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I have just been accepted into my top choice school and have sent the Declaration of Intent. Even though I have confirmed my attendence next year I am still applying to other schools solely out of curiousity of my acceptance and how much money I'd get. I'm sure a Declaration of Intent is considered a contract. If so, am I allowed to apply to other schools? I doubt they would arrest me......^_^

By Dave Berry on Sunday, February 24, 2002 - 02:32 pm: Edit

MsGoku, your acceptance of the school's offer of admission is a form of contract, no more, though, than telling an admissions officer on the phone, "Gee, thanks for admitting me. I accept your offer." That's a so-called verbal contract.

Even if this acceptance is from an ED program (a binding decision), you can change your mind if you want to. However, you'll lose any enrollment deposit you may have paid and could possibly endure some vague legalese from the admissions office. People change their minds all the time for any number of reasons.

I think you're wise to see what other kinds of offers are out there. My son did the same thing, but he waited until all the offers were on the table before sending his enrollment intentions.

Don't fret over this. Colleges are always pressing applicants to commit, not unlike car salesmen (nothing against car salesmen!), "Well, Ms., do you want to drive this beauty home today?!" And so on. It's a buyer's market, except at the very top schools. Have fun with your experiment.

By the way, don't be afraid to use your various financial aid packages for leverage with other schools. That works sometimes. Good luck!

By amd on Sunday, February 24, 2002 - 10:01 pm: Edit

Dave,

'Colleges are always pressing applicants to commit, not unlike car salesmen (nothing against car salesmen!)'

Are you apologizing for including car salesmen in the same category as college admissions folks?


amd

By Dave Berry on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 10:27 am: Edit

amd, what do I have to do to put you in "this beauty" today?! No apologies necessary!

By amd on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 12:24 pm: Edit

I was just kidding you Dave - note the big Smiley. (I was teasing that you were being unfair to car salesmen.) (Obviously my joke backfired).

I didn't understand 'what do I have to do to put you in "this beauty" today' either.



amd

By Dave Berry on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 12:58 pm: Edit

Your joke didn't backfire, amd (like some used cars do!). I got it--and noticed your smiley too.

The phrase, "What do I have to do to put you in 'this beauty' today?!" is, at least around my neck of the woods, the classic sales-closer line of car salesmen who want you to buy NOW!

When I said , "No apologies necessary," I was referring to the fact that one doesn't have to apologize for classifying some college marketers in the same category with car salesmen. Some of their tactics are virtually the same.

Anyhow, that long-winded explanation essentially amounts to: "Heheh, I see your point, amd."

By amd on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 01:27 pm: Edit

Sorry, I completely missed it. (I posted the joke only because I was 100% sure you would get it.) You should have put a Smiley too. I am not sure I would still have got it. I misunderstood the 'no-no' as 'tsk-tsk'.

Glad everything is cool.

amd

By Dadster on Monday, February 25, 2002 - 02:02 pm: Edit

>>I was referring to the fact that one doesn't have to apologize for classifying some college marketers in the same category with car salesmen<<

Yeah, but what about the poor car salesmen who get lumped in with college marketers??

By amd on Tuesday, February 26, 2002 - 07:40 pm: Edit

'Yeah, but what about the poor car salesmen who get lumped in with college marketers??'

That was the joke I was trying to make Dadster.

amd

By California Mom (Calmom) on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 05:27 am: Edit

MsGoku -- if you are certain that you will be attending the college that accepted you, please consider the fact that leaving an application pending at another college to "satisfy your curiosity" will cost some other student his or her spot if you get accepted.

If financial awards are a significant factor and you would actually consider one of the other colleges if they offered more money than your first choice, by all means keep the other applications pending.

But if some are "safety" schools or colleges you would no longer seriously consider attending, do keep in mind that there are other students seeking admission to those schools who really deserve a fair chance. Scholarship and grant funds are limited at many colleges, and if they offer funds to one student, then another student may be denied needed funds.