If I get accepted Early Decision for another college do I have to withdraw my USNA application?

GoCubbies said:
I hate to break it to you but, in the military, there are many “my way or the highway” situations. That’s the “real world” for us in the military. You think I wanted to leave my family behind when I went to Afghanistan or Iraq? I did sign up for it. I had to do it the government’s way (my way) or face UCMJ (highway).

As staff officers, we recommend. The commander is the one who is paid to make the hard decisions and assume risk when necessary. What he/she says goes. It’s HIS/HER way or the highway.
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This is about deciding college for a 17 year old. Let's not be overly dramatic, seriously.
And, BOTH my parents served in Vietnam and my husband was an outstanding Marine. So, I get it. So does my kid. Again, super judgey. I get the 'real world.'
 
Commitment to what exactly? Probably the most 'judgey' of posts. How in the world can you know what is the situation of anyone, other than your own kid @usna1985? Not super helpful.
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Applying to an ED school means that the candidate is committing to attend that school if accepted. IMHO (and it's only that), candidates who apply to an ED school and to a SA are most likely trying to have it both ways -- get the benefit of the preference for ED admission to the civilian school while keeping their option open for a SA. That was the case with my candidate. He thought there was an "exception" to the ED program for SAs -- not due to finances but just in general b/c SAs don't offer ED. There is no per se exception for SAs.

USNA will not knowingly continue the application of a candidate who has been accepted to an ED school. You may not like the policy, but it is their policy.

If you really want to attend a SA, the answer it easy -- don't apply ED to a civilian school. Apply EA (non-binding) or under regular admission -- then there is no problem. If you are accepted to an ED school and then lie about it to your BGO or to USNA, I consider that to be a very bad approach. You may have a different view and we can respectfully disagree on that point.
 
We will respectfully disagree on many points with respect to this. My DS (and I) have had conversations that directly contradicts what you've said, and I'll leave it at that. And I've read no such policy. I'm not sure how many times I have to say there is a caveat for financial aid packages. . . Again, good luck to any kid who is debating this. It's tough, but talk with your parents about what's right for you. Don't make decisions based upon what you read here. And reach out to the CO's at the units where you are thinking of applying. They know best how to guide you.
 
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And what is right for your high school and district!!!

Just remember what you do (and by this I mean you as in your family) could impact your school and your school's relationship with ED schools. Just make sure you understand what is expected of you and how you represent your school, the students who truly want the same school you might be tossing aside an ED, and how this could be an extremely negative impact and egg on the face of your guidance counselor and FUTURE classes.
 
HCopter said:
And what is right for your high school and district!!!

Just remember what you do (and by this I mean you as in your family) could impact your school and your school's relationship with ED schools. Just make sure you understand what is expected of you and how you represent your school, the students who truly want the same school you might be tossing aside an ED, and how this could be an extremely negative impact and egg on the face of your guidance counselor and FUTURE classes.
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Yeah, I think we get it.
 
Holden100 said:
Yeah, I think we get it.
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Ma’am... I don’t know you or your DS/DD, so I can’t rightfully judge.

You mentioned on this post earlier that this forum is for those who may be lurking or looking for info. Just putting my 2 cents out there and letting them know MHO. I didn’t meant to offend you while trying to put out a message to those who will be applying next go around.

I have some experience with ED and SA/ROTC apps. Just providing my thoughts and experience on this forum for 18+ months now.
 
No worries; no offense taken. I've found most of these ED threads can be a little intense with various opinions and speculation on why some kids apply and if their reason for doing so is valid. I was really trying to avoid that when I commented that the article posted yesterday by franknd was very helpful for any kid still debating this (in the last few days before the ED deadline). But definitely thank you @GoCubbies for your insight and experience. It is appreciated.
 
@Holden100 I was actually agreeing and adding onto your post. You posted earlier your DS's strategy to include going ED, so this wasn't intended for you, or anyone in particular, but to point out:

GO SEE YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR!

ED can be taken very seriously by one's school. At ours, you have to go in as a family and confirm that's what you want. At a school with 100% college bound, 1400+/31 SAT/ACT, there are many vying for Ivys and reach school as their #1. We also have many Questbridge students (those are families with EFCs of zero; not low, not $2,500 - zero) and their college strategy is completely different. They will apply to 20 reach schools, one ED, and get into maybe ONE. It's the difference between going to a reach college, or riding in the back of their dad's pickup mowing lawns for the rest of their lives. So it is completely unacceptable for anyone at our school to play games with ED.

I do agree you never know someone's situation - and it could change from the time period encompassed by the FAFSA/CSS Profile to present day. Job loss, major medical, divorce, business failures, etc that have a major impact on one's ability to pay.
 
HCopter said:
@Holden100 I was actually agreeing and adding onto your post. You posted earlier your DS's strategy to include going ED, so this wasn't intended for you, or anyone in particular, but to point out:

GO SEE YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR!

