How to handle full-ride scholarships as we wait....

[frogwoman]

As my DD waits patiently (haha) to see if she has been accepted to an academy she continues to get calls from an amazing college who has offered her a full-ride scholarship. She has not yet accepted the scholarship or committed to them hoping to have been accepted to an academy by now. We know that we need to proceed with plan "B" just in case she gets that dreadful TWE. Question, I have is do we only lose the deposit to committing to them right now to appease them until we find out for sure what is happening with one of the academies in the event she does get in and act as if she is getting in right now? She is afraid to agreeing to the scholarship and then bailing on it, but then afraid of not taking the scholarship in time in the event she doesn't get into one of the academies...... We just don't know the ramifications of agreeing to it and then backing out!?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance

 

[AROTC-dad]

Talk to the admissions department and tell them your predicament up front. Many schools will understand and allow you to place a deposit to hold your DD's spot with the understanding that they are 2nd choice (A few may even refund the deposit).

However there are others who will make you sign a commitment to at least a semester/quarter and hold you to that tuition if you drop out.

Bottom line, communicate, clarify and get it in writing!

 

[frogwoman]

Talk to the admissions department and tell them your predicament up front. Many schools will understand and allow you to place a deposit to hold your DD's spot with the understanding that they are 2nd choice (A few may even refund the deposit).

However there are others who will make you sign a commitment to at least a semester/quarter and hold you to that tuition if you drop out.

Bottom line, communicate, clarify and get it in writing!

Thank you very much for the advice! Love the profile pic! Got to love those labs.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

There have been many threads on this Forum discussing the ethics and legal issues relating to "accepting" and making deposits to Plan B. First, I agree with AROTC , communicate with Plan B ... they will likely work with you. Second, don't do anything until the deadline for committing. Finally, if you are pushed into a corner and have to make a decision, know exactly what you are committing to. It's easy if just forfeiting the deposit, but there was discussion here about some schools holding someone up for the full 4 year tuition.

 

[frogwoman]

There have been many threads on this Forum discussing the ethics and legal issues relating to "accepting" and making deposits to Plan B. First, I agree with AROTC , communicate with Plan B ... they will likely work with you. Second, don't do anything until the deadline for committing. Finally, if you are pushed into a corner and have to make a decision, know exactly what you are committing to. It's easy if just forfeiting the deposit, but there was discussion here about some schools holding someone up for the full 4 year tuition.

I do remember seeing things about this once before. I guess I need to go hunt and peck for them and find whatever I can about them. I agree, I plan on waiting until the last possible deadline before committing. Thanks for the assistance.

 

[MamaBear4]

One of my son's full ride between AROTC with merit aid for living expenses waived his deposit this morning. Kind of blew me away because all he did was email his regional recruiter and ask what the policy was for academies. I was highly impressed.

 

[cp5]

As my DD waits patiently (haha) to see if she has been accepted to an academy she continues to get calls from an amazing college who has offered her a full-ride scholarship. She has not yet accepted the scholarship or committed to them hoping to have been accepted to an academy by now. We know that we need to proceed with plan "B" just in case she gets that dreadful TWE. Question, I have is do we only lose the deposit to committing to them right now to appease them until we find out for sure what is happening with one of the academies in the event she does get in and act as if she is getting in right now? She is afraid to agreeing to the scholarship and then bailing on it, but then afraid of not taking the scholarship in time in the event she doesn't get into one of the academies...... We just don't know the ramifications of agreeing to it and then backing out!?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance

As my DD waits patiently (haha) to see if she has been accepted to an academy she continues to get calls from an amazing college who has offered her a full-ride scholarship. She has not yet accepted the scholarship or committed to them hoping to have been accepted to an academy by now. We know that we need to proceed with plan "B" just in case she gets that dreadful TWE. Question, I have is do we only lose the deposit to committing to them right now to appease them until we find out for sure what is happening with one of the academies in the event she does get in and act as if she is getting in right now? She is afraid to agreeing to the scholarship and then bailing on it, but then afraid of not taking the scholarship in time in the event she doesn't get into one of the academies...... We just don't know the ramifications of agreeing to it and then backing out!?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance

Here is some guidance. Apologies in advance for not being as diplomatic as some may seem warranted. If you do not know the specifics of not taking a scholarship in time (for which we have no details), how would any of us know? As to the question of bailing on a scholarship. Sorry to burst any emotional bubbles, but if you bail it just goes to the next person. They love you but only as much as the next person that will accept. I can assure you that if you accept a scholarship and don't go to that school, they will survive. You may have to lose a deposit, but in the grand scheme of the total cost of an undergraduate education, I would imagine thats probably worth it. If it's not worth it, just accept the scholarship.

 

[helmsdown]

I'm surprised they waited this long. DD had to tell them before fall National signing day. Good luck.

 

[P_N]

As my DD waits patiently (haha) to see if she has been accepted to an academy she continues to get calls from an amazing college who has offered her a full-ride scholarship. She has not yet accepted the scholarship or committed to them hoping to have been accepted to an academy by now. We know that we need to proceed with plan "B" just in case she gets that dreadful TWE. Question, I have is do we only lose the deposit to committing to them right now to appease them until we find out for sure what is happening with one of the academies in the event she does get in and act as if she is getting in right now? She is afraid to agreeing to the scholarship and then bailing on it, but then afraid of not taking the scholarship in time in the event she doesn't get into one of the academies...... We just don't know the ramifications of agreeing to it and then backing out!?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance

I would not accept yet. DD was in same position. She told the coaches from the get go that USNA was her #1 choice and plan B school told her the scholarship $$ was hers and they would hold it until April 15th. No pressure. In fact DD felt bad telling them when she accepted to USNA since plan B school was so great at holding value to a service academy hopeful. Does your DD plan B school know she is waiting on USNA?

 

[frogwoman]

As my DD waits patiently (haha) to see if she has been accepted to an academy she continues to get calls from an amazing college who has offered her a full-ride scholarship. She has not yet accepted the scholarship or committed to them hoping to have been accepted to an academy by now. We know that we need to proceed with plan "B" just in case she gets that dreadful TWE. Question, I have is do we only lose the deposit to committing to them right now to appease them until we find out for sure what is happening with one of the academies in the event she does get in and act as if she is getting in right now? She is afraid to agreeing to the scholarship and then bailing on it, but then afraid of not taking the scholarship in time in the event she doesn't get into one of the academies...... We just don't know the ramifications of agreeing to it and then backing out!?

Thanks in advance for all your guidance

I would not accept yet. DD was in same position. She told the coaches from the get go that USNA was her #1 choice and plan B school told her the scholarship $$ was hers and they would hold it until April 15th. No pressure. In fact DD felt bad telling them when she accepted to USNA since plan B school was so great at holding value to a service academy hopeful. Does your DD plan B school know she is waiting on USNA?

No they do not know that they are plan "B". We were hoping to know something by now by either USNA or USAF but no offers but also no TWE's, but now they are putting pressure on her for an answer so we weren't sure how we should handle the situation. Just move forward with plan "B" in hopes that an offer comes through and then notify them!? But I think being honest with them sounds like the best plan.

 

[time2]

Talk to the admissions department and tell them your predicament up front.

I agree. There are several older threads (some get very contentious) about this topic. Don't rush into a decision just because a college is asking for one. Generally, college admissions realize that the SA application process takes longer and isn't something you have any control over. Most will work with you if you are upfront with them.

That is a different situation from accepting multiple offers just because you can't decide where to go to college. Some of those older threads jumble a variety of situations and at times it is difficult to know who is talking about what.