Anonymous wrote:We know someone that was accepted ED to a top 20 school but backed out when accepted to a service academy. Told the school his parents were getting a divorce and could no longer afford it, but given the excruciating process of getting admission to a service academy, I’m assuming the divorce was just the excuse.

No repercussions against his HS, that I’m aware of.

I actually think this is allowed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those schools should switch to common app. Common app doesn’t allow more than one ED.

I love ED and hope it lasts at least long enough for my second child! It’s a great option for kids not wanting to play the field. DD had a very realistic first choice and wanted an answer as soon as possible. It was great.

Oh, Common App is very easy to get around. You apply apply EA via the Common App and then just switch your "Decision Round" to ED in the school's portal. As you long as you can get a school counselor to sign the form, there is zero limit to the number of schools you can apply ED to.

Well that’s on the counselor then. I highly doubt a public school counselor such as our would allow it. Regardless, we used ED as intended and it worked beautifully for us. I’m so tired of upper middle class whiners claiming that ED won’t let them shop merit aid. Boo-effing-hoo. Kids with true need do fine in ED. Use the NPC and apply places you can afford. You’ll live.

This. Schools below top 20 that give substantial merit money still do for ED (my child's school promises at least $25k). For top schools, there's no evidence that ED applicants get less need based financial aid. The students who are suing because they claim they thought they'd get more financial aid are delusional.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t soft/unstated bans happen all the time, and wouldn’t they be almost as effective? At my kid’s private school, “everyone” knows that certain top 20 schools love our students, some like select students (= admit fewer overall, but an extremely qualified candidate has a reasonable chance of admission), but one hasn’t admitted a single student from our school in years, since a last-minute ED acceptee withdrew. The soft ban effectively still keeps kids from applying to that univ from our school. I don’t know the family and we did not discuss with the college counselor since the school didn’t interest my child. Are others aware of rumored soft bans at their schools?

Yes, there is a top10 school that does not accept from my DC’s big3. Everyone knows the name of the school. Rumor has it that there were 2 students that backed out of ED over a period of 3 years. I am not sure if it is true, but no one gets into this school. No one.

Anonymous wrote:Or you could be like my sister in law who spent every last dollar they made and now because BIL was laid off their kids will get a full ride. Didn’t save a dollar and were rewarded.

I’d rather have a huge pile of money saved and need to pay for college than be completely broke and unemployed in my mid 40’s/50’s. That’s not aspirational even for free college.

We know someone that was accepted ED to a top 20 school but backed out when accepted to a service academy. Told the school his parents were getting a divorce and could no longer afford it, but given the excruciating process of getting admission to a service academy, I’m assuming the divorce was just the excuse.

No repercussions against his HS, that I’m aware of.

Anonymous wrote:The NPC calculator may be one way to address the inequities of ED. However, another non-financial issue is that the fact that ED can be an advantage at most schools compels some kids to hedge their bets and commit to elite schools that aren’t truly their first choice or that aren’t the best fits. Obviously, it’s on the kid to know themselves, do the research, etc., but that can be hard at age 16-17. That’s where the parents and CC need to have a serious discussion with the kid

I don’t see this as an issue at all. My DD applied to a very realistic ED that she was happy with. She did not apply to any super reach schools. Other students might not want that and it’s fine, but it’s hardly an “issue.” If you are hunting for the “best” (highest ranked) school period, then ED is not for you. And that doesn’t make ED bad or an “issue.”

Anonymous wrote:Or you could be like my sister in law who spent every last dollar they made and now because BIL was laid off their kids will get a full ride. Didn’t save a dollar and were rewarded.

I don't think a lot of top students are coming from families like this. Paying for college is the least of their problems.

The NPC calculator may be one way to address the inequities of ED. However, another non-financial issue is that the fact that ED can be an advantage at most schools compels some kids to hedge their bets and commit to elite schools that aren’t truly their first choice or that aren’t the best fits. Obviously, it’s on the kid to know themselves, do the research, etc., but that can be hard at age 16-17. That’s where the parents and CC need to have a serious discussion with the kid

Or you could be like my sister in law who spent every last dollar they made and now because BIL was laid off their kids will get a full ride. Didn’t save a dollar and were rewarded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those schools should switch to common app. Common app doesn’t allow more than one ED.

I love ED and hope it lasts at least long enough for my second child! It’s a great option for kids not wanting to play the field. DD had a very realistic first choice and wanted an answer as soon as possible. It was great.

Oh, Common App is very easy to get around. You apply apply EA via the Common App and then just switch your "Decision Round" to ED in the school's portal. As you long as you can get a school counselor to sign the form, there is zero limit to the number of schools you can apply ED to.

Well that’s on the counselor then. I highly doubt a public school counselor such as our would allow it. Regardless, we used ED as intended and it worked beautifully for us. I’m so tired of upper middle class whiners claiming that ED won’t let them shop merit aid. Boo-effing-hoo. Kids with true need do fine in ED. Use the NPC and apply places you can afford. You’ll live.

+1

Why do some parents still not get this? T20 schools give little to no merit aid. Period. Use the NPC. If you cannot afford, move on and focus on public in-state universities or the schools that do give merit aid.

We ran this calculator when DS was born and now facing the actual cost, it turned out to be pretty damn accurate. We knew that if we wanted him to be able to attend an Ivy, we would need to save agressively. There is no way we would be able to afford a private college on our salaries if we had not planned ahead and saved. I have zero patience for upper-middle class parents who claim they are blindsided by the cost of college and they start whining about ED being unfair. https://vanguardcollege.ssnc.cloud/csp.php

Do you even hear yourselves? “Boohoo! I paid $200k for private HS so my kid would have an unfair leg up in college admissions and now because I need to merit shop my kids can’t apply ED and I don’t get access to a second leg up in admissions!!!”

Anonymous wrote:To each his own. I’m glad my kid’s top choice Georgetown doesn’t have ED. Spared them a lot of agonizing and it was just as well because they didn’t get into Georgetown.

But maybe they would have if Georgetown had it. If you don’t get in ED, the binding agreement dissolves anyway. There is no harm. If you don’t have a true first choice, apply EA. I know plenty of kids who only applied EA with no ED choice and all are attending great schools. Parents need to take a breath here.

Anonymous wrote:The consequences should be on the student (like no other accredited school can offer admission this year) and not on classmates.

Agreed like the contract between the parents, student, and counselor should agree transcripts won’t be sent anywhere else in a way that is legally binding.

To each his own. I’m glad my kid’s top choice Georgetown doesn’t have ED. Spared them a lot of agonizing and it was just as well because they didn’t get into Georgetown.

8:12 adding that our child and our family had to sign agreements with our school re use of ED: you get in, you pull all other applications the next day, and you go there. It was also explained to us many times that reneging was forbidden and would damage the school’s reputation. So the school is doing everything right, as far as I can tell. And my child did have one friend who reportedly regretted his ED decision to a different school in the south but is currently attending there anyway and has come back around to thinking that it is a good fit.