@Uchicago: If a student is admitted EA at Chicago, and also gets accepted ED at some other school, would the University consider it ethical for the student to turn down the ED offer if after visiting both schools and doing some more in depth research, the student feels deeply that she really belongs at Chicago, financial considerations notwithstanding (so she doesn’t want to lie to the other University that the financial aid package is the primary consideration for turning them down).
How will the University treat a student admitted EA who turns down a binding ED commitment to matriculate at Chicago?
Do you encourage such a student to discuss this upfront with both universities or do you recommend a different approach?
The only acceptable circumstance under which to break the contract, according to NACAC, is the following: “Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment”.
There is one huge caveat, and that is one of timing. The student who receives an ED acceptance does indeed have the right to turn down the admission if the offer of financial aid is deemed insufficient. There is a deadline for such response: either accept the offer or reject it. What you DO NOT HAVE is the time to look at RD packages or stretch that decision until March or April.
In so many words, you have the right to reject the offer but not the right to accept it and NOT cancel all other applications, safe and except the occasional public university that accepted you earlier.
The terms used by NACAC are nebulous. Rejecting the binding agreement in the application should be different than breaking an agreement post decision by the school. That right does not exist, and is subject to the discretion of the school. Your right was to accept or reject the offer of admission.
The timing of your question is odd, and it indicates that you probably already violated the terms of your ED. Unless the question was totally speculative.
@xiggi: Thanks for the detailed response. It was speculative in the sense that we are trying to formulate a plan for my child. It seems clear from all the replies that applying ED has some pretty strong consequences. I thought there might be a “conscience clause” or something. Apparently not. We are going to have to choose an ED school very carefully now. From what I understand, if an ED school comes through, my child would have to withdraw from all EA schools? or am I reading that wrong?
