Serious question regarding withdrawing from early action

Honestly, even with these statements there is little a school can do if a person decides to not attend. I personally know of someone who applied EA/ED, was accepted and chose to go to another school. Besides the lost deposit there haven't been any additional repercussions. While I wouldn't personally apply to a school EA if I wasn't going to abide by the conditions, I can understand how these situations arise.

As an alum of a school that offers EA, PLEASE TO GO THE OTHER SCHOOL!

We take ethics very seriously. If you are even pandering the situation, and the only thing that is keeping you back is the legal ramifications, we do not want the possibility of you ending up in our school. I would even give your deposit back, just so you don't come.

What is the most useful for you, on a trouble analysis of only the results of

Whoa calm down, breath, relax. Are you up from an all-nighter? Try taking a walk, reading a book, or switching to decaf.

OP: don't listen to this guy. Go where you want to go and do not think the school will come after you seeking retribution. I'm sure this happens all the time and they will understand the gravity of your decision, hence why the deposit for EA is so high. Get in where you fit in.

Depends on the school. Early action usually is non-binding for most schools at the undergrad level, but Early DECISION means you can't apply anywhere else if accepted. They could sue you if this is a binding decision, though that's unlikely because there are other fish to fry. To be honest, you should only apply for an early decision/action only if that school is your #1 choice without question. Otherwise, you shouldn't have applied with a binding decision if you were admitted and you are. My guess is that you'll be released from that decision if you push for it, but it's not the best ethical decision either.

Go to the school that makes you happy and where you see the best fit. The worst that can happen is that you loose your deposit money... No school can force some one to attend only their school. You pay tution only if you sign-up for a class not for getting admitted into a University.

i don't like the EA thing. They already have a ton of power and now give you a little opening/incentive to apply and give them more power. We might let you in a little bit easier but you are stuck with us. I think its a BS policy created by people who want to bump up their yield.

"For those that know this is the place for them you can apply early. We still kick a way more than a majority, probably 80%, out the door, those lucky 20% MUST come to this school because we gave them such special consideration". They probably laughed halfway through writing the EA policy.

What a joke! I'm only talking about Binding EA/ED here, non-binding is the real deal in my book and a great policy.

Asimov's tone is maybe a little strong, but I agree that it's poor form to pull something like this even if you can get away with it. You gave your word that you wouldn't do something and then you promptly did that exact thing. Maybe that happens often, but I don't see how it's even remotely acceptable. Also, consider that the world of adcoms is very very small. I wouldn't be even the tiniest bit surprised to hear that they share info about people who break EA commitments.

Just my 2 cents.

True, but if we're talking about the difference between a top 40 school and top 10 school than who cares? It's just acting like corporations do every day of the year- i.e., in their own best interest. Should someone take offense when a selfish act is committed against an institution that teaches people to act in their own self interest in the corporate environment? I don't think so, afterall, it's just business.

Can't tell if this is jokey or serious. If it's serious then I completely disagree. If it's jokey then my internet sarcasm meter needs adjusting.

Although I understand that the original poster's predicament happens, I really just have to question why the OP applied in the EA/ED round to begin with. Did the poster think that this was their reach school, and then when they got accepted, they decided to try their luck and apply to a higher ranked school? If so, it makes sense how one could get curious. Otherwise, I think applying in the EA/ED round when they know that the school isn't their first choice is just gaming the system. It isn't illegal, but, in my opinion, it is unethical.

As for the OP's question, I don't think the school can do anything else aside from keeping the deposit. And so, the OP is free to do whatever they want.

It's neither, it's cynical

Will the next Ken Lay please stand up?
I'm also glad you are not applying or going to my school. When did being unethical become "just business"? If the OP is wavering in light of a decision between a top 10 and probably a top 5 schoool, what will the OP do in the OP's future career?

Admission process because that is a two-way (sub?)optimization game. However a special clause in ED agreements, quoted above, transfers whole topic from ethics to legal grounds.

I can understand the 1st round multiple application strategy - it makes sense. But why would you apply into a binding ED school if you're not going to attend it???

it's to increase the chance of getting into at least 1 school and to avoid becoming an all-dinger.

Well - there is another angle, the financial angle. Which will probably apply more to international students than domestic as the latter can easily get loans. I am not in this boat (Read Columbia ED, atleast for now), but thinking about various caveats etc., I think this one makes sense.

You may not be able to arrange for the finances in time, especially for International students. What I mean by this, and this specifically applies to Columbia, is that you don't have a US cosginer to help you take the loan (Columbia does NOT grant loans to international students without a US cosigner). There is NO way the school can force you/sue you etc. for not attending if they see you cannot financially support your education, AND the school can't do anything about it (loans, scholarships etc.)

Now the question that will come is, you must have thought of your co signer problem before you applied. Yes, for sure, BUT that does not mean your co signer cannot back out when the time actually comes to put pen to paper. As an international student, at Columbia, this reason will remain valid. I am sure the school won't be happy about it, but then you are asking them for help and if they can't give it to you, they'll have to let you go.

Further, this happens all the time in various situations - you take an offer of employment at X, get a better salary at Y, and take that. You burn bridges of course, but then you obviously have thought of that when you renege on your offer.

Thoughts?

^^ aptly put their str1der ! cosigner thing becomes an issue for international students. what worse is the current economic scenario.. one more thing some one above mentioned above about integrity etc 2 B Schools & (lets consider Business houses as well) ..in my little corporate journey of about 5+ years I am yet to see so called 'clean business houses' I guess I would stop here before I start rambling more here ..and yeah my view on corporates etc has nothing to do with my personal sphere of life & views!