<p>I am applying to Georgetown EA along with 3 other girls in my 50 person senior class. I am the strongest applicant concrete stat wise out of all the applicants. However, Gtown is not my first choice school and I have expressed that at school before. It is probably about my 4th choice. A student at school screamed yesterday at me that I shouldn't have applied because if I get in I won't go there probably and then I will take away a spot from a student like her who would no doubt go to Georgetown if she was admitted. The reason why Georgetown isn't my first choice is because of cost. I want decent merit aid opportunities so that I can afford grad school, though the other students in my class have assured me that Gtown grads always get jobs. I certainly never thought that by applying to non 1st choice schools would hurt other students who wanted to go to a school more. I mean these school have a wait list in case they have extra spots come deposit time, right? Did I do the wrong thing by applying to elite schools that aren't my first choice?</p>
<p>Even if you did hurt someone else’s chances, you are not at fault. You are keeping your options open, and that is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It wasn’t fair of that student to yell at you.</p>
<p>Totally agree with figureskater. If you have the spot, it is because you deserved it.</p>
<p>No one is taking anyone else’s “spot.” If it worked that way, everyone should only apply to 1 school, because any acceptances more than one are taking spots.</p>
<p>Schools over admit because they know not everyone they accept comes. No school in the country has 100% yield. Georgetown’s yield is under 45%, so they admit slightly more than twice as many as ultimately come. It is too bad that she yelled at you, but there is nothing you can do but execute the strategy that best meets your needs, and wish her well (even though she apparently doesn’t know quite how it works.)</p>
<p>OP, you are correct about the wait lists and how schools use them. If this other student isn’t at least wait listed by Georgetown, they would not have been accepted outright as an EA applicant. I can understand that any one can be driven crazy by this process, but no one should be yelling accusations! </p>
<p>You are also correct to protect yourself by having many options to allow for a good merit/financial aid package. There’s a lot of variability out there, and it is difficult to predict what any school will offer you.</p>
<p>That person was just lashing out at you out of jealousy and spite. If she really deserved to get into Georgetown, she would’ve at least been waitlisted, regardless of YOUR application. And plus, not to sound cynical, but it IS a dog-eat-dog world. She can’t expect you to refrain from taking advantage of your opportunities just because she thinks it’s going to hurt her. You guys aren’t even friends, are you? (Considering the yelling she did…) In this case, she’s in the wrong, not you.</p>
<p>*However, Gtown is not my first choice school and I have expressed that at school before. *</p>
<p>It’s probably best to keep such info to yourself. It’s just not helpful.</p>
<p>Would you go to Gtown if the FA package was good? If so, then say that.</p>
<p>Since you mentioned that cost is an issue. Are you concerned that your “family contribution” will be too high? Because if you have need and are accepted, GU will give you aid.</p>
<p>We have a max EFC and don’t qualify for aid. My parents will contribute 200k total to my education including graduate school.</p>
<p>I would “lay low” with my comments about Gtown. If it comes up again, I would just say something like, “if I think it’s affordable, then I’ll go.” Don’t go into any details about what your budget is or any personal stuff.</p>
<p>some kids/families make it a policy not to discuss school lists and such at school because of these petty issues that can come up.</p>
<p>What other schools are you applying to?</p>
<p>Sounds like your friend is a little stressed. Just remember it isn’t your fault if you’re admitted and she is not, you have every right to a backup plan. If she brings it up again, I’d just tell her how Georgetown admits more students than it needs, that might calm her down. On the other hand it might not, if she’s determined to be angry at something. Clearly she’s worried about her own chances; try not to hold it against her as tempers will run high at times like these.</p>
<p>Georgetown sometimes is accused of “stealing” students from Ivy League schools because Georgetown offers merit aid while many Ivy League colleges do not. Therefore, if you are not eligible for need based aid, you may find Georgetown to have a lower net cost than other highly selective schools.</p>
<p>As far as I know, Gtown only offers need-based aid, but I’m not sure. The schools I’m applying to are University of Delaware, University of Vermont, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Brandeis, Dickinson, and Goucher. I think I have a healthy mix of safeties, matches, and reaches. At several schools I have a great chance of getting some solid merit aid.</p>
<p>To answer your original question, no, not anymore than any accepted student “takes away” another applicant’s spot. You are not directly compared to students from your own school. </p>
<p>Still, it’s best to keep your relative disinterest in Georgetown quiet out of respect for your classmates.</p>
<p>In reference to Georgetown merit aid, here’s a quote from the Georgetown website:</p>
<p>"Georgetown Incentive Scholarships</p>
<p>Georgetown’s Incentive Scholarship awards are designed to assist in the recruitment and retention of talented undergraduates. Often these awards are made to students who are pursuing certain academic or extra-curricular interests.</p>
<p>Georgetown Incentive Scholarship awards typically reduce the “self-help” GU expected family contribution and/or the student loan or work components of a standard need-based Georgetown financial aid package.</p>
<pre><code>* GU Athletic Grants-In-Aid
- GU Baker Trust Scholarships
- GU Bellarmine & Ignatian Scholarships
- GU 1789/GSP Scholarships
- GU John Carroll Scholarships
- GU President’s Scholarships for District of Columbia Students
- Other GU Incentive Scholarships"
</code></pre>
<p>That sounds very much like need based aid to me. I doubt I would get any. Even if they were straight up merit scholarships I don’t think I’m qualified enough. I only have 2200 SAT and 3.95 GPA. Kids who get scholarships at top schools are usually off the walls smart.</p>