<p>Speaking from a purely hypothetical point of view:</p>
<p>Let’s say I was accepted at a small liberal arts school and wait listed at an Ivy, and I had a family tie to the director of admissions at that Ivy that allowed me to find out my wait list decision on May 2nd (or thereabouts). Hypothetically, could I send a check via mail on May 1st to the liberal arts school, and then cancel the check if I were to get into the Ivy? Is there any way the school could, hypothetically, make me pay the deposit after I have rescinded my acceptance?</p>