Multiple Early Decision applications help.... Forum

[Lonestar87]

Ok...So if I apply early decision to multiple law schools, is that ok?

I saw that UVA makes one sign a document saying 'your admission is binding', which confused me. Are all law schools known for doing the same thing?

Example: If I apply Early Decision to Berkeley, Duke and Cornell and got admitted to all three am I in trouble legally? Or, can I still pick and choose; even though I know I would be pissing off the other schools that I do not accept.

Last thing: On UC Berkeley's website they referred to ED candidates as "ethically obligated to attend if admitted".

I just want to get my facts straight on how the T15 (including Texas and UCLA) look at Early Decision and are you binding to all if accepted.

THANKS!

EDIT: Which T15 schools are ok with not accepting their Early Decision if accepted??? Which schools are intolerant?

[CMDantes]

I would echo this inquiry.

[holydonkey]

EDIT: Which T15 schools are ok with not accepting their Early Decision if accepted??? Which schools are intolerant?

LOL. I'm sure Penn really wouldn't mind, but Duke's a stickler for rules.

[Vincent Vega]

ED=you must go if accepted. Don't do it to more than one school.

Some schools' EA programs are called ED. eg Texas

[Sauer Grapes]

....

[Renaixença]

C & F will LeFuck you.

[CMDantes]

C & F will LeFuck you.

Excuse my ignorance, but what does this mean?

[Geist13]

C & F will LeFuck you.

Excuse my ignorance, but what does this mean?

It means that if for some reason the schools in question don't rescind your acceptance, you won't pass the character and fitness section of the bar exam. Such blatant disregard for the stipulations of a binding contract, which ED is, tends to be frowned upon.

It amazes me how often these threads pop up. The ED rules are stated quite clearly for each school. Essentially, if you apply ED to multiple schools and more than one accept you, you're fucked (deservedly so). They'll know about it.

[amputatedbrain]

I sorta think flame . . .

but, just in case. If you apply under an ED contract, and the school accepts, you must attend. If you choose not to, then you cannot go to any other law school. So it's either your ED school or nothing. However, if your ED school holds, waitlists, or rejects you, you are then free to do whatever you like. ED is not to be confused with Early Action, which promises an early response, but is not binding. As far as I know, Cornell is the only T14 school that offers this option. If you try to cheat your way out of an ED contract, you will almost certainly get caught, as the schools communicate ED acceptances to each other, and then you will have a hard time going anywhere and/or passing the bar later.

[stratocophic]

I sorta think flame . . .

but, just in case. If you apply under an ED contract, and the school accepts, you must attend. If you choose not to, then you cannot go to any other law school. So it's either your ED school or nothing. However, if your ED school holds, waitlists, or rejects you, you are then free to do whatever you like. ED is not to be confused with Early Action, which promises an early response, but is not binding. As far as I know, Cornell is the only T14 school that offers this option. If you try to cheat your way out of an ED contract, you will almost certainly get caught, as the schools communicate ED acceptances to each other, and then you will have a hard time going anywhere and/or passing the bar later.

Some of Duke's PT offers are non-binding. Not that I got either type Think of the binding ED contract as being analogous to a non-compete agreement in the workplace. You're basically agreeing not to offer your services to any other law school if accepted by the school to which you ED.

[Lonestar87]

OK...what schools would you recommend applying ED in the t15 (including Texas and UCLA) if you have a low ugpa (2., High Grad GPA (4.0) and high lsat 170?

Since, I only get one ED then I want to use it on my best chance. Obviously, Harvard, Yale Stanford and Columbia (likely) would be out of the question....

[albanach]

Since, I only get one ED then I want to use it on my best chance. Obviously, Harvard, Yale Stanford and Columbia (likely) would be out of the question....

But you don't only get one - you only get one at a time. Surely you can apply ED to your top school, then if you're waitlisted in two weeks or whatever their guarantee is, apply ED to next on your list. If you get started the day admissions start, you could potentially apply ED to 3 or 4 schools.

[stratocophic]

OK...what schools would you recommend applying ED in the t15 (including Texas and UCLA) if you have a low ugpa (2., High Grad GPA (4.0) and high lsat 170?

Since, I only get one ED then I want to use it on my best chance. Obviously, Harvard, Yale Stanford and Columbia (likely) would be out of the question....

Don't bother with Texas. They don't like low GPAs, and neither does UCLA. Vandy places better than both of those, but they don't like low GPAs either. Your best bets are Virginia, Northwestern (with work experience), and Georgetown. Cornell may let you slip in, but it's not a sure thing.

Edit: What above poster said about ED strategy. Also, I think Northwestern may only take 171+ for low GPA ED. Not positive about that.

[Cupidity]

If this actually happens to you, you will likely have your admissions offers rescinded from all the schools you applied to


Yes, this sounds harsh...but it has happened multiple times. Guy ED'd to Columbia and Texas, got into columbia....later columbia rescinded his admission, as did texas, and the highest ranked school he got into was pepperdine. BEWARE

[09042014]

OK...what schools would you recommend applying ED in the t15 (including Texas and UCLA) if you have a low ugpa (2.8 ), High Grad GPA (4.0) and high lsat 170?

Since, I only get one ED then I want to use it on my best chance. Obviously, Harvard, Yale Stanford and Columbia (likely) would be out of the question....

Retake get a 172, apply ED to Northwestern.

If you can't get a 172, try UVa, but thats unlikely. After that GTown PT.

2.8's have a tough time getting T14.

Signed a 2.8

[umichgrad]

Contracts 101. You are legally bound to follow the terms stipulated in any contract you sign, physically or electronically. This should make sense to a future law student.

[agentzer0]

To clarify fUrther... there are some early action applications that aren't binding, but most are. If you apply using a binding early decision, only apply to that one school until you hear back.

ftfy

[bk1]

Firstly, I apologize for necro'ing an old thread but I felt it was more appropriate than making a new one.

