bluebayou

...and unethical, except the financial case. Obviously, they KNEW with near certainty that they would jump at MIT if offered, so the ED app was a sham. Brown makes it clear on its website that ED is ED to the liberal arts college only. Admission to PMLE and other programs is separate, and only those who will attend Brown regardless of PMLE should apply ED. Or, perhaps your student had a reading comprehension issue?

aceall

Belle， please contact me.

bluebayou

Good point. But googling, I found notes from the Dean that basically said, 'don't apply ED if finances are an issue.' Your D's college also offers EA, correct?

marvin100

"Obviously, they KNEW with near certainty that they would jump at MIT if offered, so the ED app was a sham."

This is false in each case.

keabie18

Colleges are trying to be the "bigger person". They have their reputation to consider. A college does not want any negative press, like an article about how they refused to release an ED applicant, so they avoid it by simply releasing the student. Even worse, the college does not want a lawsuit. A student certainly isn't as concerned with their reputation, when it comes to choices like these, as a college is.

I don't think it is currently a big issue, but it could escalate into one. I think it is ok for an to back out of their agreement if they receive less financial aid than they reasonably expected, hopefully compared to their original calculations on the EFC calculator. In that case, the applicant also should be able to appeal to admissions to see if it could be adjusted. If an applicant has a general idea of how much aid they should be receiving, knows that they cannot afford the college with this amount of aid, and still applies ED, I think it is highly unethical. If an applicant does not get as much merit as they wanted, I think it is even more unethical. The contract may not be a legal contract, but applicants should still feel an obligation to not break it.

dlthf1026

Quick question:

how about if you go to college at another country?

For example, let's say that I got accepted to college"A" by ED. However, I applied to college in another country and got accepted there too. Can I back out on college"A" and go to college in another country? Is this binding only in USA or does it apply internationally? Thanks

marvin100

"Colleges are trying to be the "bigger person". They have their reputation to consider. A college does not want any negative press, like an article about how they refused to release an ED applicant, so they avoid it by simply releasing the student. Even worse, the college does not want a lawsuit. A student certainly isn't as concerned with their reputation, when it comes to choices like these, as a college is. "

This is 100% speculation--it seems much more reasonable to judge colleges by their actions than by an imagined rationale behind those actions (especially a rationale that posits a motive perpendicular to the actions themselves).

keabie18

@marvin100 ok, then it is 100% speculation for you to claim that colleges do not take the ED agreement seriously.

splazsh

Has anyone applied ED without visiting the school?

marvin100

"@marvin100 ok, then it is 100% speculation for you to claim that colleges do not take the ED agreement seriously."

Not exactly--it's informed by their actions, which have so far consisted of releasing everyone from the "contract." It's very possible they may be thinking the exact opposite in their heart of hearts, but the evidence doesn't point that direction.

Dreadpirit

Re: the a minor cannot enter into an agreement arguement -

That is why for the ED a parent's signature is required on the application.

momma-three

In response to post #42 People should NOT apply early decision unless they KNOW if they could afford to attend. That goes for everyone and that is why everyone does not apply early. The unfortunate thing is that people do not honor contracts or have any morals. Yes, I did say morals. It is wrong to apply early and than bail out. I do not believe that parents sign that line and are clueless. I do believe that kids think they could game the system and usually that is because their parents taught them that they could. I read a situation on one of the college sites that had me cringing because it was clear that the student was gaming the process. I had to stop looking because the kids attitude was making me sick.

absweetmarie

I agree that it is unethical to back out of an ED agreement for nonfinancial reasons. But, again, as SlitheyTove points out in post #42, the language of the ED agreement specifically allows people to decline an offer for financial reasons. Schools advise applicants not to apply ED if they need to compare financial aid offers. No one says, "Don't apply if you know you can't afford it." How would you even know? Unless momma-three is saying you should only apply ED if you can pay the full COA without assistance, which is clearly NOT what schools are expecting (hence, the language allowing people to back out for financial reasons). How is it immoral or dishonorable to back out for a reason that is clearly identified as a VALID reason?

bluebayou

Obviously, not with Marvin's test prep "students". (But perhaps for many in the world, 'ethics' only applies to US citizens.)

Gwen Fairfax

I think there's a gray area where 10 minutes of research would suggest to many parents that ED is not going to work-- if COA is $55,000; you can pay $20,000; your EFC is $35,000 and the school usually meets about 65% of need and gives very few merit scholarships-- you can guess that it's unlikely to work. I guess I'm wrong to say "borderline unethical"-- but I do think it sets a kid up for a big disappointment and is counterproductive for the applicant at the school.