Also, what is everyone’s thoughts on the top reasons I could give my cc office above of why to allow me to apply RD(from post #2).
Look at it from your schools perspective. They may have gone to bat for your REA acceptance in a big way, knowing that you wanted that spot. If you back out, it may tarnish the CGO and your school.
Tough situation. Not sure I know the answer, but it seems unfair to do this at this specific school when others everywhere are not held to this rule. EA is EA, not ED.
Really, this speaks to limiting # applications for all students, and something I think NACAC should be looking at.
I think you need to come up with some good reasons why a different school is a better match for you, and have your parents and you sit down with the guidance counselor to make your case. This time you better be sure, so spend time on careful research.
I don’t know if the “chasing aid” excuse is going to work, since your family is evidently paying private school tuition.
I think here (as always), honesty is the best policy. Since applying, you have realized your REA school is “not the best fit for” you. I’d suggest having a sincere conversation with GC expressing why you now think it’s not a good fit, and how your #2 choice suits you much better. If you have remotely reasonable rationale, they have to be pretty awful to not feel sympathy for your situation. It’s possible this will be effective. So I’d put my energy into outlining the fit issues. Good luck! (But yes, as mentioned above, I would not decline your REA until you have another preferred acceptance in hand).
IMO, your best bet is to be honest with your GC and say you are having second thoughts about fit, as you stated in your original post. I would encourage you to be as specific as possible about your concerns.
If the GC or school feel that strongly about the rule, that is certainly possible. After all, on the school report ( https://commonapp.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#d0000000eEna/a/0V000001Avzq/PBXzR0UOtu4hSdgTXHDH9Sk6bTeQ6w8l2NQblq_KoZ0 ), the counselor could check the “discuss this applicant over the phone” box (and then mention over the phone the applicant not obeying the school’s rules) and change the overall recommendation from (presumed) “enthusiastically” to “with reservations”.
If the school’s policy is to avoid top students from “crowding out” other students at other colleges, then sabotaging the OP’s application at the other college s/he wants to apply to will fulfill this goal of the school as well.
I do not agree with the policy either, but I would not be surprised if a school that had that policy for that reason would “enforce” it in this manner, which they are well within their power to do.
Do any attorneys on CC have an opinion whether sabotaging student’s chances at another college by the school, if there was no formal contract re. REA, is actionable? Just curious, I don’t think it would be practical, but…
You can tell them what you just said, that you aren’t sure about the REA school but don’t want to give up the spot yet because you don’t know where you’ll get in.
WHY do you want to apply to the second school? Is there a program at that school you just found out about? How would you be ‘hogging’ the spot from another student if you apply RD? I can see the school not allowing you to apply ED2 because you’ve had your shot in an early round but you aren’t taking anyone’s chance in RD. Does your high school only allow one top 20 if the student applies RD?
So what happened in the last 6 weeks to change your mind on your REA school, and is it likely you will change your mind yet again? If you are honest with your counselor, the high school will probably let you apply elsewhere RD, given that RD rates at highly selective schools are so low it probably won’t matter anyway. I expect the reports and recommendations will be sent in as originals, but the school surely won’t push for you or answer any calls on your behalf. I suggest you think about why you were certain a short time ago and now are not.