Letter of intent and multiple acceptances

[donnyrickled]

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I sent a post-interview letter of intent saying I'd attend if accepted to my top choice. I was accepted. That was months ago. Now, however, my financial circumstances have changed and I'm worried about being able to afford it.

Is it unethical to hold onto multiple acceptances after sending a letter of intent? I'm still 99% sure about the school I sent the letter to, but I'm interested in hearing financial aid offers from other schools that accepted me. I feel guilty about it.

Also, can I count myself out of the running for a decent financial aid package from the first school because of my letter?

 

[prado]

What's done is done and circumstances change, life happens. You really can't do anything about it and neither will the school. It's best to just wait and see what kind of money you get and decide from there.

 

[red doctober]

I sent a post-interview letter of intent saying I'd attend if accepted to my top choice. I was accepted. That was months ago. Now, however, my financial circumstances have changed and I'm worried about being able to afford it.

Is it unethical to hold onto multiple acceptances after sending a letter of intent? I'm still 99% sure about the school I sent the letter to, but I'm interested in hearing financial aid offers from other schools that accepted me. I feel guilty about it.

Also, can I count myself out of the running for a decent financial aid package from the first school because of my letter?

I don't get why schools take LOIs seriously. I bet this happens a lot. It's really not your fault for getting cold feet. You need to do what's best for you even at the cost of going against your word. Who knows, maybe your LOI had zero impact on your getting in. Also, don't be so scared of the cost, there are thousands of medical graduates who had just as much debt that ended up being fine. I'm pretty sure the financial aid people are separate from the admissions administration, so it probably won't affect you being offered aid.

 

[Pattycake25]

No and no. People's financial positions do change, and cost is a BIG factor in decision-making, so no decent school should hold it against you if you decide to wait on offered packages. And your LOI will certainly not interfere with fin. aid.

Congrats on your success!

I sent a post-interview letter of intent saying I'd attend if accepted to my top choice. I was accepted. That was months ago. Now, however, my financial circumstances have changed and I'm worried about being able to afford it.

Is it unethical to hold onto multiple acceptances after sending a letter of intent? I'm still 99% sure about the school I sent the letter to, but I'm interested in hearing financial aid offers from other schools that accepted me. I feel guilty about it.

Also, can I count myself out of the running for a decent financial aid package from the first school because of my letter?

 

[syoung]

My issue is that my parent's won't be submitting their taxes until way after the fin aid deadline... so i can't qualify. Their records end up getting released in june-aug, and so they file soon thereafter.

ugh

 

[Barney Stinson]

My issue is that my parent's won't be submitting their taxes until way after the fin aid deadline... so i can't qualify. Their records end up getting released in june-aug, and so they file soon thereafter.

ugh

Talk to your schools about this. You may be able to work on something based on last year's numbers - the FAFSA allows you to submit an estimate until taxes are done. I'm sure you're not the only student to have run into sort of situation, and in my experience financial aid administrators are extremely willing to work with students or at the very least answer questions. There's no need for you to wonder/worry about this by yourself.

 

[nBeeDee]

What's done is done and circumstances change, life happens. You really can't do anything about it and neither will the school. It's best to just wait and see what kind of money you get and decide from there

+1

You earned those acceptances, and you have every right to wait for financial aid packages to help with your final decision. I'm sure your LOI wasn't the only reason you were accepted into that school either; you were accepted based on your entire application and interview as a whole. If it so happens that another school offers you more $$$ and you choose to go there instead, the school you sent the LOI to will not blink an eye when you withdraw. Sorry to say it, but you aren't special in this admissions process, no one is. That school will have no problem filling your seat with someone off of the waitlist.

 

[LizzyM]

And this is why some adcoms/admissions offices disregard letters of intent...

 

[alpinism]

When you send an LOI to a school, you're saying that if accepted, you WILL attend. You are committing to that school and that school only.

The only exceptions would be extreme circumstances such as family emergencies.

Getting cold feet or being worried about finances do not count. LOIs should never be taken lightly and you should always consider your financial situation before submitting one.

 

[music2doc]

I don't get why schools take LOIs seriously. I bet this happens a lot. It's really not your fault for getting cold feet. You need to do what's best for you even at the cost of going against your word. Who knows, maybe your LOI had zero impact on your getting in. Also, don't be so scared of the cost, there are thousands of medical graduates who had just as much debt that ended up being fine. I'm pretty sure the financial aid people are separate from the admissions administration, so it probably won't affect you being offered aid.

They don't take such letters seriously, and this is why.