<p>I'm not sure if this is the proper forum for this question, but here it is:
Is there any harm, other than financial, in placing more than one deposit to confirm an acceptance? The goal here would be to possibly get a higher position in dorm selection. We may be waiting for several weeks to get all of the admission decisions, while some schools of interest have already responded. Would it be a problem if we put a deposit on a college now, and the student later decided on a different one? Thanks!</p>
<p>There have been several threads on this topic, as I recall, and - as usual on CC - there are two camps of opinion: one says go ahead and do it; there's no problem (other than losing your deposit); the other says that it unfairly holds on to a space that could go to another student (one on the waiting list). I suppose it would have something to do with timing, since schools won't be going to their waiting lists until after May 1. So if you reserved two spots now, then told the school by May 1 whether you were going or not, it wouldn't make a difference.</p>
<p>Others may know more than I do about this....</p>
<p>My daughter was going to apply to one school that suggested putting down a dorm deposit even before she knew if she was accepted or not. The dorm deposit was seperate from a deposit that indicated she was going to attend.
You might check as I imagine that is the case elsewhere as well.</p>
<p>If you have one or more schools that are a serious possiblity, but having housing shortages, putting a housing deposit down at several schools seems "legal" to give you more options to make decision</p>
<p>For schools that have a uniform reply date (the top LACS and universities) it is not considered appropriate to put down multiple deposits and it is not necessary, either, because housing does not get assigned until after May 1. For rolling admission schools where )or if) housing is assigned on a first come first served basis the rules are probably different, and since you already have acceptances in hand, you are presumably asking about the second category (unless your child was EA at one of the uniform reply date schoos).</p>
<p>As everyone has said, it depends on the types of schools - rolling admissions, schools that do not follow the uniform reply date - it seems OK. Just be certain you are applying to mail from housing office only, and you are depositing only on housing, not admissions, I'd be a little queasy about deposits to admissions. I think this is another aspect of safety school.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for the advice! I will have to see if the housing deposit is separate from the enrollment deposit.</p>
<p>Our state school has rolling admissions and refunds deposits until May 1. Since I'll know for sure where I'm going to school by that date, I sent them a deposit so I can get going on housing and stuff, and I'll also be able to get it back if I don't go.</p>
<p>Lkf - let me clarify a little - my daughter applied to the flagship state school rolling, if they had requested a deposit to hold housing, and she needed a place held, I would have paid a reasonable sum. She applied to LACs also, most of which observed the common reply date - the couple that didn't, I would NOT have responded to admissions, until she made a final choice.</p>
<p>this is an issue for us too as my S's EA school gives priority housing if you send in BOTH deposits by April 15. Kids are already probably sending them in. My S has to go on a scholarship interview weekend Apr 7-10 and won't hear back for a few days...kinda makes me stressed just to see these dates. I guess we should have known that after all the anxiety all along that this time would not be easy either.</p>
<p>placing a deposit at more than one college is considered unethical. often schools compare lists, and if you are caught there can be severe repercussions.</p>
<p>lkf725 - I just wanted to let you know (since you child is looking at one of the colleges my son is looking at) that if you look at the paper sent from them they state "once you have submitted your deposit you are required to withdraw from all other schools...." It is on the second page of the admission letter Your in - Now what? If you have any questions about it let me know. So for everyone reading this post, please make sure you read the fine print:)</p>
<p>mominsearch...WOW, I sure didn't read closely enough! Thanks for the heads-up! (luckily, we didn't do anything about deposits yet!)</p>
<p>Could you share which school this was?</p>
<p>I certainly could have missed something like this!</p>
<p>I'll leave the ethics of the matter up to the individuals. But as several poster mentioned, some colleges do let you know that a depost and acceptance of the admissions offer is considered a commitment to them, and they reserve the right to rescind the acceptance should they find out that you have accepted other admissions offers. CMU is one college I know that states this in their acceptance letter that instructs you how to accept the offer and where to send your deposit. Basically, they want your transcript, and you should not be sending that final transcript to other schools. It is not wise to jeopardize one's acceptance for the benefit of a better room, in my opinion. Don't know the legality of the policy, but what a nasty fight that could be, and it is the kid who gets hurt. Do read each college's policy on this.</p>
<p>You can however at some schools send in a housing deposit without commiting to the school ie not sending in an acceptance deposit. Some universities actually advise you to do this to reserve a room especially if there is limited space. there is no refund however if you do not matriculate.I think there is definitely a difference between the 2 deposits. Each college handles housing deposits differently as well so check with each school.</p>
<p>Evergreen strongly suggested that she apply for housing at same time as application to school ( or even before)
It was $45 to apply for housing- by the time came round to put deposit down for acceptance she knew she didn't want to attend, but it was good to have that housing backup just in case .</p>