How soon after an ED acceptance does a student need to withdraw EA applications?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helped DC get organized and churned through them all (about 8 EA and RD that were submitted, including one early acceptance that was declined) the weekend after ED acceptance, like once we were sure the deposit cleared and the portal showed it was received.

Took the oppty to discuss how this was respectful to peers, schools and the process.

Thought out loud about who might get the scholarship offer that DC was turning down on the RD offer, and took extra care to be sure the person noted on the scholarship offer letter was notified that DC declined (to try to help get the funds to another student).

Thought out loud about who from DC’s school might get a coveted slot at the selective EA schools where DC applied. Maybe a friend with a similar profile, where admissions may choose just one of them? Maybe that really hardworking girl in bio class who was really hoping for this as her dream school, but couldn’t easily ED for financial reasons?

Helped with the process, guiding in what to do where there wasn’t an easy withdraw app button to click. Who might you email? What would you say and how?

Next step was letting those who helped know the outcome - writing thoughtful emails to recommenders and guidance counselor. Some guidance was needed.

This is a parenting opportunity. Step up.

lol this is a weird post.

[Anonymous]

My older kid did it as soon as reasonably possible. But it didn't happen immediately through no fault of her own. Had to look for process of withdrawing for each school. Some allow you to do it in the portal. With others, she looked but didn't see a way to withdraw, so then had to email. So colleges could make this more straightforward, in some cases, they are causing the delay themselves. Then there was some back and forth. They all asked where she was going for example.

[Anonymous]

Weird. In our experience there's always been a button on the portal

[Anonymous]

It took a couple days to do all the withdrawals. It was hard to find the option for some schools. But we prioritized ones that were coming out with EA decisions soon so that we withdrew before that decision. Some were just a couple days away. We took a few more days for the RD ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For parents with older kids who were accepted ED, when did your kid withdraw from their other schools? The same day or would it be okay to wait a day or two or three days?

My kid is expecting an ED decision in mid-December, and a EA decision will be released the following day and a different EA decision will be released the day after that. IF my kid is accepted ED, of course they will withdraw the other applications. However, can they wait a day to see if they get into the EA school, or is that considered unethical? What about 2 days to see whether they get into the other EA school? The reason I think waiting should be okay is because even if my kid withdraws immediately, it will have zero impact on the EA school taking another kid in the early round since it's too close to the deadline.

This is all hypothetical since my kid applied to a high reach of them, but I'm just curious how people feel about this issue.

if it is a day apart it will not matter, however it is less than ethical with the big exception of financial aid. For ED applicants who are waiting on the need based financial aid package from the ED school, do not withdraw other apps. Straight from the counseling dean at our private. Most years it is fast but some years has been weeks of delay. If the school does not meet NPC, you can withdraw. All the top ones meet it but there are some in the T40-60 range that have come close to NPC without a back and forth appeal process. The private supports such appeals and encourages not withdrawing other apps if you are in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird. In our experience there's always been a button on the portal

These people who said it took days must have done this before portals. It takes a few seconds. There's no reason to wait. Time to celebrate being done with this stressful process!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird. In our experience there's always been a button on the portal

These people who said it took days must have done this before portals. It takes a few seconds. There's no reason to wait. Time to celebrate being done with this stressful process!

no it was 2 years ago and there were portals then, but not all schools had a withdraw option on the portal. so had to email some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird. In our experience there's always been a button on the portal

These people who said it took days must have done this before portals. It takes a few seconds. There's no reason to wait. Time to celebrate being done with this stressful process!

no it was 2 years ago and there were portals then, but not all schools had a withdraw option on the portal. so had to email some.

Amazingly, things change every year! Your experience is not longer current. The withdraw is in the portals.

[Anonymous]

If my DC gets into his ED choice we will be celebrating and happily withdrawing all apps once the deposit check clears. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine to wait until the next business day. After that, unless you're sick or in an emergency situation, you need to do the right thing.

[Anonymous]

My DC’s friend applied ED to an Ivy. Got in. Didn’t withdraw MIT EA app. Got in MIT EA (with better financial aid) and somehow got released from Cornell ED so they could go to MIT. I don’t think it’s ethical to not withdraw other apps once accepted to ED school. If you want or need to compare financial aid packages then don’t ED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weird. In our experience there's always been a button on the portal

These people who said it took days must have done this before portals. It takes a few seconds. There's no reason to wait. Time to celebrate being done with this stressful process!

no it was 2 years ago and there were portals then, but not all schools had a withdraw option on the portal. so had to email some.

+1. Last year.

[Anonymous]

The Common App's form ED Agreement says that other applications must be withdrawn "promptly" after an ED acceptance. However there is no definition recited of what constitutes "promptly."

[Anonymous]

I mean this is a good problem to have ...

As long as they plan to uphold their agreement to attend your ED school, I don't think it should matter if they wait a few more hours, days or weeks before going into each portal and withdrawing. I doubt anyone is policing the "immediately" language on the agreement since it's not binding anyway.

Keep in mind these kids are teenagers. They've been jumping on command to do whatever these colleges have asked for in their cumbersome and anxiety-inducing applicaitons. If they want to take a beat, let them. They've already paid the fee and poured hours into writing their application, and filming their video.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean this is a good problem to have ...

As long as they plan to uphold their agreement to attend your ED school, I don't think it should matter if they wait a few more hours, days or weeks before going into each portal and withdrawing. I doubt anyone is policing the "immediately" language on the agreement since it's not binding anyway.

Keep in mind these kids are teenagers. They've been jumping on command to do whatever these colleges have asked for in their cumbersome and anxiety-inducing applicaitons. If they want to take a beat, let them. They've already paid the fee and poured hours into writing their application, and filming their video.

Hope you don't have a kid longing for an acceptance that never comes because some self-centered as$holes are taking their sweet time to withdraw apps or worse yet are hoping to get into schools they never would attend got ego reasons.