Changing Plans in the Summer

[bsol]

I got accepted into MIT for Mechanical Engineering.

Can I accept admission to MIT and then decide that I don't want to attend towards the end of the summer? I would not be attending a different graduate school. I would pursuing something I have been passionate about for all my life, but I will not know if I can do it until late summer.

Looking at the reply form, it doesn't seem to be binding. I haven't gotten my offer for funding yet, so I'm guessing that is more binding. I would not mind losing whatever deposit I pay.

I don't want to ask this to admissions because it will probably hurt my chances at funding. If anyone knows what the process is of deciding not to attend after accepting admissions any advice you can offer would be great. Thanks so much!

[eklavya]

Can I accept admission to MIT and then decide that I don't want to attend towards the end of the summer?

if you want to quit later, why accept now? doesn't make sense to me. but once you sign the letter, you are legally bound, i think. it's up to the school then to release you or do whatever.

[Strangefox]

If you accept now and rescind in the end of summer, you will make many people furious. They will not be able to find another student for your spot at that time. Doing it is just unethical because somebody else who's dreaming about getting your spot will have to go elsewhere - but the spot will remain vacant.

[SimilarlyDifferent]

Agreed with above. If you know there is a strong possibility that you aren't going, you'll only anger people by accepting then backing out. You really probably don't want to risk making people in your field (that you might bump into again) angry. You might want to find out if you can defer instead.

[newms]

Doing that would be very bad form, since they probably wouldn't be able to find a replacement for you at that time. Perhaps you could ask if your acceptance could be deferred until next year, or maybe next semester?