<p>So after thinking through my options I know that it makes the most sense for me to go to UMD -College Park since they gave me a full ride and all my other schools would cost more than my family can pay. I’m getting really excited about going to UMD and I want to matriculate so I can get started on everything like signing up for orientation, finding a roommate and so on. However, my dad wants me to wait to officially hear my financial aid decisions from Claremont McKenna and George Washington. I don’t see any reason to do this as our EFC is higher than what my parents can pay (GW gave me merit money, but as that comes out of need based aid it’s not going to help us). He’s saying that I don’t know what’s going to happen but based on the other 5 schools besides UMD I’ve heard from about aid, it’s just not going to work out. I know where I want to be and I just want to get started and be excited about it, but my dad’s not letting me make it official even though I’ve wanted to do it for over a week. Is there any reason I should wait around? The way I see it, if I enroll, the worst case scenario is I somehow get great aid from GW, so I decide to go there instead and possibly lose my deposit at UMD. But based on everything I’ve heard and experienced, that just isn’t going to happen. What should I do?</p>
<p>Wait and make your decision when all the information is in. We’re only talking about a few days here. You’re not talking about an admissions wait list, but financial aid info. You have nothing whatsoever to lose by waiting. You can still get excited about UMD-CP and buy the sweatshirt/join the class of 2016 Facebook page etc. later in the month.</p>
<p>You don’t know what your options are until you know what your options are.</p>
<p>The issue is that GW isn’t going to let me know financial aid for weeks. If it was a few days, I’d have no problem waiting. But they said we’d know “by late April” which is concerning, especially because I’m worried that if I wait, I’ll miss the chance to sign up for earlier orientation dates that will give me more priority in picking classes.</p>
<p>Actually, GW is sending out financial aid information on April 4th, and attending a later orientation date does not affect priority in choosing classes, as you do not select classes at orientation.</p>
<p>May 1 is the national decision date. No college is going to make you choose them without having provided financial aid information prior to that time. No incoming freshmen are going to be choosing classes and registering at any college or university prior to early summer.</p>
<p>Universities with summer freshman orientations on different dates block off sets of required classes so that the early birds don’t get all the prime offerings. Seats in sections are artificially capped to prevent this.</p>
<p>You can submit your housing and dining request form for UMD before you officially enroll. Then, if you decide to go elsewhere, you have to withdraw that as well as your acceptance. You can definitely find a roommate and submit that, and start getting excited.
You can’t register for orientation until after you enroll, though. Plus, I don’t think the other colleges are worth turning down a full ride to Maryland. (Although I am slightly biased)</p>