Is the ED promise effective the date you apply?

Applying to College
1

<p>Is the ED promise by the applicant effective the date you apply (i.e. Nov 1 or earlier) or the date you decide i.e. respond to the offer (between Dec 1 and Jan 1)? Anybody know the answer?</p>

<p>As an aside, I’m totally confused on this contract thing. From what I know, a contract is legal only when there’s an offer, acceptance, and consideration involved between competent parties. Not sure how ED qualiifies. I think
the stick is ‘blacklisting’ and pressure on school GC’s and parents. It may
not hold in a court of law.</p>

<p>Perhaps the contract goes something like this?

  1. I make an application (offer) with a ‘promise’ to attend.
  2. College accepts my offer and defines the consideration (fees minus grants)
    with the admission counter-offer.
  3. When I accept the offer, there’s a binding contract, provided
    I’m over 18 (or parents countersign?) , and not insane.
    Is this true?</p>
2

<p>It is only quasi-legal, so I do not think the exact offer/consideration required applies. That being said, it does follow the procedures for a contract as follows:

    • You apply (offer), with the consideration that you will matriculate if they accept the offer
    • For ED, the terms for consideration differ form RD because you commit to attending if they give you an offer
    • They offer you a place, therefore completing the contract
      Both parties have serious intent, definite terms and capacity. The contract is effective upon the date they send out the offer.</p>

<p>No college can make you attend, but almost all colleges will respect other colleges’ ED policies. So it is not really enforced by law, but rather by a consensus attitude among the colleges.</p>

3

<p>i doubt a college will go to court. but many ed forms do require a parents signature also.
the real issue is whether another school will accept you. i have heard that colleges circulate lists of who they have accepted ed.
ED is not something to be done lightly. why do so many students post here thinking they’ll have “an out”? if you think you’ll need an out, you shouldn’t be applying ED.
The reason acceptance rates are higher for ED candidates is because the schools know that those they accept will attend – schools take the fact that a student applies ED seriously. Students should take it seriously as well. Its not a question of whether you can find a legal loophole. Its a matter of accepting what the process is and respecting it.</p>