The student withdraws other applications when they accept the offer of admission.
One reason NOT to accept is that financial aid is not sufficient to make the costs affordable for the family…and this does happen.
I think contacting finaid and asking if this aid package will be ready before Jan 15 is a good idea. Admissions also might give you an extension on the commit date pending financial aid.
I agree but OP chose not to do so. And didn’t run the NPC prior to applying.
Only reason I said that.
Just because you have til Jan 15 to pay doesn’t mean you don’t have to immediately withdraw your apps. Above I told the student it’d be dangerous to but by rule he does need to.
Truth is, this student, without checking the NPC, should not have applied ED. That said, it seems like the cost will be under $10K.
OP is not required to immediately withdraw. When they accept the offer is when they withdraw. It’s foolish to withdraw others before you know you can accept, based on the finances. Yes they should have done that step already but they have time to get an actual aid number before accepting in this case.
But it does mean that. This student was wrong to wait so long to submit the CSS, and perhaps the parents had some responsibility in that, who knows. But I would tell this student not to pull other apps until they receive their financial aid package.
I also agree with thumper that the school might give OP an extension on the enrollment deadline, especially if the school can’t get the FA package out by the 15th. IME schools tend to be lenient on these deadlines, even more so for Pell students who often don’t have adequate college counseling.