Key takeaways
- Yes, it is possible for your college admission to be revoked.
- Tops reasons are for poor grades, plagiarism, broken college application agreements, suspension, expulsion, or arrest, offensive online postings, missed deadlines, and false information provided to the college.
- If a college revokes your admission, you may be able to request an appeal.
- If your appeal is denied, you can consider going to a community college or rolling admissions schools.
Congrats! You’ve been accepted into college and have made your decision to attend. But keep up the hard work because your college could revoke your admissions under certain circumstances. Learn the reasons why, how to avoid it, and what your options are if it happens.
Why can colleges revoke your admission?
In specific circumstances, colleges can and do revoke admission from students, even if they’ve declared their intention to attend. These are a few reasons it happens:
1. You did poorly in your senior year.
Senioritis is real, and this can lead to a slight dip in grades. While that on its own isn’t a big deal, if grades slip significantly, then there’s a problem. Performing poorly in your final year of high school could prompt the college to revoke your admission, especially if the college requests your mid-year report.
In most cases, colleges will first contact the student to learn why their grades dropped and, if the reason is understandable, the school may be less likely to revoke acceptance.
2. You’re guilty of plagiarism.
Colleges and universities take plagiarism very seriously. Plagiarism or cheating during your high school years can put your college education in jeopardy. Colleges take this infraction extremely seriously. Always make sure that your submissions, whether college essays, English essays, or artwork, are of your own creation. Keep in mind that even using artificial intelligence (AI) can be considered plagiarism.
3. You broke college application agreements.
Early decision is a binding college admissions process that allows students to apply early with the commitment to attend if accepted. You should only apply to one college under early decision and withdraw any other applications once admitted. Applying to multiple early decision schools risks multiple acceptances—and schools finding out.
Similarly, not adhering to restrictive early action rules can lead to a college revoking your offer. Restrictive early action allows students to apply early to only one school, but does not require them to attend if accepted. If a college discovers you applied elsewhere, your offer could be withdrawn.
4. You were suspended, expelled, or arrested.
Your high school could report suspensions or expulsions to your college, especially for dangerous, violent, illegal, or other serious acts. If you’re arrested and/or found guilty of a crime, your college may also find out from your high school, the news, or another source. Any of these offenses can lead to revoked admissions.
5. You posted offensive material online.
Harvard University revoked admissions for students who made offensive remarks in a Facebook group dedicated to racist and hateful memes. One of these students was denied admission because of comments he posted when he was 16. This goes to show how what you post online can make a serious impact years later. Similarly, some colleges revoked admissions for students for racist comments in the wake of George Floyd’s killing.
Colleges can revoke acceptance for inappropriate behavior. As a student, you represent the institution, and your actions online and offline reflect on it. Always think carefully before you post and act responsibly.
6. You missed important deadlines.
Colleges set strict deadlines for deposits and payments, and missing them can lead to revoked admission. Early decision students typically send their deposit a few weeks after they’re accepted, but most future college students have to submit their deposits by May 1, the National College Decision Day. Tuition and fees also have specific deadlines.
Always review all admission materials carefully for next steps and deadlines. If you think you may not meet a deadline, contact the admissions or financial aid office right away. Even missing one payment or paying late can result in losing your spot.
7. You provided false information.
When you apply to colleges, it’s important to be truthful. Even small lies can come back to haunt you, but serious ones, like faking a letter of recommendation or forging a test score or grade, could mean the college rescinds its offer of admission.
Many college applications require you to sign at the end, stating that what you’ve provided is truthful. If you believe you made a mistake on your college application, big or small, reach out to the school as soon as possible.
What should you do if your college revokes your admission?
In many cases, colleges allow a student to plead his or her case before acceptance is officially revoked or to appeal the decision. However, students need to have convincing arguments or show serious remorse for their actions. Prepare to be calm and polite in these meetings, and present to the school why you’re still a good choice for a future student.
In the event a school decides against you and revokes your admission, you might still have options.
- If it’s before May 1, you might be able to accept one of your other school’s offers of acceptance.
- If it’s after May 1, you can apply to a community college or a rolling admissions school.
- In the future, you might also be able to reapply to your first-choice college as a transfer student, especially if you’ve shown you learned from your mistakes.
How can you avoid getting your admissions revoked?
To avoid getting your college admission revoked, the best course of action is to prevent these mistakes in the first place. Keep up with your grades, be honest, honor your college admission agreements, and maintain good behavior. If you’re being accused of something untrue, you can always appeal the decision.
Discover which colleges may be right for you
If your admission offer was rescinded, there are always next steps you can take. Your college may give you a chance to appeal. But if they stand by their decision, you can still find a path to move forward with your education.
Whether you’ve had an offer rescinded or you’re exploring schools for the first time, the College Match tool can help you find colleges that match your goals. You can search for colleges based on your GPA, major, location, and more.
Revoking College Admission Offers FAQs
Can colleges revoke acceptance offers?
Yes, colleges can revoke acceptance offers. While this is rare, you can try to prevent this. Do well in school, stay out of trouble, and follow your college’s rules for early decision agreements. Be honest with every application you send and don’t miss any important deadlines.
How often do colleges revoke acceptance offers?
It’s pretty rare for a college to revoke an acceptance offer, but it can happen. The most common reasons include a big drop in grades, falsified applications, and disciplinary issues.
What happens when an acceptance is revoked?
When acceptance is revoked, the student is unable to join the incoming class. The college will send you a notification, and you may have the chance to appeal. For example, if you have declining grades due to a family emergency, they may allow you to enroll. It’s important to contact the admissions office as soon as possible to discuss your situation and explore options.
Can colleges revoke acceptance after you’ve made your deposit?
Yes. Even though it isn’t common, colleges can revoke acceptance after you’ve submitted your enrollment deposit. Admission to a college is dependent on maintaining good grades, refraining from disciplinary action, and providing accurate information in your application. Usually, deposits are non-refundable and won’t likely be returned if admission was revoked for a good reason.
