Hi, am a South East Asian (Malaysian to be precise) who applied for both NYU and Harvard. At the time, I thought that NYU would be my first choice (who wouldn't want to study in NY!) and so applied for the Hauser Global Scholarship. On reflection, I suspect that if both universities gave me offers, I would probably plump for Harvard.

This puts me in a dilemma - if I reject NYU and the Hauser (on the unlikely assumption I even get it) on the hope that HLS offers me, would they report me to the other institutions I applied for (i.e. HLS) as a breach of trust, since it is an explicit requirement that the candidate should have NYU as the first choice and the candidate undertakes to withdraw all other offers if they receive one for the Hauser. This might mean I end up with no institutions!

Am really frightened of the prospect - anyone with any views or experiences to share?

Dear Aureliovidmar,

I don't have any experiences to share, but my first intuition with regards to your situation is to advice you to sit put and wait for the admission letters. If you then find yourself in a position that you have been admitted to both (which would be brilliant, best of luck!) I would advice you to be honest with the admissions people and explain your situation. If at that time you still are of the opinion that HLS is your first choice, you ought to make your concerns about any possible breach of trust clear to the NYU admissions people and explain that you are not acting in bad faith. I simply can't see that the admissions people would act with vengeance and screw you for changing your mind. Call me naive, but I'm a firm believer in the notion that you can't go wrong with straight forward honesty.

yours

Paavo

Dear Aureliovidmar,

I agree with the post above. I really dont think you have anything to worry about if Hauser and Harvard both work out...In the end, Univs can only encourage you to prioritize them, I'm pretty sure they cant/wont coerce you in an unfair manner...Ultimately, you're entitled to stay in the market for the best schol/Univ your credentials can get you...

Also, I know for a fact that, two years ago, at leadt three ppl in a similar situation left the Hauser/Vanderbilt schols for Harvard/Yale etc...

So, your concern for doing the right thing is truly commendable (in all seriousness), but I dont see a problem you need to worry about...

Thanks pkhotiaho and rac - definitely good advice to keep in mind. I do realise that I'm prehaps being overly nervous over ifs-and-possibilities - just that I can't help but want to make sure neither school feels hard done by - would sure hate it if as a result of not planning properly, I don't get into either school due to the purported breach of trust - then again, prehaps should have done my homework before hand and have a concrete and unshakeable view of where I wanna go before I apply.

Thanks so much for your kind comments and views though; anyone with personal experiences to share - would sure love reassurance from those who have been there and done that, especiually vis-a-vis the rejection of Hauser Global for another school!