<p>I got into a school early decision, but after some reflection it wasn't a fit for me. However, I also was accepted to my DREAM SCHOOL early action. Is there a way, through financial aid circumstances, I can back out of ed and go to my dream school? </p>
<p>My dream school’s financial aid is 50,000 btw, and we end up paying 14k. I have not filed my federal 2013 taxes for my ed school(which is Cornell). </p>
<p>I read somewhere that you can tell your ED school that the financial aid isn’t working out and you can back out of your contract with no penalty. Look into it! 
I understand how scary this is! Good Luck!!</p>
<p>Talk to your guidance counselor asap to find the best way you can handle this with least damage to all concerned.</p>
<p>Isn’t Cornell restrictive ED? Applying to the other school EA probably violated Cornell’s ED policy and the other school’s EA policy. If you are not careful, you might wind up having both offers rescinded. </p>
<p>If I end up paying 14k for my dream school and I end up paying let’s say, 20k for Cornell, and Cornell is unwilling to increase its aid, how possible is it that I can back out?</p>
<p>@greeninohio and @Sorool </p>
<p>“Is early decision binding at Cornell?
Yes, it is important to remember that an early decision application is a commitment. You may apply early decision to only one college or university. Early decision applicants may apply to other non-binding early admissions programs, but if they are admitted to Cornell, they must withdraw any applications they have filed at other colleges or universities and send their acceptance deposit by mid-January.” </p>
<p>and </p>
<p>“TIP: If you are admitted ED and applied for financial aid, we welcome an individual conversation if your financial aid award is not sufficient.”</p>
<p>from <a href=“http://blogs.cornell.edu/”>http://blogs.cornell.edu/</a></p>
<p>I gotta ask…if Cornell wasn’t your dream school and another school was, why did you apply to Cornell ED?</p>
<p>Beyond that, I agree with Brownparent.</p>
<p>agreed. If Cornell was not your dream school…why did you apply ED?</p>
<p>Especially when you admitted you only applied because of US News rankings and most posters on your last thread were encouraging you to move your ED app to RD when you voiced doubts? You had to see this coming…</p>
<p>I know I shouldn’t have applied ED, but I didn’t make this thread to read what I already know. I want to know if it is possible, through financial aid circumstances, to back out and go to my dream school. </p>
<p>Maybe, but it also might be a little obvious that you aren’t trying to back out because of finances, you’re backing out because you like another place better. A 6K difference might not be that substantial when you can get a loan for $5,500 your freshman year. Like I quoted earlier, they welcome an “individual conversation” so you’re going to have to talk to them. We can only provide speculation. But you have only until about mid-January before they expect you to have withdrawn all other applications. </p>
<p>OK, thanks for your input. </p>
<p>Talk to your GC ASA{ about the best way to approach this, to save yourself, your school etc from serious problems. You screwed up, so stop using the very jarring ‘dream school’ label when it means very little to you.</p>
<p>@sorool Read these two articles and then discuss with your guidance counselor as others had recommended…</p>
<p><a href=“What To Do If You Regret Applying Early Decision | HuffPost Teen”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost;
<p><a href=“You’re In. Can You Back Out? - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/strategy.html</a></p>
<p>If it’s not related to finances, your decision is binding.
Perhaps after you attend for a while you can transfer if you still want to.
Or if your second school is more affordable, tell your first school.
For those reading along at home, ED should be used only for your first choice school.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to go there, and they would have to pay a fortune to have you attend, I can’t see why they would hold you to the ED, Other than the general principle of the thing, which is not enough IMO. People who resent being there could become pariahs on campus, poisoning the good feelings of the many students who are actually thrilled to be there. And then maybe leaving shortly afterwards anyway.</p>
<p>On the other hand I see a few instances on CC where it appears like Cornell’s ED is being rather deliberately gamed vs a couple EA programs, by people who are smart enough to know exactly what they are doing. Cornell probably should want to do something about that. If not this year then going forward. Perhaps they would inform U Chicago who would then rescind? That’s how it’s supposed to work I think.</p>
<p>U Chicago may not want seemingly unethical people on their campus either.</p>
<p>“So, unless you are aiming for a single-choice EA school, you can submit an EA application to Chicago and also apply Early Action and/or Early Decision elsewhere.” </p>
<p>According to @Sally_Rubenstone from another thread, you are not in a bad position here, and have not broken any rules. Yet. </p>
<p>You can act ethically, and perhaps get the result you are hoping for. I would suggest calling Cornell ASAP, and explaining to them that there is a financial difference, and you would prefer to accept the slot at U of Chicago, but that you will abide by your obligation to attend Cornell if necessary. My guess is that they would rather not ante up extra money in order to have an unhappy student come who may end up transferring out at the end of freshman year.</p>
<p>Just another observation: your other threads and replies contain a lot of uncertainty and ambivalence. The title of this thread says a lot, not necessarily flattering. There will come a point very soon where you need to make a commitment, end the second-guessing, and put your energies into wrapping up a successful senior year and preparing for the next phase of your education. It might be a good time for you to take a break from CC, and interact with some real people the old-fashioned way (that is, by talking face to face). Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for at Chicago.</p>
<p>Just to clarify since my quote, above, was out of context: Yes, it IS ethical to apply to an ED and an EA college concurrently (if the EA school’s rules allow this) but it is NOT ethical to enroll at the EA school if admitted to both UNLESS the ED college makes a financial aid offer that is clearly unaffordable. When an ED college offers aid that is too low, the family should appeal it before withdrawing from the ED school. The ED commitment is binding unless the financial package is truly unrealistic. </p>
<p>I also have to ask, what does submitting my enrollment deposit signify? I already submitted it for Cornell a week ago because I thought housing apps were due on the next monday for Cornell, when they really weren’t. I still have not received my FA decision from Cornell, but if it ends up being not enough, will the enrollment deposit be a significant obstacle in withdrawing?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>