<p>Thanks for that advice!</p>
<p>Carolyn,</p>
<p>This is very timely. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm printing it out now for future reference with the rest of my children down the road.</p>
<p>My S just got an offer of admission to an 'honor' college within a university. But it simply said 'commit early as we only accept 150 students'. This is a different twist.</p>
<p>Well, considering my son has just barely gotten his aps in by the deadline, he's still waiting to hear from all his schools so he doesn't have anything to decide. Maybe that's a good thing--less pressure at this point anyway about choosing anything or making any deposits. He still has to submit one more ap to keep his folks satisfied--either the local state U of UAz (good merit aid). Not sure why he's dragging his feet on this, but we're not pushing him at this point.</p>
<p>I have read of many schools who limit the # of students in the honors colleges & the crunch for priority housing. Oh well, we'll cross all of that when we get there.</p>
<p>This is great info. My D has been accepted at Hiram (rolling admissions). They sent a letter that to guarantee a space that we needed to send a $200 deposit immediately. If we did not,she would lose the space once they are full. I can not afford to send $200 until I know the financial aid pkg (probably Feb at the earliest). From the NACAC link, it appears that she has the right to request an extension to may 1. Am I reading the guidelines correctly?
Janie</p>
<p>This is absolutely correct, Janie. And they are obligated to honor it.</p>
<p>Janie,
Read the wording on what the deposit is for carefully. Is it to secure her place in the class or to secure housing or both?
If she is being asked to send a deposit specifically to accept the offer of admission, then yes, she can write to the school (request must be in writing, but that probably includes email, just keep a copy) and refer specifically to the NACAC rules and the Candidate's Reply Date of May 1. </p>
<p>If, on the other hand, the deposit is to secure housing ONLY, then the same rules do not apply. </p>
<p>If it is a non-refundable to accept the admissions offer, however, I would definitely argue the point. Why should you give your money away before you've even found out if you can afford to attend?</p>
<p>Janie, I checked on Hiram's admissions website. They are asking for a NON-refundable deposit to accept the admissions offer, which they say students must send "as soon as possible but no later than May 1." If they said in the letter that your daughter is in danger of losing her acceptance if she doesn't reply by May 1, then I would definitely write them a letter referring to the NACAC guidelines, both the one that says students should not be made to reply before May 1 and the one that says students should not send deposits to more than one college. By the way, Hiram is an NACAC member.</p>
<p>I read that Cornell gives a student 2 weeks from date of offer to accept...do these rules apply for application deadline too? and does it apply to Cornell?</p>
<p>glkecon2- Are you sure about Cornell? My d is at Cornell- ILR. ILR, Hotel, & CALS have rolling admission. She got into ILR in Feb. and we did not have to respond until May 1. Maybe Hotel school is different, but I never saw anything about responding in 2 weeks.</p>
<p>Janie, I suspect Hiram's acceptance letter says the same thing. I just looked at my D's letter from Univ of Michigan and it indeed says "as soon as possible but no later than May 1." Still makes you feel a little pushed, doesn't it?</p>
<p>Here is how Hiram's leter reads
"Hiram College now operates on the rolling admissions plan. We have a limited number of spaces for our incoming class. When we reach our capacity, we may be required to defer this offer of admission to a later term without notice. If you have an interest in attending Hiram College next fall, reply to this offer of admission by May 1, 2006"
So when I reread it, it does say "may" not "will" and does use the May 1 deadline. So I guess it just makes it seem like they "could" rescind the offer even if they "would" not be able to. I think it is very tricky wording. I am very grateful the info here and don't feel so stressed now. Tthis is easily her 1st choice - but money matters. I felt very guilty saying I couldn't afford to lose $200.
Thanks
Janie</p>
<p>Here at Michigan we have had cases of students telling us "I wish you'd told me I'd be waitlisted sooner... I had a $$ offer with a deadline that I turned down because I was hopeful for U-M!" The student should never have turned the $$ down, and mever should have been pressured to say yes or no before May 1. They should have asked for an extension (and been informed that was possible!) They are understandably upset!</p>
<p>My D has been admitted to Hiram and well, we received same letter. They way I see it you have time till May 1 to decide and it should not be a problem. Hiram should start sending their fin aid offers starting mid February, should be plenty of time to decide.
Hiram is one of her top choices school, I would have send deposit if it was refundable.</p>