alittlemisguided

Hey guys, i have a, i guess, general question about early action at MIT (and theoretically any school).

I don't want to discuss credentials. After a bit of research, i think i have what it takes for this to be considered a reach school, as does just about every high caliber student.

My financial situation isn't exactly the greatest. I have no job as i've focused on school and my parents have kind of mishandled their incomes and gotten some bad credit problems.

Anyways, MIT has been my dream school for as long as i have dreamed of going to college and im considering early action/decision. What seems to be my only reserve, though, is the off chance i actually get accepted. I'm worried i may actually get in and find that i am not going to get enough financial aid and cant afford to burden myself or my parents 100+ K in debt when i could get through a cheaper UMass Dartmouth or other engineering schools.

Now that i've explained the situation to some degree, what i really want to know is, theoretically should i get accepted early action/decision, can i be allowed to back out because of financial problems?

k4r3n2

Early action (which MIT has) is nonbinding - you just find out your decision early, so you can wait until you get your financial aid package to decide where you want to go.

iceui2

Just to throw this out there: Even if you do have to pay 10k/year extra to come to MIT, it's only for four years. When you graduate your salary will be higher than a salary coming out of pretty much any other school out there. And that's for life.

molliebatmit

You might also consider running your family's income/assets through one of the online calculators that will allow you to estimate your family's expected contribution to your education. (I think MIT SFS has one on the website somewhere, but I cannot find it.)

alittlemisguided

Thanks everyone! i plan on getting application stuff done early so i can at the very least apply to mit and hope for the best!