@MamaDeer I don’t think you can change it. You’re applying for a specific term that’s separate from the traditional enrollment. A reason why IA exists is because they want to increase enrollment but at the same time they don’t have enough space for traditional campus terms (Fall/Summer). You might be able to change your term from Fall to Summer because they’re both still traditional terms that both have a set amount of students able to be enrolled, and because if you apply Summer you will be at Fall anyways, and Fall students will have a Summer semester at one point as well.
IA is completely separate from Fall/Summer, so therefore you can’t switch to it since they admitted you on the basis of you “wanting” to attend Spring rather than Fall/Summer, when they will have room for you. For example, a highly qualified applicant that expressed interest in IA compared to a lesser qualified though still viable applicant who selected regular admissions will be placed in IA so the lesser qualified applicant will be placed in his preferred term. They don’t know that you don’t want IA, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to take away the other applicant’s regular admissions spot, making both parties unhappy. They try to place you in the term you want, and if you’re highly qualified for IA then you’re going to get IA.
The reason why you can turn down Honors decisions is because they’re still intertwined with traditional enrollment that occurs in the Fall. You’re still a regular student if you turn down Honors because if you apply for Honors you were already admitted into the regular semesters in the first place.
It is not a 100% chance that she will be put in IA, though there is a high chance she will end up getting placed in it.
This was one of the things our guidance counselor stressed when students came to her for advice. It happens a lot, and it’s unfortunate that students who work so hard in high school don’t make it into their dream school just because of a simple mistake that isn’t related to their academic merit and achievement. At this point in applications there’s not much I think you can do. Decisions come out soon and I believe they’ve already gone through so many that they can’t go back and change anything.
Here’s some more information on the topic:
This is just purely based on past experiences, and I do not know if it still holds true today. My counselor told me that an incident like this happened a few years ago, and people on CC claim that it has happened to them as well. However, I don’t think it will have changed at this point. I would still try calling the Office of Admissions for help, but I’m guessing they’ll tell you the same thing I said.