D is accepted by one prestigious school (non-ivy). She is also accepted by another school. But, there is some situation that will prolong to late May. So, I wonder what happens if we accept both offer and break one later. It is not a good thing, but it is beyond our control. For example, the decision of a scholarship will not be known until late May that is available only at the one of the schools. I know ED is binding and theoretically breaking can result in withdrawn of both offers. But this is regular decision. Anyone has experience?
I think if you break your acceptance of an RD offer, you simply lose your deposit. But wait for others to confirm, deny or augment.
Are you saying you want to double deposit – deposit at both schools by May 1, and then just withdraw from one later? You very specifically CANNOT do that. If the scholarship is from a college, it is unusual for them to award a significant scholarship after May 1. Scholarships are usually used to attract students to enroll by May 1. If it is offered through the college, you might contact the school to see if they can let her know sooner so she can make a decision.
You run the risk if she double deposits of having both schools find out and rescinding her offer. You could contact the schools and ask permissions to double deposit. Occasionally they will allow it if something like a financial aid appeal is in process. But they may not in this situation. Then she MUST pick one and deposit by May 1, and not deposit at the second school.
My son was accepted to a program that is allowing a written request for a decision extension. Is something like this possible in your situation?
" If the scholarship is from a college, it is unusual for them to award a significant scholarship after May 1."
Agreed, it is unusual but it is happening. That is why we are FORCED to consider this plan. One school is open and states on their website that “regular decision is not binding”. But the other one, the one that is creating this issue, is not clear.
Contact the head of the admissions office at the school that is causing the problem. Find out what is causing the delay.
ALL colleges know that students HAVE to commit to enrollment by May 1. ANY college that expects students to have to wait longer than that are not acting honorably and I would be very suspicions of any “reason” for the delay.
what is the name of this college?
No RD is binding, however, you cannot double deposit by May 1. You should ask for decision extension from the school that may have a late scholarship and pay deposit to the other school by May 1. If you do get the scholarship from that school later, you may commit to that one and withdraw from the one you have put deposit on. Basically, it is treated like any wait list admission. Any yes, you will lose the deposit.
Whethet regular decision is binding and whether you can double deposit are not the same thing. What they mean by regular decision not being binding is that you are not required to accept the offer of admission (whereas you must accept an ED offer). It isn’t about the May 1 deadline.
You can’t commit to more than one school at the same time after May 1. A school that times their scholarships that way is playing games. I’d drop them if they are unaffordable without the scholarship.
Also, @My5Kiddos, you’d have to tell both schools you are double depositing.
I believe your kid also checked a box on the Common App saying specifically that they will not double deposit.
You sound determined to do this. Don’t come back complaining if your kid ends up with no options if the schools find out. Things like calls to the GC for clarification can be your undoing. Take the college you can afford.
And I disagree with @billcsho. You need to tell both schools. This isn’t a waitlist situation. This is one college behaving unethically by not providing a full financial picture to a student by May 1.
@intparent We would not double deposit. The extension is from a new program that he needs to visit and waiting on FA package. If he ultimately chose the second school, we would notify the first and then deposit on the second.
We are not determined to do anything misleading or unethical. I called last week for new FA package and have not received it yet. Also trying to book flights for a visit before May 1st. We can afford both schools. We are looking at fit.
I never said we were even requesting an extension. I asked the poster if that was a potential option in her case.
No one can MAKE you attend. There is even a term for students who accepted admission and don’t show up - Summer Melt. You are not supposed to double deposit.
Well, yes, then you can deposit to one school by May 1 and then, if the other school is where you want to go after the scholarship is resolved, tell the first school you will not attend (and expect to lose the deposit). That is what almost everyone who gets off a waitlist after May 1 does.
You do have to be sure the offer from the school with the scholarship situation will still be good after May 1. Colleges usually would say their offers are only valid until May 1 (though they can extend that if they want to).
I’m with @menloparkmom: what’s up with not providing FA info / major scholarship info until after May 1? is this a mainstream school? the school with the ‘new program’ knows that binding decisions are due May 1. If you commit to that school, and don’t like the package then you are stuck- which imo reduces their incentive to give you a good package.
Committing to one school by May 1st, then breaking it later when you get off a waitlist is totally fine.
Depositing to two schools before May 1st to keep your options open is not fine. You may be rescinded for doing so if one or the other school finds out.
I agree that it is highly unusual for a college to give additional financial aid after May 1st. Are your referring to an application for an outside scholarship? If so, I would commit to the school you can afford without the scholarship, as outside scholarships tend to be highly competitive. The best outside scholarships will give you the information you need before May 1st as well, but some do not.
I also think that depositing at one then withdrawing because you need to visit is not the same as being on a waitlist. You are still playing games.
@My5Kiddos Sounds like you should have visited and gotten FA info submitted sooner. If you delayed on those things, your lack of planning is not a reason to break the rules. You have 3 weeks to visit before the deadline, and I’d assume they will give you FA info in that time period, too.
@intparent Not sure what you disagree with. I am telling OP to put deposit on one school while ask the other school for decision extension without deposit but treat it like wait list.
That is not fair to the school they put the deposit at on May 1. It isn’t a waitlist. You don’t get to make up the idea that it is. The second school is playing games. They should provide a full financial picture (need based and merit) before May 1. If they won’t, they are not honest players in the admissions process.
My impression is that the school is trying to fill all their slots and since they have already given out all their financial aid, they are waiting to see who turns them down so that any financial aid they received can go back into the pot to be redistributed to those who are waiting on their package before they make their decision. IMO, the reason for the May 1st deadline is so that the schools have a more even playing field. This way schools can’t undercut or start a bidding war for students. To me, this is a red flag. If they are this way handling this, what are they like about everything else.
@atinparent We had initial FA info and it is now changing because of a brand new program…literally a few weeks old. Of course we are planning to get all this done by May 1. Definitely not lack of planning or trying to break any rules. More like an unexpected opportunity we need to thoroughly consider. I recently came across info on decision extension and was sharing that with the OP.
Oh Really??
you do not know what you are talking about. If either college finds out after May 1, that the student has made a deposit at another college to which they were admitted , they could withdraw their offer of admission. Then where would the student be?
It may not be illegal, but it is unethical and a school may rescind an offer of admission. (Though, admittedly, I have no idea if this happens.)
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/applications/ethics
(bold emphasis is mine)