Early Decision is binding. From an ethical point of view, it would only be binding if financial assistance to the family was not sufficient and if this issue had been discussed very early in the process. In short, schools are very careful not to take students who have already committed themselves in a binding way to another school. Failure to comply with common guidelines in early decision agreements can have serious consequences for a school. For example, a school could be sanctioned for not being able to participate in the joint application or any other similar application system in the future, or could face sanctions from the College Board. Whatever factors cause you to reconsider your early acceptance of the decision, it is important to approach this situation with caution and open communication. Talk to your family and academic advisor about your concerns and consider all factors before making a decision. The answer is that it`s both. Yes, it is really restrictive. You, your university advisor and your parents will all sign a piece of paper indicating that you understand the commitment you are making and that you will participate if you are admitted.

In other words, no one will show up at your house with a pair of handcuffs if something happens and you can`t participate. Note that I use the word “impossible.” It`s something other than, “I`ve changed my mind and I`d rather go somewhere else.” “Incapable” means that your situation has changed significantly, which impacts your ability to pay for school or be physically present on campus. Maybe a financial assistance plan with the institution didn`t work, or maybe a relative died or a family business sank. If any of these things happen, talk to someone in the financial aid department before deciding that it is impossible to participate. Or maybe you`ve had a serious health problem or accident. If this happens, look at a Gap Year – postpone your enrollment in your school – before deciding that it is impossible to participate. An early decision agreement is serious. You must endeavor to respect the commitment you accept when you apply. A university may also be willing to allow you to resign from the agreement if you have an emergency, such as a personal or family illness, accident, or death. In this case, you must explain the situation to the accrediting body.

Maybe you can spend a Gap Year, or the university could allow you to retire completely. It`s important to note that some high schools don`t even send your transcript or other information to colleges after applying to a school at an early stage. If you are admitted to a university where you applied for ED, you are bound by an honor code. Remember that you, your parents, and even your counselor signed a contract that said that if you were admitted to university, you would enroll. . . .