The group, which last met in December before the settlement was announced, will meet again until late May. And Overlap will be on their agenda, Rudenstine says.

But the president adds that he and other Ivy league officials have discussed the settlement on the telephone since it was announced in December.

"It is my impression that people are very reticent to enter into the agreement that has been reached with the Justice Department," he says, "I have not heard of any decisions [that are] positive."

Durkee says: "Even those who can qualify have serious reservations about entering into an agreement with the government which would govern policies on admission."

Until decisions are made, the Overlap schools will continue to make financial aid decisions individually, officials say.

MIT officials, though, say they are still hopeful for the future of Overlap, but the decision is up to the Ivy League schools.

"We obviously can't get together if the other Ivies don't want to on that ground," Campbell says. "The ball is in their court."