Just curious why this topic resonates with so many posters. This whole ED business only matters for extraordinary kids applying to top 10-20 colleges that take very few students from the same high school. It doesn’t matter for UVA or WM or UMD. Your kids friend not withdrawing after being accepted ED to Columbia is not going to kill your kids chances at UVA.

I agree if a kid is doing this for fun then he should be stopped. The problem is that this thread is filled with comments that lack any sympathy towards complicated family situations. Coming here and threatening/stimulating actions that may cause a college offer to be rescinded requires a bit more of understating and compassion. If you are absolutely sure the kid is recklessly keeping offers open why having accepted an ED for which he is set to go, then go head and report. If you are not sure what is going on, then I would say refrain and do not assume you know what is going on with someone else.

Anonymous wrote:You are lecturing in abstract without knowing the specifics of the family as if college costs were not a known issue in this country. Again, privilege written all over. Would not be surprised if this is a case of pay for SAT prep, pay for essay drafting, pay for college advisors, pay for private school and still pretends this is a fair game. Inequalities start way before you can imagine… think immigration status, complex parenting situation…

No one is pretending that college costs are a non-issue. Several PPs have shared the NYT piece that makes clear that an applicant can get out an ED admission if they do not receive financial aid that is needed. The OP described a different situation - a kid who got in ED, intends to go to the ED school, but is keeping the other applications in the mix just for fun. That's a violation of the agreement that the kid's parents and their guidance counselor signed, and it's plainly unethical.

You are lecturing in abstract without knowing the specifics of the family as if college costs were not a known issue in this country. Again, privilege written all over. Would not be surprised if this is a case of pay for SAT prep, pay for essay drafting, pay for college advisors, pay for private school and still pretends this is a fair game. Inequalities start way before you can imagine… think immigration status, complex parenting situation…

If there was truly a financial issue the student should be communicating with the school on that point - either to decline the ED admission or find some other workaround. But he can't accept the ED admission and wait on EA/RD decisions elsewhere. It will come back to haunt him and the high school.

Some colleges send a list to the high schools letting them know of their ED decisions and reminding them of the obligation to withdraw other apps. A responsible counselor will call down accepted students to discuss the matter, but they're very unlikely to take any action due to fear of litigation.

Anonymous wrote:Now it is clear. ED only if you have money to pay. Tales of privilege disguised as a high morals. No money, no chance.

No money, excellent chance of a full ride. Even some money is pretty good (less than 200k) so you qualify for financial aid. More than 200k, get your priorities straight and save for college instead of complaining of privilege.

Anonymous wrote:Now it is clear. ED only if you have money to pay. Tales of privilege disguised as a high morals. No money, no chance.

Isn't that what ED has always been? That's why we couldn't apply ED. But, we know that. We don't like it, but if we had applied, we'd expect it to be binding and to follow the rules. So this person wants to get the ED benefits with none of the liability that comes with the binding nature? Not OK.

Now it is clear. ED only if you have money to pay. Tales of privilege disguised as a high morals. No money, no chance.

Anonymous wrote:I am struggling to understand how anyone would be okay with not following a rule that protects the interests of others.

Isn’t this DCUM?

Anonymous wrote:In some cases parents of ED accepted are still scrambling to get loans to pay for the school past the decision deadline. What would you do? Do not rush to judge others.

Then they shouldn't have applied ED.

I guess some here would say if you do not have the money or a good enough financial aid package from the school you should just tell your son to forget about the school…

In some cases parents of ED accepted are still scrambling to get loans to pay for the school past the decision deadline. What would you do? Do not rush to judge others.

Anonymous wrote:Maryland EA decision approaching and parents are understandably anxious. Pretty sure that eventual EDs not withdrawing will not matter in the bigger scheme of things.

Say wha???????????

Anonymous wrote:The contract you sign when you apply is clear and binding. Schools have withdrawn ED acceptances and students have been left with 0 admittances.

+1. It’s not fair to the other students in OP’s kid’s class.