Plan b college is angry

Mom22

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Apr 1, 2016
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My son is through basic and I contacted college back in July that he would not be coming.
They are threatening to call admissions and report the double deposit. How serious is this? Freaking out right now.
 
Lots of mixed feelings on this issue. Search "plan b", "multiple deposits" or "double deposits" (or something similar - you get the idea) on this forum and you will get a sense of the varying opinions about whether this should be done and/or how serious an issue it may be. Probably not much you can do now but try to deal with the school to work it out if they want to push the issue.

Good luck.
 
They are threatening to call USMA admissions? And tell them what? That you did something that every other cadet did if they're smart? Don't worry about it.

We did contact our plan B, C, and D schools and let them know ahead of time that our son was going to USAFA and that their school was a back-up. Only plan C school was willing to do that, so that's where we paid the deposit. Communication ahead of time may have helped here.

Stealth_81
 
My son is through basic and I contacted college back in July that he would not be coming.
They are threatening to call admissions and report the double deposit. How serious is this? Freaking out right now.

In your case, who exactly is "they?" Is it the Director of Admissions? The AROTC ROO? The University Cashier? The chair of the Anthropology Department?

Stealth is right. Other than refuse to refund your deposit, what exactly can they do to your DS? If they notify West Point, I expect your RC's reaction will be to yawn, and ask them "so what?"
 
"They" is the director of admissions. I am not sure he will follow through. My son did contact and explain his thinking and according to my son, was "apologetic and polite"
 
My son is through basic and I contacted college back in July that he would not be coming.
They are threatening to call admissions and report the double deposit. How serious is this? Freaking out right now.

I am on my college's admissions board, and gaaahhhh, this makes me really angry when colleges do this to parents and young people.

We understand that some proportion of the students we offer admission won't come. They'll join the military, or the Peace Corps, or go to community college, or get that coveted spot at their Plan A, or work, or decide to go to Australia. Even with the relatively small class we admit, our admissions office is pretty good about anticipating that. I understand we'll even give the deposit back if they ask real nice-like :cool: because who wants to tick off a family over their hard-earned $500 when a few of those every year are chump change to a college? Accepting offers of admission to college is not a binding legal agreement, period. They have no legal recourse. They have no ANY recourse except keeping your deposit (which they're petty and small if they do).

If it were me, I'd tell them to stop threatening me and go take a flying leap. Well, maybe not that last part - but I'd think it.
 
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...They are threatening to call admissions and report the double deposit. How serious is this? Freaking out right now.

Where is the double deposit? I don't recall making any deposit with USMA besides giving them my son. Does the plan B college know that the SAs are "free" and you did not make a double deposit?

I'd love to be a fly on that wall during that conversation. Nothing that college says or does will hold any weight with USMA or make any difference whatsoever. Relax, there is zero to panic about.

BTW, there was absolutely no need to give any explanation to the plan B school regarding your son's decision not to attend. It happens all the time at all colleges every year for a million different reasons. Our son simply notified his backup school right before A Day that he would not be attending. No need to tell them why; all they needed to know was that he would not matriculate.
 
Most colleges have a waitlist, and that is why they have it so if a kid that accepted backs out. Ten will get you twenty that they are now going to pull from their waitlist and offer a slot to another kid. That kid at this time has put a deposit somewhere else, and if this was the dream school they are going to jump ship too.

Now if that is the case than I would say to them, so now if roles were reverse and they got a call from another school, what exactly would they say or do?

I also find they are being non-sensical. For example, just like SA appointments they offer more slots than they expect to show up in the fall. I know for my DD that went to VT and my DS at GMU they have historically close to 0% come off their waitlist because they have a high enough percentage that accept their admission offer. Point being that most colleges would love to have more kids like yours where you pay the deposit knowing that if they call at this late date they are going to lose that deposit. It is free money for them while at the same time creating up space in the dorms (instead of tripling up a double, thay can keep the dorm room that is meant to be a double a double).
~ Hint if they do call, pull out that congrats admission letter. Typically it will say how many applied and how many admitted. Than flat out ask them how many do they expect to show up in the fall? IE if they admitted 4K, but really only want 2500 to show up, than I think they should be more than happy that they get to keep your deposit.
 
The OP mentioned in a prior post that she knows people who work in admissions at other colleges. Talk with them if you have concerns. I agree with the advice posted above. Did the admissions director think he would bully you into making your son leave WP and attend his college instead? How ridiculous does that sound? If he calls back just tell him your son is staying at WP and he can call whomever he likes, then hang up on him. He's bluffing and would look foolish if he called WP. If he did call WP, exactly what would he say? Don't be fooled by such people. Would you really want your son attending that other college if admissions behaves that way?
 
Hope you get your deposit back. Go on offence. Call and ask when it's going to be mailed out.
 
My deposits were non refundable....

Yeah, deposits are usually non-refundable. You might, might be able to get it back, in very limited circumstances, but don't count on it - and definitely don't be a jerk about it (not saying you are!). This is the risk both parties take, and why the deposit even exists: so we both have skin in the game. I personally think it's petty and small, especially as infrequently as it happens, but my opinion is worth as much as a plugged penny.
 
IN this situation, you have to treat your deposit(s) at the Plan B schools as a simple insurance policy. Yes, you paid some money, but didn't have to use it... hopefully just like your home or auto policy.

As for the "double deposit," could you explain what they mean by that? They cannot affect your deposit at WP, if that means the $2k paid at the beginning. Does it refer to some deposit with your Plan B school?
 
If they continue to badger you, simply reply that you are answering a call to serve your Country. If they are so rude as to threaten to "call people", politely suggest they start with the President of the United States, on whose behalf you were offered the privilege of an appointment.
 
You all are wonderful, thank you.

LongAgoPlebe, I agree, the deposit was insurance and I never expected it back.

In the end the director is angry about the acceptance of academy appointment while depositing at the same time. His argument is that it denied a spot to another. He even called the high school. He sent my son a harsh email and said the matter is closed. The whole thing just shook me up, as the tone was so vindictive.
 
His argument is male bovine droppings - this is what wait lists and admissions models are for. Calling a high school and sending a young man who is not going to enroll a "harsh" email? He messed up, and he is blaming someone who is insignificant to the entire outcome - extraordinarily unprofessional (not to mention a crummy thing to do as a person).
 
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