Reading a post on this sub-form made me consider the following scenario.
Student is accepted to a few colleges before end of December. Student accepts offer at one (call it College A) even though student is still waiting on decisions from other colleges. In January student receives more EA acceptances. Student decides that one of their new EA acceptances (College B) seems more appealing than the one to which they already deposited. Can Student rescind their acceptance from College A, accept College B but then before May 1 decide they really want College A?
I guess what I’m really asking is can they basically tell College A that they made their decision prematurely and would like to rescind but still have an active offer on the table from College A to accept sometime prior to May 1?
you need to be clearer about what you are asking. Did the “hypothetical” student apply early-decision or early-action at College A?
If ED then they agreed to enroll if accepted and to withdraw all other apps. If EA then there is no requirement to notify any college prior to May 1. So in the latter case why would they be accepting offers and then changing their mind?
Wait until near the deadline with all the offers in hand and then decide.
@adlgel It depends. For a highly competive school with selective admissons and high endowment, if you are foolish enough to rescind prematurely, then that’s it. No second chance. No do-over. They will immediately give your spot to some other eager and deserving applicant. However, for a college that needs to fill seats and where there is underenrollment or less competitive admissons, they probably will tell the applicant that upon rescinding the offer it will NOT remain active. BUT in reality if the applicant comes back --especially a high stat applicant with a strong application–groveling before May 1 and acknowledges he or she rescinded prematurely and pleads for a second chance, I think the college would say okay. Because college is after all a big business and a lot of colleges (not the top 100) don’t get overenrolled. So they need the revenue.
Once you say no to a college they do not have to re-accept you. In your scenario College A would not be bound to take the student after he/she has rejected the offer of admissions. However, the student could call admissions at College A, say he/she made a mistake and would love to attend, and see what happens. IMO this hypothetical student would be best not depositing until all of his/her offers and the financial aid packages are in hand.