<p>You can get your acceptance rescinded at any college for a number of reasons, academic nonperformance only one of them. Ethical and moral reasons can get your acceptance rescinded or deferred. Reneging on an ED contract is reason enough for your counselor who may have signed off on that ED app, to let your other schools know what you did. Now if you go to a school that just does not care about these things or have a counselor who does not care, sure, you can be home free. But you had better believe that the admissions office of ANY college is going to take your counselor’s report very seriously. That is, if your counselor even sent your mid year reports for you to get accepted to another school or confirm your acceptance. Every college I know caveats acceptance with that final transcript and if it is accompanied by a counselor’s note that you have deliberately broken an ED contract and refused to comply with his instructions, you are probably going to be in trouble. </p>
<p>I knew a young lady who had to rescind her ED acceptance because of some tough issues at home. It was a good reason not to go out of town. But I remember the school and her family as well as her, sweating out the apps, even though the student, parent and counselor specifically sent letters to the other schools explaining the ED. A couple of those schools did get the ED list, and it’s often very automatic that your app is just not considered if you match up with the list. It really is not worth the risk because of all of the problems that could arise. </p>
<p>I have never heard of a school that was turned down going after a student in any way; they have better things to do at that point, but I would hate to be the one that, say Harvard, or other top school decided to make an example. Unless you thrive on this kind of controversy and mess, it is not wise to renege on ED. Yes, you may get away with it. You can get away with many things. It’s how daunting the consequence could be if you get caught, regardless of how small the chance it happens that would take precedence here since I cannot see how important it is to break that ED agreement. If the reason is good enough, you can legitimately get out of it. If not, what is the big deal? You really want to fight with your counselor, highschool, and colleges when you know you broke your word on something clearly stated and signed by you?</p>