Can you cancel your early decision commitment?

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior thinking about applying early decision to college next year. I was wondering, is it possible to cancel your early decision commitment if you change your mind after being accepted? I'm a bit scared of getting locked in, and I want to know more about it before deciding. Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi there! It's understandable that you're concerned about the binding nature of early decision. However, it is important to remember that early decision commitments are generally quite serious and meant to be binding. Colleges expect you to attend if you're accepted through early decision.

That being said, there are limited circumstances under which you can cancel the commitment. For example, if your financial aid package is insufficient and attending the school would result in a significant financial burden for your family, you can discuss this with the college. They might revisit your financial aid package, or, if it's still unworkable, they might allow you to withdraw your commitment. Or, if something extreme happens in your personal life, like a serious illness in your family that means you need to attend college close to home, that would also be a valid reason to be released from the ED commitment.

However, in 99% of cases, ED signifies a commitment to a particular school that you can't break. So, my advice would be to carefully consider your college choices and only apply early decision if you are absolutely certain that the school is your top choice and you're prepared to attend. If you're unsure, early action or regular decision are probably better options for you. Best of luck with your college applications!