Q:  I applied to six colleges, regular decision.  One of the reasons I didn't apply Early Decision anywhere is because getting financial aid is important.  I really wanted to see if I got more than one acceptance and then could compare the costs before I decide which college to choose.  I like all the schools I applied to, but some are harder to get into than others.  Last week I got acceptance letters from two schools, which made me feel great.  But one of the colleges sent another letter telling me I could get "priority" on campus housing if I enroll now.  I like this school, but I want to wait to sign up until I hear back from all the colleges.  What should I do?

A:  Congratulations on your two acceptances so far!  It sounds like you have made thoughtful choices.  You have every right to wait until you receive all six decisions, though, before you make your choice.  May 1 is the acknowledged enrollment deadline for colleges and universities in the US, and this is upheld by NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors).  There is a code of ethics in every profession, and in ours it is that no student should be pressured to  enroll before May 1 (the exception, of course, is for binding Early Decision agreements).

Sometimes colleges make enticing and even subtle offers -- enroll now and get your first choice of dorm space -- because they are a little nervous.  Unless they already have a good percentage of the incoming freshman class locked in under Early Decision, colleges do not know until after May 1 if they will have full enrollment.  So they may try to push enrollment a bit.  But they are not supposed to.

This is what you should do:  send this college a friendly message telling them you are very excited they have accepted you, but you need a little more time to make your decision. Tell your college counselor about their offer, and he or she can call them and ask them, diplomatically, to give you some space.  They will understand -- and they will back off.