<p>Isnt it a BINDING legal contract signed by you and your parents?</p>
<p>Unfair to the students who didn't go ED because they couldn't chance a binding commitment. You know that ED gives better odds solely because of the commitment, so you wanted the odds without the price. A student who plays by the rules sacrifices the odds because they aren't sure they can pay the price, and that takes principles.</p>
<p>It's not unfair to take advantage of loopholes others aren't aware of. My potential defection would not have affected their chances in any real way; it's incumbent on them to understand that ED is not a shackle. In other words: yes, I played the system, but nothing about that prevented others from doing the same.</p>
<p>Truazn: no, it is not legally binding. Both my parents are lawyers and encouraged me to attempt to abrogate when I was having doubts.</p>
<p>Nothing prevented them--but their principles. Principles are an interesting thing; they prevent a lot of people from "playing the system", taking advantage, exploiting "loopholes" at others' expense, discussing "legalities" rather than what's right.</p>
<p>You have a different set of "ethics." No sense discussing this any more. I'm sure you'll be very successful.</p>
<p>correct me if I'm wrong.. isn't harvard single choice early admmission? meaning that you are not allowed to apply to any other school early.</p>
<p>you were lucky neither schools caught you doing that. but I would not post that part out in the open. might be misleading to others.</p>
<p>OKAY. I JUST CALLED COLUMBIA... AND IT SEEMS THAT THEY WOULD REALLY LOOK DOWN UPON IT AND GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO QUESTION WHY SOMEONE WOULD SUBMIT A PAPER APP INSTEAD OF AN ONLINE APP... Especially if you registered online with them. So i guess we just have to deal with the space limitations...</p>