Early Decision and Financial Aid

HOBYNC
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:38:47 +0000

This has become more and more of an issue lately. I would venture that it is because more students are trying to play the game as the college-going boom reaches its peak. Here is the deal–when you apply early decision, you are entering into a defacto contractual agreement with the institution. Can the institution do anything to you if you break it? Legally, no. The contract is not worth the paper it is written on. However, inside the admissions network, it is very easy for information to spread. No one looks very highly on someone who breaks an ED agreement. Ultimately the choice is yours. Play the game if you wish, but remember that the entire admissions world is watching. Is that really the way you wish to start a college career? By entering an academic community built on intellectual integrity by undermining that integrity before your foot is even in the door? I don’t think so.