Rescinding Early Decision Acceptance

[Guest]

Do you know what the ramifications are for rescinding an ED acceptance? I know for Columbia you need to put down a $5 - $6K desposit and sign an agreement. But would they go as far as to contact your other schools etc.?

Columbia is my first choice, but I don't know how I could turn down say a Harvard if I were to also get in there. I have heard that it helps to apply early to Columbia. I am not trying to game the system, but am curious what the ramifications would be.

[MBAApply]

There are no ramifications other than Columbia keeping your deposit money.

They really don't have any practical recourse - because the other top schools already frown on Columbia's ED program.

Columbia can yell, scream and threaten all they want, but there's nothing they can do if you rescind and go elsewhere.

It happens every year - their yield for the ED round isn't 100% - there's enough people in that round that choose to go elsewhere (mostly HBS and Wharton - the two schools that Columbia often loses its admits to).

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[HarvardHopeful]

Applying ED even if it's not your first choice given it improves your chance of admission.

I don't know about original poster, but my top 2 choices are H/W

Columbia is 3rd. If I didn't get into H/W I would love to attend Columbia and could afford the loss of my deposit.

Given the competitiveness of this year I figure anything that improves my chances at any of those schools is worth doing (even though may not be ethical).