To elaborate a bit on a specific point that I noted in my earlier post and a few others have picked up on here, there are indeed a number of colleges that require the student to pay a NON-refundable ENROLLMENT deposit in order to even access the housing process and pay a housing deposit (sometimes refundable, in whole or part). One good example of a university that has a very active following on CC, and does this, is the University of Alabama. You must pay a non-refundable $200 enrollment deposit in order to access housing, and then pay a $300 housing deposit ($275 of which is refundable if you decide not to attend – so obviously Alabama knows that a number of folks who pay the enrollment deposit, and then the housing deposit, will not actually be attending). And housing selection priority is based on the date you have filled out your housing application and paid the housing deposit. And at Bama, you better do that early (September/October) if you want to have a strong housing selection position. Now, of course you can argue that the student should be willing to give up that deposit, and inform Bama that she will not be attending, in October, or November, or December, etc. – i.e., as soon as she has definitely decided that she prefers another school to which she has been accepted, but there are many folks who will not have that clarity, especially early on (e.g., what is the comparative financial aid position?), and will not give up that priority housing position until closer to the May 1 deadline. And, largely because of this “enrollment deposit before housing deposit/priority” situation, more than a few folks will end up with more than one outstanding enrollment deposit, at least for a period of time, before the May 1 final decision deadline. This seems to be the unfortunate reality, at least where such institutions are involved.
Taking the Alabama example, couldn’t the student make the enrollment deposit and later withdraw it just like students deposit at one college in April while they are on waiting lists elsewhere? Then if they get off the wait list, forfeit the first deposit and unenroll and then deposit at the waitlist school?
Lbowie, yes, sort of. The $200 enrollment deposit is non-refundable, but, as I indicated, the student, once determining with certainty that another college is the preferred choice, could promptly notify Alabama that she will not be attending, and then make an enrollment deposit at another institution. But, as a practical matter, most students are going to have a couple or few colleges of high interest, and some may be confronted with the dilemma of paying enrollment deposits at more than one college to secure housing priority, often while yet to know the complete financial aid situation at the couple/few schools of highest interest. Come to think of it, I guess “strict constructionists” could argue that even your described scenario above violates the common application “agreement”, as the common application essentially says the student will not make an enrollment deposit at more than one school. It doesn’t say, she won’t deposit at “more than one school at a time”, and it also doesn’t get into the details of refundable versus non-refundable enrollment deposits, lol.
Based on the feedback I’m updating the summary I posted before:
To summarize:
Before May 1st - In most cases, no need to put multiple deposits down. However some schools require an enrollment deposit in order to put a housing deposit because housing is “first come first served”. In this case you may want to put multiple deposits until you’ve decided. Some schools make these deposits refundable, others do not. Once a decision is made, the student must unenroll from other schools and may/may not get deposits back. (Despite Sally’s statement in her blog that it must be refundable. )
After May 1st - only 1 deposit should be made on a school. If accepted off a waitlist one can put a deposit on the 2nd school only if they tell the first school they are withdrawing. At no time should two schools think you are attending.
( @LBowie -tldr; yes. )
@techmom99 so in effect, they deferred to spring entry on the SUNY school?
My kid received an excellent merit offer from a southern flagship university. A letter came saying that an enrollemtndeposit was required. She politely called and said she was under the impression that May 1 was the deadline for matriculation decisions and deposits. They politely agreed. And she was not required to submit an enrollment deposit.
Call and ask.
@thumper1 - Love that! I’m also under that impression as well, that’s why I found this whole discussion so fascinating. We never ran into this issue, so I was unaware. I’m hoping @Sally_Rubenstone will weigh in. She obviously, thinks the same way and she stated that even though they are allowed to do it they must make it refundable. (Though by whose rules? How is the “governing body” that requires this?).
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/can-a-college-ask-for-my-deposit-before-may-1/
Schools should follow NACAC guidelines and should give the student til May 1.
I think all colleges will agree that May 1st is the deadline for enrollment deposits if asked. What appears to be happening at some colleges is that if your child wants guaranteed housing, and for lower income families that often means the opportunity to choose the least expensive option available, you have to put an enrollment deposit in way before May 1st just to be allowed to make the housing deposit.
Are you required to put an enrollment deposit down? Technically, no. But if you want housing or can’t attend the college because the $1200-1500 difference between the least and most expensive housing is a deal breaker, then it’s an optional/not optional situation. It shouldn’t be allowed. Since it is, many families will be in the unhappy position of depositing at more than one school and losing hundreds of dollars that they can’t afford.
This is sad but true. While a family can get any NACAC college (which is MOST colleges) to hold off on demanding an ENROLLMENT deposit before May 1 (or can get the deposit back if the request is made before May 1, which can still be tough on low-income families, even when they know they can receive a refund), the colleges are holding all the cards when it comes to HOUSING deposits which they CAN ask for before May 1, and they are NOT required to refund them if the student enrolls elsewhere. I have fought this up the chain at NACAC but was basically told, “Our hands are tied because we govern ADMISSIONS, and the housing office is separate.”
It’s very frustrating and maybe it’s time for me to give the fight another go. This situation kind of reminds me of that song in The Music Man that says, “He left River City the library building but he left all the books to her!” 
@Sally_Rubenstone - Thanks for chiming in! What about schools requiring an enrollment deposit in order to put a housing deposit down like described by some of the posters up thread (for example lakeviking in post #40)? Can colleges really do that?
FWIW: My kids are already in college and we never had this issue, so I have no direct stake in this. But hopefully, this is helpful information to someone.
One of the colleges to which my daughter was admitted – a month or so before the regular admission notification day for most colleges – asked that our daughter make a deposit to hold her position, and said they would refund it after April 1 if she chose to go elsewhere. We didn’t mind that. Our daughter did choose to go elsewhere, and the other college did refund the deposit promptly after we notified them.
What if “wait listed” in dream school, and accepted in “safety” school?
@sny007 - What is your question? Accept and deposit at your safety then if you get off the wait list at your dream school you can unenroll at your safety and enroll at your dream school.
Oh OK. Thank you. I was not sure how ‘wait list’ process works.
@ClaremontMom Actually, Alabama has a waiver for the housing deposit. If you get free school lunch, you get the waiver on paying the deposits.
I gave U of Chicago a piece of my mind about their housing deposit years ago. We saw the school for the first time at Accepted Students weekend and were not prepared to fork over a hefty deposit just because my son got in early. They just goggled at me. Even after I told them most schools don’t do this and it’s a real hardship for some families to fork over money they don’t have to ensure better housing.
@redpoodles -good to know, but that doesn’t answer the question about whether they can ask for a non refundable enrollment deposit before May 1st. Just doesn’t seem right, heck asking for a housing deposit doesn’t seem right either, but apparently that’s a loophole.
We did it…my kid was on the “extended wait list” for georgetown which meant she wouldn’t hear anything until late June/early July…so we went ahead & sent in everything for 2 back-up colleges (one in-state, one OOS)
Why two colleges, not one, @SouthernHope?