ED can be taken very seriously by one's school. At ours, you have to go in as a family and confirm that's what you want. At a school with 100% college bound, 1400+/31 SAT/ACT, there are many vying for Ivys and reach school as their #1. We also have many Questbridge students (those are families with EFCs of zero; not low, not $2,500 - zero) and their college strategy is completely different. They will apply to 20 reach schools, one ED, and get into maybe ONE. It's the difference between going to a reach college, or riding in the back of their dad's pickup mowing lawns for the rest of their lives. So it is completely unacceptable for anyone at our school to play games with ED.

I do agree you never know someone's situation - and it could change from the time period encompassed by the FAFSA/CSS Profile to present day. Job loss, major medical, divorce, business failures, etc that have a major impact on one's ability to pay.
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Gotcha @HCopter My apologies. Yes, definitely speak with your GC before submitting ED. At my son's school they are asked to give their counselors a packet outlining schools, deadlines, a resume, and letters from us and them re. why they want to go that school, etc. Both he and I had a meeting with her before he made a decision. She was happy to help and honest with both us regarding the process and what happens if accepted/denied or deferred. She's pretty awesome, and we hope all kids have that sort of resource at their schools! She was also fully aware of his pending SA applications as she'd also submitted many documents on his behalf for those.
 
Keep in mind that not all schools have guidance counselors who actually guide. My four kids had zero help from any guidance counselor during their college application process. They did not even get a meeting. They had to figure out the whole ED/EA distinction on their own by actually reading the directions in the application. One counselor even refused to participate in the SA application process because she did not want to be "an accessory to baby killers." We were on our own to find a way around that one. Consider yourself lucky with the kind of help you appear to have!
 
kpmom2013 said:
Keep in mind that not all schools have guidance counselors who actually guide. My four kids had zero help from any guidance counselor during their college application process. They did not even get a meeting. They had to figure out the whole ED/EA distinction on their own by actually reading the directions in the application. One counselor even refused to participate in the SA application process because she did not want to be "an accessory to baby killers." We were on our own to find a way around that one. Consider yourself lucky with the kind of help you appear to have!
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My advice, move away...
Don't know where you live, but if that was actually said by a counselor, you have a major (and valid) reason to get that person terminated by the school district.
 
usna1985 said:
It is the position of USNA that if you are accepted ED, you must withdraw your application for USNA. I has this issue last year with a candidate and this is what USNA said.

I realize there are all sorts of ways to lie/not be transparent, such as using the financial aid issue as an out of your commitment. Not a great way to start your adult life. Or to guide your child.
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Thank you for that post. It is refreshing to hear the actual position of an SA on such a topic.

Now if an SA would express a position on the Plan B issue we would have nothing else to debate. 🤓
 
Has anyone posted the written policy of the SAs regarding ED? Words on the interwebs are simply that...words typed by strangers on the interwebs.

Where is the document on academy letterhead? Perhaps I missed it.
 
Regarding the option of rejecting ED offer for insufficient financial aid:

Every college website I've seen has a financial aid calculator to estimate the amount of aid that should be expected. Rejecting an ED offer with financial aid at or above the estimated amount is gaming the system unless there has been a major change in finances since applying.

It comes down to a decision that is different for each person: Is it right to game the system?
 
USNA’s position on ED stems from its membership in a certain organization. I posted about it last year around this time. I don’t know whether they publicize this position, but it is what I was told last year by Admissions.

Candidates and parents can do what they want. Just don‘t assume that, if you are accepted ED to a civilian school, you can still keep your USNA application open. The ED school may well let you but USNA may not.

I think this answers Soldiergriz’ question. USNA probably believes the policies of the organization (apologize that I can’t recall name but search under “early decision” and you’ll find it), speak for themselves. That said, anyone here is free to ask this question of Admissions before they apply ED. See what they say. If you don’t, you proceed at risk.
 
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usna1985 said:
It is the position of USNA that if you are accepted ED, you must withdraw your application for USNA. I has this issue last year with a candidate and this is what USNA said.

I realize there are all sorts of ways to lie/not be transparent, such as using the financial aid issue as an out of your commitment. Not a great way to start your adult life. Or to guide your child.
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Exactly!!

it is like asking someone to marry you and then literally planning to cheat on them in case “something better comes along”. Smh 🤦🏽‍♀️
 
Nomak54 said:
I didn't know Early Decision was real like that. I always thought you could just simply not accept going there and nothing bad would happen. I thought if I got accepted I could just close my other ED applications.
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Did you read the description of ED? Also did your HS counselor not make the situation clear? My DD did single choice early action to Princeton. It is non binding but did not allow her to apply to any other private universities early action. You have violated the college board rules. I would recommend reaching out to your HS counselor and trying to fix this situation.
 
mara said:
Did you read the description of ED? Also did your HS counselor not make the situation clear? My DD did single choice early action to Princeton. It is non binding but did not allow her to apply to any other private universities early action. You have violated the college board rules. I would recommend reaching out to your HS counselor and trying to fix this situation.
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Nomak’s post is over a year old. As I recall, he or she fixed things and carried on with a new approach. There was quite a pile-up on that post with replies.

Though I think your good points are wasted on this poster due to the post’s age, it’s good reading for a lurker.
 
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