-early-decision-offers. Bottom line, this is not an enforceable contract.
Perhaps talking with your GC first is the best strategy. There is no reason that he or she has to know all your finances. From the quotes and tone in that article I linked, it would appear that schools are primarily concerned with students who pursue multiple ED schools.
You are looking too far. There are a lot of opportunities and uncertainly in the future.
Financing college looks very daunting especially for first child, your payment are spreading out over four years. Your family are upper income and have some saving. You should have no problem paying for it.
We were in the same boat three years ago with my son. we are paying at least 80K a year, and doing just fine.
This school is too good to give up.
@thumper1 @SatchelSF I did in fact apply for financial aid, but did not receive any. I wasn’t that surprised by this, but I did recieve need-based aid from my state schools through FAFSA. Because WashU has access to my financial information, they KNOW for sure I am full pay. I don’t know if they will laugh at my financial concerns if/when I approach them because of this.
- wait for the financial aid package. If the merit scholarships are announced at a specific date, wait till then to call anywhere. Dont make a decision before you know how much it’ll cost.
- talk with your parents: how much can they afford from savings and income, without jeopardizing your little brother’s college? Assume you WILL take on the 5.5k federal loans (/offer).
- do not talk with GC or any school till 1+2 are CLEAR.
I don’t understand what insights you expect to glean from contacting WashU. This is a decision that only you and your parents can make, and you have until Feb 28 to do so. I agree with post #33. It is that straightforward, even though I am sure it’s stressful.
@f2000sa This comforts me a little. Do you think this would be possible with two children in college, with one or both potentially pursuing grad school?