How to break early decision agreement?

Hey, I have a hypothetical question. If someone applies early decision to a college and gets accepted, but later realizes they can't afford it or have a change of heart, is there any way to break the early decision agreement? What would be the consequences? A little stressed just thinking about it, any thoughts on this would be helpful.

It's totally normal to feel stressed about these kinds of commitments, and it's good that you're thinking ahead about all possible scenarios. An Early Decision (ED) agreement is binding, which means that you're expected to attend the college if you're accepted. However, colleges do understand that sometimes financial situations can't be predicted. If the financial aid package you receive doesn't make attendance feasible, most colleges will release you from the ED agreement without any penalty. You would need to talk with the financial aid office and document your circumstances.

Change of heart is a bit trickier. Colleges won't release you from an ED agreement simply because you've changed your mind. That said, no college will (or can) force you to attend, so the 'consequences' might involve forfeiting your deposit and possibly affecting your high school's relationship with the college for future applicants. Remember, this step should really be a last resort.

Ultimately, you should only apply ED if you are absolutely sure that this college is your first choice and you've thoroughly examined your financial situation with your family. It's an important decision, so weigh your options and be confident in your choice before you commit!