until when is a letter of intent "binding"

[mlw03]

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i posted the below in the pre-allo forum, but i thought i'd give it a try here, hoping especially for people with experience with the situation. and i realize LOIs aren't "binding" but i'm talking about in terms of doing the right and fair thing, for the applicant and the school.


is a letter of intent valid up until the day classes start at that particular school? or only until classes start at the school you chose otherwise? on the more lax side, is a letter only valid until may 15?

for example, let's say you wrote a letter of intent to your #1 choice, but you're waitlisted. you then get into #2 (or perhaps #3 or even #4), get an apartment there, and such. then july 28th #1 calls to say you're in. are you still obligated to go to #1, even if you'd rather just stay where you're settled? if you feel this way should you write a letter to #1 after may 15 telling them you can no longer blindly accept any acceptance they may offer you?

thoughts, and especially personal experience relating to this, are welcome.

 

[mpp]

Nobody can make you go to any medical school that you don't want to go to.

 

[nuclearrabbit77]

schools have been known to communicate with each other. and they will also get a list of which schools you still are holding acceptances to on may 15th i believe. in terms of whether they'll find out about your b.s. letters of #1 choice and maneuvering, i doubt they care---until may 15th at least.
but even then, i have heard of stories of people packing their bags and leaving their school during first week to move to another place that was their dream school.

 

[kutastha]

AFAIK the day you start class you cannot go to another medical school. You can only hold one acceptance past May 15, though. So if you are on the wait list for School #1 which starts Aug 23 and you're going to School #2 which starts Aug 19, once you start at School #2, even if a spot opens up at #1, you can't switch.