After reading a few of the ED decision agreements I had one last question. UVA's ED has no deadline (you can turn your regular decision into an ED merely by submitting an ED agreement even after you have submitted your regular app) which means you can apply for ED even in Jan/Feb. I was wondering if it is possible to ED to somewhere else and if you get rejected then to apply ED to another school (i.e. UVA).

My gut says no because part of the agreements often say "not to apply to another binding decision" but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask in case getting rejected somehow released you from the agreement.

[Vincent Vega]

If you're rejected ED somewhere, you're more than welcome to ED elsewhere. It happens all the time.

[holeinone600]

Looking for further clarification...so if I ED to UVA on the day the application becomes available, then subsequently get rejected within their 15-day decision period, I can then ED to another school (Duke, GT, etc.)?

Thanks

[Vincent Vega]

Yes.

[bk1]

If you're rejected ED somewhere, you're more than welcome to ED elsewhere. It happens all the time.

Not that I don't believe you, but another voice on this would be nice. I am going to email admissions officers and ask if:

a) If I ED to your school and get denied, may I ED to another school?

b) If I have been denied via ED at another school, may I ED to your school?

Will post back when I get answers.

[PDaddy]

If you're rejected ED somewhere, you're more than welcome to ED elsewhere. It happens all the time.

Not that I don't believe you, but another voice on this would be nice. I am going to email admissions officers and ask if:

a) If I ED to your school and get denied, may I ED to another school?

b) If I have been denied via ED at another school, may I ED to your school?

Will post back when I get answers.

If you ED at a school in October and they reject you in late November, you are free to ED at any school that will still accept your ED app at that time, including UVA and GWU. The key is, you can only do one "Early" (i.e. EA or ED) application at any time.

Any ED application you submit is controlling, meaning the school has the "right of first refusal" or "dibs" on you. If they haven't made a decision on you, you can still put a seat deposit down at another school, but you must withdraw all applications, WL and acceptances if the ED school takes you. If the ED school rolls you over into the regular applicant pool, the school loses the right of first refusal, even if it admits you.

Most EA applications are "non-binding", so there's no right of first refusal. But you should still do just one early app if you do EA b/c the EA school wants a decision from you before you accept a seat at another school. Applying EA and ED at the same time would obviously throw a monkey wrench into your obligation to give the EA school an answer other than "No" if the ED school takes you.

Two ED schools is prohibited; an ED school and an EA school at the same time is "discouraged".

GULC will allow you to apply to its ED and another school's EA, but most schools, to my knowledge, discourage doing it.

Your promise to an ED school is to attend if admitted, no matter the circumstances.
Your promise to the EA school is to give an answer to them before you take a seat at any other school. This is not an enforced rule, just their preference. They know EA applicants are comparing financial aid offers.

And remember, some schools treat EA like ED.

[bk1]

If you ED at a school in October and they reject you in late November, you are free to ED at any school that will still accept your ED app at that time, including UVA and GWU. The key is, you can only do one "Early" (i.e. EA or ED) application at any time.

Any ED application you submit is controlling, meaning the school has the "right of first refusal" or "dibs" on you. If they haven't made a decision on you, you can still put a seat deposit down at another school, but you must withdraw all applications, WL and acceptances if the ED school takes you. If the ED school rolls you over into the regular applicant pool, the school loses the right of first refusal, even if it admits you.

Most EA applications are "non-binding", so there's no right of first refusal. But you should still do just one early app if you do EA b/c the EA school wants a decision from you before you accept a seat at another school. Applying EA and ED at the same time would obviously throw a monkey wrench into your obligation to give the EA school an answer other than "No" if the ED school takes you.

Your promise to an ED school is to attend if admitted, no matter the circumstances.
Your promise to the EA school is to give an answer to them before you take a seat at any other school.

I meant in reference to binding decisions of course. What worried me is the part in ED agreements where it says you may not submit to other binding decisions in the cycle. I wanted to know if this applied even if a school rejected you because the wording on the ED agreements feels ambiguous to me.

But your post leads me to another question. Why only one "early" app at a time? Specifically, why do you say to submit one "non-binding" app at a time? If EA is as you say to give an answer before you take a seat somewhere else, how is it bad to EA to multiple schools as long as you say "no" to others before you deposit at your choice?

[legalized]

If you're rejected ED somewhere, you're more than welcome to ED elsewhere. It happens all the time.

Not that I don't believe you, but another voice on this would be nice. I am going to email admissions officers and ask if:

a) If I ED to your school and get denied, may I ED to another school?

b) If I have been denied via ED at another school, may I ED to your school?

Will post back when I get answers.

If you ED at a school in October and they reject you in late November, you are free to ED at any school that will still accept your ED app at that time, including UVA and GWU. The key is, you can only do one "Early" (i.e. EA or ED) application at any time.

Any ED application you submit is controlling, meaning the school has the "right of first refusal" or "dibs" on you. If they haven't made a decision on you, you can still put a seat deposit down at another school, but you must withdraw all applications, WL and acceptances if the ED school takes you. If the ED school rolls you over into the regular applicant pool, the school loses the right of first refusal, even if it admits you.

Most EA applications are "non-binding", so there's no right of first refusal. But you should still do just one early app if you do EA b/c the EA school wants a decision from you before you accept a seat at another school. Applying EA and ED at the same time would obviously throw a monkey wrench into your obligation to give the EA school an answer other than "No" if the ED school takes you.

Your promise to an ED school is to attend if admitted, no matter the circumstances.
Your promise to the EA school is to give an answer to them before you take a seat at any other school.

Excellent and clear answer. No one should have questions on the meanings of/differences between EA and ED after this post.