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<p>While I understand your point, that doesn’t make any sense. The invitations were sent out all at once, usually with decently-near application deadlines. Giving up my spot would not have afforded another student an invitation; instead, the invitation would have gone to no one.</p>
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<p>You must not have read my post, since I already established that some people would have felt my actions were unethical. Given that a) I was invited to these events and b) prior interest or further interest in the college was not a requirement for attendance, I personally do not feel like my actions crossed ethical boundaries. If colleges want to target only students who are likely to attend and/or only students who have demonstrated interest, they are welcomed to do so. For example, Washington University in St. Louis offers invitations to Discovery Weekend for students who have already exhibited interest by returning mailings or submitting the pre-application early. Scripps and Carnegie Mellon were free to do the same.</p>
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<p>Exactly. I was targeted for these travel grants despite having never exhibited interest in the school. I didn’t “take” anyone’s spot. I took the spot that was offered to me. Now, you are free to feel that is unethical - as I stated some would believe - but that does not shift my ethical compass, nor should it. I do not criticize students who attend schools on scholarships that were not their first choice, just because the scholarship was offered to them.</p>
<p>I had little interest in attending these schools when I accepted the travel grants. What if I had came away from Scripps or CMU infatuated with the school? Would my actions have been unethical then?</p>