<p>I was recently accepted ED to my dream school about 3 weeks ago with $0 parent EFC. A couple days ago I found out that my mother's cancer came back after 2 years of being cancer free. The ED school is on the opposite side of the country and I've been thinking that it might be a better idea for me to go to school somewhere nearby to help my family out. Is it even possible to back out now? Does anyone know if I could still apply RD to schools closer to home by January? How would I go about explaining my situation to my ED school?</p>
<p>I would call the admissions office and tell them what you told us. I’m sure they would understand.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear your bad news. I hope your mom’s treatment works perfectly and with no side effects.</p>
<p>Call the admissions office and explain the situation to them.</p>
<p>Call the school and explain. You probably need to have a local school in mind when you call them. It won’t sound believable if you tell them that you’re now thinking about attending a school that’s several hours away.</p>
<p>do you have some local schools in mind?</p>
<p>Apply ASAP.</p>
<p>BTW…was the ED financial aid package 100% COA without any loans?</p>
<p>My financial aid package was without any loans, just required that I get an on campue job during the year and make about $1500 during the summer.</p>
<p>The thing that concerns me most is that I know the closest public schools won’t give me much in terms of FA but I already have guaranteed acceptance at a few campuses. Would I still be able to apply to privates in the area? The would be reaches for anyone but they are need blind and say they meet 100% EFC.</p>
<p>To the OP…is it possible that your ED school might allow you to defer your admission for a year? Yours is truly an extenuating circumstance. If you did this, you would not be able to attend college, but you could work, or do some kind of meaningful volunteer work. That way, you would have your acceptance to this school for next year (and if they meet full need…also your finaid). In a year, you might feel better about making this decision.</p>
<p>thumper–I was thinking the same thing. I understand, but do feel so bad for the OP to give up this opportunity, and of course, to have to deal with a sick mother.</p>
<p>I like Thumper’s idea, also. Clearly the college finds you desireable and they may be quite willing to hold your position and financial package for you for the next fall. You could work for a year, spend time with your family, etc.</p>
<p>I wish you and your family the best of health.</p>
<p>Have you discussed this with your Mom? She might want you to continue with your plans of attending your dream school.</p>
<p>OP, my heart breaks for you. I just wish you and your family the best.</p>
<p>caltennis:</p>
<p>Condolences about your mom’s recurred cancer. Let us hope that the treatment is successful.</p>
<p>Do consider asking if you could delay making a decision as to whether to matriculate in September or take a gap year. It is after all your dream school and over the next nine months, your mom’s condition will become clearer. If by summer you still think it’s best to be close to home and the college allows you to defer, you could sign up for classes at a community college and work part-time so as to be available for your mom when she needs your help and support, while also keeping up your study skills and adding to your knowledge. And if by next fall, your mom still needs you to be close, you can then apply to schools closer to home. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your mom!</p>
<p>caltennis92, I’m sorry to read your post. The best to you and your mom.</p>
<p>caltennis92 - My thoughts are with you and your mom. </p>
<p>I think you have received some good advice from this thread, and I you should talk this through with her before making any big decisions. I agree that your ED school should be very understanding about this situation.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your family!</p>
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<p>I agree with this. Having her illness derail your big plans may upset and stress your mother more than her illness does.</p>
<p>caltennis…is this acceptance via the Questbridge scholarship program? if so, they may have requirements that you should check. It’s too bad about your mom and also about the timing. You might have explored some QB-participating schools nearest you. </p>
<p>Most RD deadlines aren’t until January, but that means you’ve got a lot to do; research schools, get your financials and HS info sent out, and apply. It’s quite possible you won’t get a hold of anyone at your “dream school” now, given that most are on vacation. So, move ahead and apply to meet RD deadlines, and then call dream school in early January. </p>
<p>One last thing: some FA opportunities aren’t available later. So, the sooner you get in your new apps, the better. Even so, you might discover schools may not be as generous as they were before.</p>
<p>FYI:</p>
<p>[Prospective</a> FAQs](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/Admission/faq.html]Prospective”>http://www.wellesley.edu/Admission/faq.html)</p>
<ol>
<li>If I’m accepted to Wellesley, may I defer entering?</li>
</ol>
<p>An accepted candidate may request a deferral of entrance to Wellesley for one year. She should accept the offer of admission by May 1, at which time she should also request a year’s deferral in writing. A student who attends college full-time between secondary school and Wellesley must reapply as a transfer student.</p>
<p>It is hard to imagine that your dream school wouldn’t understand and be as flexible as possible. I agree that your best course might be not to make any big decisions right now. You might want to apply to a couple of local schools so you’ll have alternatives you like closer to home. You might also find out if your dream school will allow you to keep the option of taking a gap year open for a while, so you have more time to figure things out. All the best to you and your family.</p>
<p>Yours is the kind of family emergency situation for which colleges will release students from ED commitments.</p>
<p>I know that some people have suggested that you ask for a gap year, please consider that for some people, cancer becomes a chronic illness. If that ends up being the case with your mom, you may wish to go to college a reasonable distance from home.</p>
<p>When I taught college, I had some students whose parents had cancer and other serious diseases. It was far easier for the students whose parents were a few hundred miles away than it was for students whose parents were 1,000 miles or more away. The students who lived closer got to spend more time with their parents, parents who in some cases passed away during the student’s college years.</p>
<p>You can probably get an excellent experience at another college beside your dream school. You can’t, however, replace spending time with a beloved parent whose life may end up being shorter than the typical life expectancy in this country.</p>
<p>Even if your mother encourages you to go to your ED dream school, think about what would be important to you. If the worst case scenario is what is happening, would you later regret not having been able to spend more time with her?</p>
<p>My best to Op, too.
I think a call to Amd office would prob do it, likey they will release you for such a serious health issue.
It is possible that they may ask you for documentation, though.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>