My Possibly Unethical Decision
CottonCandy18
6 replies2 threads New Member
Enrollment deposits are due May 1 and I am in a bind.
I have had my heart set on University of Southern California and this is why I am in the situation I am in. I filed everything on time (FASFA, CSS PROFILE) but USC asked for 2015 taxes instead of 2014. This was an issue because my parents own a business and usually ask for an extension before they file because they need to get things together. This sped up a long and arduous process that my parents weren't ready for.
We have been going back and forth sending the required forms and information for about 2 weeks. At one point I accidentally made a mistake and that extended the process for two more days. We fixed it yesterday and my dad spoke to someone at the financial office and they said they would contact me today with a package. They didn't send me anything.
I cant afford to attend USC at their asking price and really need to know what they are offering.
I have an offer from a UC school and its 9700 per year which is really nice.
My parents want me to choose the UC (b/c it is safe) tonight so that I can get good housing, etc... but the school doesn't offer what USC does for my major.
I am worried that If I wait on USC and put a deposit down, they may only get back to me on Monday which is May 2 and there is a possibility of their financial package not being enough.
I feel like I may get stranded if USC doesn't come through and I don't have a school to go to on Monday. I don't want to put a deposit down on the UC if USC does give me a good package though..... I AM SOOO STRESSED OUT
I don't want to take anyone's spot away but I want a spot as well...
19 replies I have had my heart set on University of Southern California and this is why I am in the situation I am in. I filed everything on time (FASFA, CSS PROFILE) but USC asked for 2015 taxes instead of 2014. This was an issue because my parents own a business and usually ask for an extension before they file because they need to get things together. This sped up a long and arduous process that my parents weren't ready for.
We have been going back and forth sending the required forms and information for about 2 weeks. At one point I accidentally made a mistake and that extended the process for two more days. We fixed it yesterday and my dad spoke to someone at the financial office and they said they would contact me today with a package. They didn't send me anything.
I cant afford to attend USC at their asking price and really need to know what they are offering.
I have an offer from a UC school and its 9700 per year which is really nice.
My parents want me to choose the UC (b/c it is safe) tonight so that I can get good housing, etc... but the school doesn't offer what USC does for my major.
I am worried that If I wait on USC and put a deposit down, they may only get back to me on Monday which is May 2 and there is a possibility of their financial package not being enough.
I feel like I may get stranded if USC doesn't come through and I don't have a school to go to on Monday. I don't want to put a deposit down on the UC if USC does give me a good package though..... I AM SOOO STRESSED OUT
I don't want to take anyone's spot away but I want a spot as well...
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Replies to: My Possibly Unethical Decision
Then (2) I would deposit at the UC if you have not heard back from USC by Sunday, and work with USC on Monday (because I am guessing you will not get a response to your email). If miraculously you can afford USC once they get you your package, my guess is that they will let you deposit a day or two late. You would lose your UC deposit, but this way you are SURE you have a spot for the fall. BUT, small businesses often hurt your FA -- so it may not be affordable anyway.
You won't take anyone's spot; schools expect and account for some last-minute issues like this. It's part of why wait lists exist.
Number one there is the ethical issue.
Number two (not to discount number one), depositing at USC implies you can afford their offer and give them no motivation to work with you. Since they haven't responded to you, you implicitly have an extension. If they don't give you an extension, or don't give you more aid, you aren't going anyway.
The UC school will not care that you are waiting on USC whether or not it is your fault, we were in that situation with K's #1 choice (through no fault of our own, long story) and called the #2 choice to see if they would extend the deadline and they said either deposit or don't. K deposited and 3 days later withdrew after a good FA offer came from School #1. This happens all the time. The school basically did not care that K would not be going, I think they were happy getting the deposit (and it is a well known research university not a small school).
We were in the tax return extension position with two other schools which would be East Coast Peers of USC more or less and after I spoke to the assigned FA officer, one sat on the phone with me and gave me a preliminary amount, the other based it on prior prior year tax returns (not their normal policy) and their committee gave us a provisional estimate about a week before decisions were due. K was nothing special for either school. Since for us a provisional estimate was good enough this worked for us. I am surprised USC could not do that. School #1 was a different situation that was not our fault, they misunderstood our financials and we were appealing which we got a few days later.