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I think it is important to point out that Cornell is considering getting rid of ED all together, which would explain why they were luckily sympathetic.
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<p>How would that explain anything? Is there anything at all in the equation that is changed by the knowledge that they might, in future, eliminate ED?</p>
<p>As long as a college has ED, it is adverse to their interests when applicants break it, and their incentives to enforce the contract are the same. If you believe that "breaking the ED contract" is considered a black mark on an applicant's character, a mark so severe that knowledge of it could lead to rescinded admissions at other schools, how is that consideration affected by the knowledge that ED might be cancelled later?</p>