<p>I applied to a couple local schools along with Hotchkiss, and i recently found out that i got into both of my local schools. But the deadline to reply and enroll for my two local schools is march first and hotchkiss only gives me an acceptance decision on march tenth. I think that i am going to call and ask them to mail the letter or respond before i have to enroll in my other schools. Do you think that they will be ok with that, and also, do you think it would jepordize my chances by making them decide earlier? thanks and i appreciate all posts</p>
<p>Hotchkiss will not give you the decision early. This is a common problem, you need to ask the other schools for extensions or give one a deposit if they insist.</p>
<p>I agree. ^^</p>
<p>Good point Suze.</p>
<p>Lynn, check the contract. You may have to have your parents sign and provide an enrolment fee. But typically, the contract can be cancelled before a deadline, (June 1st in our case). The most you would loose is your enrolment fee if the contract was cancelled prior to the deadline.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>…if you want to satisfy yourself, ask.</p>
<p>I think we can predict the answer, but I’m as sure as I can be that the Hotchkiss Dean of Admission won’t hold it against you for asking the question. He is acutely tuned in to the stresses applicants go through and doesn’t view the application process as some anal-retentive obstacle course where, say, asking if you can get a decision by March 1 will ZAP your application. </p>
<p>While I wouldn’t do it to get his advice, I’d also bet that he’d share with you any wisdom he might have on how to deal with this issue.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any wisdom myself that could expand on what suze mentioned. But if you’re not sure, go to the source and while you may not (probably won’t) get the answer you hope for, you might just get some advice that proves very useful.</p>
<p>pay the deposit and bail…my friend did that to loomis when hotchkiss took him off the waitlist…remember, the contracts have no legal baring, just like early decision plan in college admissions, they cant sue u if u dont go</p>
<p>and i m pretty sure bill leahy wont give you the decision early…it’s impossible, or else everyone would just make up some excuse to ask for decisions</p>
<p>No, they won’t give you the decision early because they have no proof you aren’t lying.</p>
<p>Contact your local private schools. I think they will be a little lenient on your deadline.</p>
<p>if you contacted the other schools, wouldnt they be thinking “oh, we’re just her back up.” and they wouldnt really want to give you an extension?
well i just say put down the deposit on the local school. If you get into Hotchkiss, forget about the deposit you put down and go there</p>
<p>@olivia567: First of all, if she copied the letters from the other schools she could prove her predicament. That’s not why Hotchkiss won’t bend. They won’t bend the rules because they agreed to set a single, uniform date. It’s like asking the flight attendant if the pilot will return to the departure airport because you left your cup of coffee in the waiting area. The fact that the plane will continue along its merry is not a matter of being unable to prove that you left the coffee there.</p>
<p>Secondly, while I suggested above that she contact Bill Leahy at Hotchkiss; note that I did NOT suggest that she contact the local schools. Here’s why…and this is a lesson that I try to impress upon even some mid-level management people: Don’t ask a question unless you’re prepared to abide by the answer. Asking Hotchkiss if they’ll make an early decision is fine because she can live with the “wrong” answer. But going to the other schools may not yield a satisfactory answer. It’s possible that the schools will say, “No, you can’t have an extension. And do not say ‘yes’ and take a spot unless you’re sure, by OUR deadline that that’s your final decision.” In that case, she’ll be worse off. Instead of just sticking to the rules, she may be asked to give her word that her local school decision is final. And I don’t think she wants to be boxed in like that – pitting a possible shot at Hotchkiss against breaking a promise (not to mention that that promise was a lie). It probably wouldn’t go down quite like that. But it COULD. It’s plausible. And, like I said, it’s wise to only ask for permission or advice from decisionmakers if you’re going to follow their advice.</p>
<p>as i said, that agreement/deposit bares no legal power just like an early decision contract…pay and bail if hotchkiss accepts you… (if paying the deposit is affordable to your family of course)</p>
<p>Yes, it does have legal power. Try to get your money back after you decide to go to another school. They keep it…because the agreement has legal power.</p>
<p>Before putting money down on the local schools, make sure your parents read and understand the ramifications of backing out. Looking at my D’s school contract, technically, the parents are on the hook for the entire tuition amount if you back out.</p>
<p>Many local private schools don’t have a good yield on acceptance, so 20 or 30 percent (or even more) may not accept, leaving a second round of acceptance letters going out shortly after March 1. I would bet that a large number of applicants at the 2 schools you were accepted to cross-applied just like you and were accepted at both just like you.</p>
<p>And even that second set of 20 or 30 percent won’t necessarily yield a full class, so I would guess that your odds of being able to pay late are very good at one or even both local schools. Just be prepared to present a check on March 11th. Very few schools turn down cash from somebody they already accepted on their “A” list, even if it is late.</p>
<p>If it helps you, in our situation, we were dealing with the school my D attends and another school in May, as neither of these schools fills all of their slots on the first or 2nd pass. I would bet the same for your local private school as well. You should check this out though perhaps with current student families.</p>
<p>my point about legal power is…they cant make you go there…they can keep your deposit…but they cant sue u if you dont go…</p>
<p>if your family can afford living without the deposit, go ahead and pay it…a lot of my friends here paid deposit somewhere else and got taken off the waitlist and came</p>
<p>I would not advise you to contact Hotchkiss-they will not,and should not,give you an early answer. Too many unknowns. Are you seeking financial aid from any or all schools? Where are these local schools? New York City,Boston,Atlanta or ? Are you indicating that Hotchkiss is your first choice-with or w/o financial aid? Read the commitment letter that is to be sent in with each deposit.</p>
<p>Some schools have sued for tuition. Actually many have. College ED contracts are binding legal contracts,although the remedies may vary,you or your parents may be sued. Remember that your deposit may cost the school in question another student-especially if financial aid is involved. Think of how you would want the schools to treat you before you act. Also one or both or all three schools may revoke their acceptances if they find out that you reserved a spot at another school. You are dealing with experienced institutions-they have seen this all before many,many times most likely.</p>
<p>Your situation is interesting. Many local communities,as well as the elite boarding schools, have adopted common decision dates in an effort to avoid this situation. Perhaps one of the local schools will work with you. Might be best to first contact the local school which is your second choice between the two locals and ask if they have encountered this situation before and seek their advice in a very gracious and respectful manner. It has to make you feel wonderful that these schools want you! Congratulations.</p>