Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh, this will be allowed. The Service Academies do not offer ED or EA or SCEA. It's RD for everyone. Our DC went through the West Point application process - which a very long and demanding process. But also applied ED to a T20 private university. The ED admission came before the West Point decision. So DC followed the rules, and removed the West Point app, and attends the private university. However, there was an understanding that you can prioritize a Service Academy appointment over an ED acceptance. Absolutely no university is suing anyone for choosing West Point or Annapolis or the Air Force Academy. Especially if there is a change in financial circumstances - such as a divorce - which is very legitimate reason to defer from an ED commitment for any student. In the example above, nobody did anything wrong.

This is 100% correct. Service Academy acceptance is considered a legitimate reason for backing out of ANY school's ED. We know someone who backed out of a Harvard ED several years ago to go to Navy. My DC is planning on that this year.

That’s **100% impressive***, considering Harvard has never had an Early Decision program to back out of. Their early option is Restrictive Early Action — non-binding.

PP again. Oh. Sorry. Didn’t know that. That’s what the kid told us.

But I stand by the second part. Service Academy appointments, which typically aren’t made until early spring, are an acceptable reason to back out of an ED at any school. You do NOT have to pull an SA application if you are accepted ED

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Unless your SAT is 1550+ ( ACT 35.5+) dreaming of Uchicago is futile for most

Yet UChicago encourages kids to pay for applications with a blizzard of postcards, with most having no idea that they have no chance of admission unless they apply ED. Really obnoxious.

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Tulane has no application fee, so they aren’t harvesting fees. If applicants really wanted Tulane, they would realize within about 5 minutes of research on their website, that you need to apply Early Action (non-binding) or ED (binding). They tell you point blank that RD is almost impossible. You are ignoring the non-binding EA option. They do let in a lot kids EA. My kid was one!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Spare us your faux concern for those less fortunate. They can apply ED because they will get need based aid.

My DS went to a Title 1 urban CA public school that was only 1/5 white. Just expressing my perspective based upon the experiences of kids there during the admissions process. But it is interesting that even a lot of the middle and UMC families at his school didn’t know the extent to which schools enroll their classes ED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh, this will be allowed. The Service Academies do not offer ED or EA or SCEA. It's RD for everyone. Our DC went through the West Point application process - which a very long and demanding process. But also applied ED to a T20 private university. The ED admission came before the West Point decision. So DC followed the rules, and removed the West Point app, and attends the private university. However, there was an understanding that you can prioritize a Service Academy appointment over an ED acceptance. Absolutely no university is suing anyone for choosing West Point or Annapolis or the Air Force Academy. Especially if there is a change in financial circumstances - such as a divorce - which is very legitimate reason to defer from an ED commitment for any student. In the example above, nobody did anything wrong.

This is 100% correct. Service Academy acceptance is considered a legitimate reason for backing out of ANY school's ED. We know someone who backed out of a Harvard ED several years ago to go to Navy. My DC is planning on that this year.

That’s **100% impressive***, considering Harvard has never had an Early Decision program to back out of. Their early option is Restrictive Early Action — non-binding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Spare us your faux concern for those less fortunate. They can apply ED because they will get need based aid.

And you can apply ED and accept the NPC, just like them.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh, this will be allowed. The Service Academies do not offer ED or EA or SCEA. It's RD for everyone. Our DC went through the West Point application process - which a very long and demanding process. But also applied ED to a T20 private university. The ED admission came before the West Point decision. So DC followed the rules, and removed the West Point app, and attends the private university. However, there was an understanding that you can prioritize a Service Academy appointment over an ED acceptance. Absolutely no university is suing anyone for choosing West Point or Annapolis or the Air Force Academy. Especially if there is a change in financial circumstances - such as a divorce - which is very legitimate reason to defer from an ED commitment for any student. In the example above, nobody did anything wrong.

This is 100% correct. Service Academy acceptance is considered a legitimate reason for backing out of ANY school's ED. We know someone who backed out of a Harvard ED several years ago to go to Navy. My DC is planning on that this year.

