<p>I have a question regarding applications to other colleges. If I'm admitted ED, the Duke website states that I must withdraw all other applications by January 6. However, the website also says that "students can apply to any other colleges through regular, rolling or early programs as long as they comply with the requirements of both schools." I'm hoping someone can clarify this.</p>
<p>The reason they will allow you to apply to other schools is that it is possible you would be rejected at Duke.
If, in fact, you are admitted via ED to Duke it is a binding agreement between you and Duke. Hence the Early Decision. Once admitted you must, contractually, pull you applications to all other schools.</p>
<p>What if I get accepted but, even with the financial aid, cannot afford the tuition?</p>
<p>^ Then that is an exception to the rule and you must be the one to contact the admissions office/financial aid office and tell them so. You may be able to negotiate a better offer, but if not they may release you from your binding ED agreement</p>
<p>Okay, thanks for the response!</p>
<p>If your ability to accept admission is dependent upon sufficient financial aid you should never have applied ED. That avenue is SUPPOSED to be used if you know Duke is the school you will attend iwhenaccepted regardless of FA. Good luck.</p>
<p>Agreed. And I might add that if you apply ED, are accepted and then back out, you have effectively taken a slot from someone who is 100% committed to attend Duke regardless of financial aid. Don’t get me wrong. Duke is expensive and will require significant sacrifice for our family. It is a little scary as we have three children to educate and we certainly don’t have 240K laying around. However, we feel that Duke is worth it (not looking for debate of private vs state flagship etc.) and if our son is fortunate enough to get in, he is going!</p>
<p>Duke clearly states that it will work with your family with fiancial matters; also, they say that a very, very small percentage of studens cannot afford Duke after Duke has worked with your family. They say nowhere than a person cannot apply ED because of their financial situation. </p>
<p>Quote from Duke’s website, “In the rare instances when students ultimately cannot afford to attend Duke, they may be released from the binding Early Decision commitment after discussions among the family, the Financial Aid Office, and the Admissions Office.”
I have a feeling it won’t be so easy to bail on the ED contract, though not impossible.
Again, Good Luck!</p>
<p>I definitely did not mean that financial situation should preclude anyone from applying. We will hopefully qualify for some based on the NPC. All I meant was that the ED application should be taken seriously. For students who want different offers and options to compare, then RD is the way to go.</p>
<p>@asdfmikeraven513: One more point is germane. If you receive a financial aid package that is at least equal to the (accurately and comprehensively completed) NPC estimate, and you nevertheless renege on your ED commitment, there’s a reasonably chance your secondary school will be rather disfavored, sometimes for years. I doubt if any university would be unreasonable; therefore, this policy does not include truy exigent circumstances. However, the policy is fair and is fundamentally designed to stop any sort of ED “game playing.” Incidentally, this is a somewhat frequent discussed CC topic; you’d be wise to research the archives. </p>