Um, can anyone explain if I’m screwed? Like we already registered for fall classes and I signed a dorm contract.
My reach emailed me and asked if we could chat on the phone…and offered me a spot. I didn’t say where I was because I freaked. Now idk what to do - my parents are clueless, I’m a first-generation college student.
EDIT: And I’m worried asking anyone here during orientation would get a negative response.
Do you think you like the reach more? Do finances matter? Did the reach give a good financial aid package?
Is the reach your “dream school?” how much can your parents afford to lose if you leave orientation – no money back from that. Don’t ask at orientation, hahaha! Those kids will be your friends, peers and classmates if you decline the spot at the reach.
Finish orientation. Go home. Sleep on it. Compare finances. How long do you have to decide?
You don’t need to tell anyone there what’s going on now. Finish up, go home and speak to your parents and come back here for advice. The school you’re currently at for orientation cannot “make” you come to them - you may and probably will lose your deposits, but that should be small potatoes compared to the total cost of your education.
Good luck and come back if you need help deciding what to do.
And, congratulations!
Just breathe. Finish up your orientation as if that was the school you would be attending.
You can always walk away from that school if it makes sense to do so. All you lose is your modest deposit. Happens to the schools all the time and they plan for it – it is called “summer melt.”
You’ll need to run the traps on the pros/cons for the reach school possibility – financial aid, housing, class registration, fit, etc. etc. etc. And you should be able to have a good transparent discussion with the reach school. They know you’ll have all those questions, and they also know that by now you’re in pretty deep with your other school.
Good luck.
What about my fall roommate? are they screwed? I’m going to be seen as betraying them?
Don’t worry - they will recover. And you might not take reach school’s offer so relax for now. See advice above and breathe. Congrats, it’s all good.
No, your roommate will likely get someone else. They’ll understand. There’s always a certain amount of last minute changes in who will actually be in the class. I had a friend way back when who didn’t get off the Yale waiting list until August!
Congratulations, if the finances are okay and you like the reach better, make the switch and don’t look back.
I think you need to look at first things first.
Do you have your financial aid package/
Is the school an affordable option for your family?
How much of a deposit will you need to hold your spot?
When do you need to let the school know your decision.
All of the monies paid at your current school is now pretty much non-refundable. Are your parents willing to take the financial hit
Schools anticipate a summer melt as a result of students being accepted off of waitlists, taking gap years, etc.
Where are you currently and where have you been accepted?
What is your anticipated major?
Congrats
Congrats as well. It’s not too late to make a change, if you that’s what you want and your parents can afford.
Your roommate will be fine. My eldest’s roommate backed out a few weeks before school started and another put in her place. They ended up great friends.
Very considerate and sweet of you to be thinking of someone else btw. But this is your life and your college experience. Everyone has said it - take a deep breath, get the facts on costs and logistics, then make an informed decision.
But for now, enjoy this orientation.
Congratulations to you! Yours is a nice problem to have. 
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It’s very nice of you to think about them, but honestly, they’ll probably be psyched at the possibility of having a single room (even if they don’t actually get one come fall).
Let us know what you decide. I imagine ReachU will want a decision fairly quickly, no?
Yes breathe. You probably have several days to decide. If financial aid is an issue then push to get a package from the reach ASAP - and have a couple of days to decide after that. you will likely lose your deposit(s) at the current school.
Then if all is equal, picture yourself where you are currently planning to go and where you just got in and see how you feel.
Great news! Congrats!
This is one of those times in life you need to think about yourself first. Choose what you want and don’t look back!
Imagine the following possible scenario - where you decide to stay at the school where you deposited, because you are concerned about your roommate. You tell your ReachU that thanks, but no thanks. Then ReachU moves down their waitlist, and they pick your roommate, who would have no idea that you declined it, and he accepts.
By when does the reach want a response? Can’t imagine it will be very long.
Check the dorm contract you signed, also. Be sure of how much you are currently contractually required to pay for the upcoming year-- just the deposit (which you forfeit), or one or even two semesters’ housing.