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Do you really think the vast majority of DCUM posters care one iota about any other kid? I think it’s great when posters reveal themselves so clearly.

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Spare us your faux concern for those less fortunate. They can apply ED because they will get need based aid.

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.

Interesting!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is the system pressures kids, and they are still kids, into making a "binding" decision.
Its a total bait and switch for a very large percentage of the students who apply ED.
Throughout their sophomore and junior year they are told it is only for those who have a clear first choice and would be happy to attend. Then when senior year roles around they are told instead that it is the path for some schools (Tulane is one of those who admits almost no regular decision candidates) and that its actually their best chance way to lock in one of their target schools and they should commit and give up on their reach/dream schools.
Yes, it works out for some, but others end up with regrets.

Perhaps your kid is not ready for college, especially a T25-30 university if they cannot understand what it means to have a "top choice" and be willing to commit to it. Especially with you as a parent helping them. I mean really, if you can't understand that and that choosing to ED to a not top 1 choice means you are "giving up on your dream schools" then perhaps you need to grow up before attending college.

If you choose to use ED as a tool to anywhere except your Tippy top choice, then you must live with the choice. Not that difficult for a 17 yo to understand, especially one with a resume for a T25 school (supposedly)

This well said

Anonymous wrote:Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Unless your SAT is 1550+ ( ACT 35.5+) dreaming of Uchicago is futile for most

Outside of the DCUM world, there are huge numbers of public school kids who are unaware that it is nearly impossible to get into ED schools like Tulane, NYU and UChicago, among others, unless they apply ED. Schools are harvesting application RD application fees from them and using these applicants to enhance their reputation for selectivity. Perhaps, many would apply anyway, but some wouldn’t and the fact that even the slight hope of admission they have is illusory rankles.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Abolish ED, limit everyone to 10 applications, limit SAT/ACT sittings to 2, get rid of the “commitment” system for Division III athletics, and maybe that can go some ways in making the process the way it was circa 1990- not perfect but much more transparent (even without internet!) and less stressful.

Nope!! ED is a good thing, and helps ensure schools fill their freshman class exactly (not over, not under---both are bad for the school for the next 4 years)
If you don't like ED, don't do it. Just like you don't buy a BMW if you can only afford a KIA. It's a choice

It’s amazing how much all of you get off on thinking the people objecting aren’t as wealthy as you. You are showing your true and nasty colors.

Nope, just that we worked to save for college. And we are smart enough to know that Top 25 schools don't give merit. So run the NPC and decide accordingly. Just like I don't buy a car or a house that I cannot afford, I'm also not paying for college I cannot afford.

But it is stupid to overpay for college and take massive loans if you cannot afford it. There are plenty of excellent choices that can be affordable. My "1250/3.5UW/no AP kid" found several choices that were only 30-40K (and a few at under $20K in state) without even trying all ranked below T120. Had we needed merit they could have found even more choices. If you want to search for value options are there and ED is not for you. Just like if you cannot afford an $90K car, you don't spend that when a $40K will do the job quite well (maybe even better). Nothing nasty about that. It's called living within your means and not being an entitled a$$hole.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is the system pressures kids, and they are still kids, into making a "binding" decision.
Its a total bait and switch for a very large percentage of the students who apply ED.
Throughout their sophomore and junior year they are told it is only for those who have a clear first choice and would be happy to attend. Then when senior year roles around they are told instead that it is the path for some schools (Tulane is one of those who admits almost no regular decision candidates) and that its actually their best chance way to lock in one of their target schools and they should commit and give up on their reach/dream schools.
Yes, it works out for some, but others end up with regrets.

The system is not pressuring the kids. Their parents are pressuring them. My kid felt zero pressure to ED. Zero. In fact we repeatedly told her she didn’t need to, and she chose to because she had a clear first choice.

17 year olds still understand the difference in acceptance rates. That’s the system and that’s why they feel pressure.

Then they also understand this means they are giving up on their "Top choice/dream school" if they ED to anything but that school. Parents are involved in this as well, so perhaps CC is better while you and your kids mature if you don't get that.