<p>Is there any official rules from ANY colleges that says that double deposit is NOT admissible?</p>
<p>It's certainly not illegal. Double depositing might violate an individual college's "rules" though, and you do run the risk of one or both schools rescinding. My kids' high school was quite clear in advising (dictating) that you could not double deposit.</p>
<p>Many years ago, it was not that unusual to double deposit. My brother did this, as he couldn't make up his mind between Colgate and Middlebury. His guidance counselor knew. I think he made up his mind well into the summer - probably about the time the first tuition bill showed up.</p>
<p>There was a NY Times article on this topic several years ago (including a quote from one of CC's admissions gurus!). The admissions officers who were interviewed all thought that double depositing was wrong, but ran the gamut from moral outrage to grudging acceptance. None mentioned revoking an offer of admission because of a double deposit, however.</p>
<p>Of course admissions officers think "double depositing" is wrong. They want their messy lives to be neat and clean by May.
They are not looking out for the best interest of any student but of themselves.</p>
<p>There are many very good reasons for depositing on a school while waiting on another and attempting to secure funding.<br>
The "it's illegal" thing is hilarious.
Being waitlisted is one reason. Who in their right mind is going to forfeit a seat (or bed) at a colleges because their first choice waitlisted them? The students and the parents are the customers here.</p>
<p>Jmomof4 -- you are absolutely correct. Its amazing how people can cloak a position against their best interst as immoral, illegal etc. </p>
<p>Now, I am not certain why someone can't make up their mind, absent WL and finaid issues and whether dad gets laid off or mom finds a job (I could go on forever, couldn't I)</p>
<p>Does anyone see an ethical distinction between double depositing and failing to honor an ED agreement, assuming that the reasons for doing so are the roughly analogous? It seems to me virtually the same thing.</p>
<p>Marathan,</p>
<p>The difference to me is that the colleges put out clear expectations re ED, and a student/parent should be aware of them, and signs to agree to them.</p>
<p>As far as I know, there is no commitment to follow through with deposit. The colleges cant do that, becuase there would have to be an exception for WL, and it would be hard to monitor.</p>
<p>As an analogy, you can sign a lease with one months notice to landlord if you vacate, another with 3 months notice. You pick what you want, but then you live with it.</p>
<p>Jrpar.. where'd your bro choose to go??</p>
<p>Not the same thing and failing to move into the dorms on move in day after being admitted ED is not a crime either. For one thing - it's a long long time in a 17 year olds life between Nov and May of the senior year.
What if their career goals change? (just to add to kayf's list)</p>
<p>None of my kids applied ED anywhere but - if the had and been accepted and paid a deposit then had a change of heart I would have had no qualms about her "failing to live up to her ED agreement".<br>
All of this nonsense was invented by elite colleges who compete for the same kids - Harvard, Yale etc. Don't expect Yale to take you if you forfeit Harvard's ED offer but there will be plenty of other colleges who won't care.</p>
<p>What all of these negative posts attempt to do is scare kids and their parents into moving into a school they really don't want to attend - who can condone that?</p>
<p>There was even a post a ways back who said it was unethical to attend college for a semester if one was a spring admit. Laughable. What are kids supposed to do lay on the sofa all fall?</p>
<p>My D will be on a school trip to Europe for 12 days of the month she has to select a school; with that kind of tight schedule to do more visiting and considering, I wouldn't hesitate to double deposit to give her time to properly reflect. It's just a deposit, not a blood oath. Forced triples exist, to the detriment of the paying customers, because the colleges protect themselves by over-accepting. Why shouldn't students do the same if they need to?</p>
<p>Another to vote it is okay to double deposit if securing housing early. Both finalist schools for S2 suggested early deposits in Feb. After questioning both about the issue, I was told it was okay to make both deposits, and just send in written request for refund before May 1 to school not attending. Of course, I made sure to get the card of the admissions rep at each school who answered my query, just in case.</p>
<p>I find the poster who questioned starting in January as less than ethical hilarious. My D got a bunch of those acceptances, one from our flagship U, all saying she had to have 12 credits with a GPA of 2.5 at any accredited school. They are basically encouraging kids to sc**w other schools, espcially other state u's.</p>
<p>Do what is best for you and your family.</p>
<p>I am really surprised at the number of people that think having two deposits down on May 1st is ok. This date has not been a secret, every applicant knew it was coming. Teach your kids that yes, even they have to abide by deadlines.;) Placing more than one enrollment deposit early in order to secure housing is ok provided all but one are withdrawn by May 1st, and every school that waitlists a student will tell them to secure a(1) spot somewhere else. If you are on a waitlist and send a deposit to another school, that is not double depositing, you have only submitted one deposit.</p>
<p>The time around May 1st is very exciting for seniors. They are announcing to friends and teachers where they have chosen to attend. College t-shirts and hoodies are worn. Car decals are proudly displayed and the kids celebrate. Don't encourage your kids to lose out on this experience. Make the decision by May 1st and then let them move on to focusing on APs, dreaming of the prom and the excitement of graduation without "the decision" cloud still hanging overhead. More time will not make the decision any easier. If there are truly extenuating circumstances that would make the May 1st deadline a hardship, ask the schools for an extension. They want to help and this would teach the student how to handle the situation responsibly.</p>
<p>Good luck to all those kids making "the decision" this year.</p>
<p>Modadunn, he chose Colgate. He made the decision so late in the summer that his photo appeared in the Middlebury "facebook" - if those photos are ever used for reunions, people must wonder who the heck he was.</p>
<p>my-3-sons - in a perfect world, yes. But we don't live in a perfect world.<br>
I am not talking about Muffy sending off 5 deposits because she can't decide how to spend her trust fund.
Each case is an individual one.</p>
<p>It is wrong to double deposit, anyone says otherwise is just self serving. It is the whole entitlement mentality.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's just a deposit, not a blood oath.
[/quote]
This is my favorite comment.</p>
<p>^
Mine too!</p>
<p>It has nothing to do with "entitlement". It has everything to do with making the correct choice for an education and a career.
A deposit is just that a deposit. It is not a contract.
If you go car shopping and put down a deposit on a car and find a better one the next day do you say "Oh well, I am committed to this car since I paid the dealer $100 to hold it"?<br>
Ha ha - nope.
What I think is wrong is for folks to scare parents and kids into thinking that minds can't change and you MUST attend the school to which you commit in January even if finances change, intended majors change or there is an acceptance off a waitlist.</p>
<p>How about if you are job hunting and get hired one day, happily accept because you need to pay the mortgage but then get a call for your dream job from your dream company - of course you accept!</p>
<p>Quite a few kids who get appointments to Service Academies also deposit to a civilian school. The reason? If they get sick or hurt and can't report or leave during the summer they will then have a place to go. It's insurance.</p>
<p>It is true color showing, isn't it?</p>
<p>May 1 deadline is not as much for the school's benefit, especially for top tier schools. I am sure those schools could fill those spots ten times over, even if it's a day before the school starts. The May 1 deadline is really to benefit waitlisted students.</p>
<p>Deposit to a school is not a blood oath, just like an engagement to someone is not a blood oath, but you should only commit to one school (person) at a time. If you should change your mind, you should break one commitment before you commit to another. There may be no law against being engaged to more than one person, but whether you would or should do it is what you could live with. I personally wouldn't hold up a spot for another student because my precious kid couldn't make up his/her mind.</p>