<p>I plan on applying to Syracuse early decision for Fall 2014 and was wondering about something. I plan on applying as CAS- undeclared, but I've been thinking about putting my first-choice school as Newhouse. My stats make Newhouse a reach for me so I would probably get rejected. I would then probably get admitted into CAS (my second choice). The SU ED contract states that if I am not admitted to my first-choice school, but admitted into 2nd or 3rd choice, the contract becomes non-binding.</p>
<p>So my question is, should I put Newhouse down as my first choice so that, when I am probably rejected, I am accepted into CAS and I am no longer bound by the contract?</p>
<p>I wasn’t going to comment, but it almost sounds like someone is looking for a loophole in the ED system - and you may have found one. But be careful of what you wish for, you might get it. What are you going to do when you get into Syracuse AND Newhouse? Then you’ll be locked into a school you want to get in but don’t want to be locked in, but you’ll be in a part of it you don’t seem to want to be part of. (Yes, you could always switch schools within Syracuse, but this is sometimes more difficult that you would think.)</p>
<p>Not only that, we don’t exactly know how they evaluate ED applications. It’s possible they will look at your first choice, know you aren’t getting in there, and just reject or defer you, when if you put down CAS, they would have taken you. Selecting Newhouse may actually DECREASE your chances rather than giving you the flexibility you want.</p>
<p>Sorry, but if you want flexibility, apply RD. If you really want to go to Syracuse CAS, apply ED. Don’t play games with the ED system. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.</p>
<p>And my apologies up front if you aren’t trying to manipulate the system. But the way you write it, it certainly seems like you are.</p>
<p>If you really wanted to try to pull this off, you’d need to get more detailed knowledge about people who applied ED to Syracuse for Newhouse and were accepted into CAS. How did their stats compare with yours? How was the financial aid? How do ED rates compare for those who put Newhouse as first choice versus those who put CAS?</p>
<p>The problem? You’re not going to be able to find that information. Worse, if you start raising those questions in the Syracuse forum, your posts might catch the eye of one of the Syracuse admissions folks. You’ve already posted your academic profile here on CC. Seems to me you’re playing with fire.</p>