Sharing confidential information

<p>D was rejected by Oberlin EDI, deferred by Skidmore EDII and deferred by UMichigan although she'd neither applied ED nor EA.</p>

<p>Her preference is another college altogether, but we are concerned that these colleges will a) tell her other schools that she'd applied EDI and then EDII; and b) inform them that she was rejected by one and deferred by two others.</p>

<p>Can colleges legally share this information? We had encouraged her to apply ED because we knew that these were reach schools, but we also know that she'd be very happy and excel at the other school, where she probably has a greater chance of admission.</p>

<p>What can colleges share, and what does get shared either formally or informally? Lots of the admissions officers know each other...</p>

<p>Perhaps I am missing something, but did she break some rule with the EDI and EDII applications? I cannot imagine that colleges would share this information.</p>

<p>I doubt that they can share such information. I also can’t imagine why they would. </p>

<p>Or, for that matter, how they would. Right now, it’s reading season. Everybody who works in college admissions is reading regular-decision applications, day and night, until their eyes hurt. They don’t have time to gossip with their colleagues at other institutions. When that’s done, they’ll go into committee. They’ll spend full work days stuck in conference rooms with their colleagues, debating whom to accept, whom to deny, and whom to wait-list. They won’t have time to gossip with their colleagues at other institutions.</p>

<p>I hate to quote Dr. Phil, but this does seem like one of those times when you’d worry a lot less what other people think about you if you realized how little time they spend doing it.</p>

<p>Ohmygoodness no, she definitely did not do anything remotely breaking any rule or doing anything that would constitute unethical behavior. She’s the nicest kid on the planet. I’m just worried that since she was rejected on EDI and deferred on EDII that colleges will share that information and it may negatively impact her chances of admission to a school where she’d be fabulously happy and do exceedingly well, even if it wasn’t initially her first choice.</p>

<p>Your thoughts are appreciated and are probably on target. But in reference to Dr. Phil, this is about my daughter and her happiness, not about me.</p>

<p>I’d agree with Sikorsky. I have heard that schools sometimes share if students are accepted ED…to make sure they aren’t doing it at more than one school… but not sure on the mechanics of that… but if students are rejected or deferred then I cannot imagine any reason they would share. In fact, if someone found out they had, I think the student would have a plausible law suit. So I wouldn’t worry at all about that unless your daughter chooses to share that information with them.</p>

<p>I do not think you have to worry about the sharing of information at all. Too many applications for anyone to share with other admissions people. Best wishes for good news.</p>

<p>Oh, gosh, MominDurham, I surely meant no offense, and I’m very sorry if I gave any.</p>

<p>I merely meant to say, I think they have far, far too many applicants to evaluate for them to share any information about applicants they have in common. I suppose I should have left it at that.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>

<p>Thank you, this is reassuring. We just want her in a college where she’ll happy and have the latitude to challenge herself intellectually and creatively.</p>

<p>Schools CAN share the information (there’s no legal reason they cannot) but, as others have stated, there is no reason to do so. They are way too busy right now to want to add to the work.</p>

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This is absolutely WRONG on both counts. As the result of the settlement of a law suit colleges are not allowed to share any information about applicants or about their financial aid offers … so OP you have nothing to worry about. </p>

<p>FYI - schools can share information about accepted students … and rumor has it some top school shares lists of the ED accepted students.</p>