I was accepted to Brown’s Transfer Admission but was also waitlisted at Columbia. I decided to put myself on Columbia’s waitlist and send in their required letter of intent (pretty much giving them an update on myself and stating that I would definitely go to Columbia if I were to be taken off the waitlist). However, I may be having second thoughts about Columbia. Despite the ultra-low chance that I will be taken off the waitlist, am I absolutely obligated to accept their offer of admission if it were to happen or can I just reject it?
You’re free to decline any potential offer that comes in. You’re not bound – you’re only saying you’d consider a future offer if given one.
You are under no obligation whatsoever to accept a waitlist offer.
Given that you told them the above, while unethical, you have absolutely no legal obligation to go if admitted. If you hadn’t said the above, it wouldn’t even be remotely unethical/improper to reject their offer.
Lots of things can change in the time between sending a note that says you will “definitely go” until you would get off the waitlist. So don’t worry about this. If you get off the waitlist, and if the financial aid package is affordable for your family, that will be the time to decide whether or not to attend.
^ True about things change. You could have gotten in off another waitlist, for one.
Stating this likely hurt your chances of being admitted off the waitlist.
@TomSrOfBoston - what makes you say that? Personally I find that hard to believe. My college counselor used to advise us to do it for one wait list school and he would relay the message himself as well. He forbid us from saying it to more than one school. He was well connected so the statement would actually carry weight for us. Do you think things have changed in the last decade? I don’t know that an unsubstantiated claim really helps anyone but I find it hard to believe it would hurt.
If this is possible then you shouldn’t be telling the first school that you will definitely attend if admitted.
No Brown, it is still the same. In fact one of the middle of the road schools, I forgot which, maybe GW or someplace (was just wandering around on their web site as part of another search, did not apply), said if we are your first choice off the wait list, you need to say it. My GC also told me to say it.
To answer the OPs question, you are not legally obligated to go to Columbia
Thanks guys. Everyone told me that you need to tell them whether or not you are actually going to go if taken off the waitlist because they want to know if you are completely serious on the waitlist.
I’m a little confused. Are you saying people told you to tell every school they’re your number one choice or did the people around you not understand that being on the waitlist (notice waitlists are opt in, not opt out) is inherently a statement that you are seriously considering attending if admitted?