<p>So Bryn Mawr is my top choice. I’m in love with everything about it, and I REALLY want to apply early decision. But I’m worried about financial aid. My parents are pretty low-income but we have assets that make it look like we can pay a lot more than we actually can. Does anyone know how flexible Bryn Mawr is with aid offers and explaining special circumstances and all that?</p>
<p>Also, the reason I want to apply early is that I want to get across my super-high interest in Bryn Mawr and it does have a higher acceptance rate…Honestly, I don’t know what my chances are, with a GPA of 3.25UW (4.1W). I had a bad freshman year (not like CC bad, I mean C’s, D’s, and a WF second semester at an intensely rigorous math and science school) but, after transferring, got straight A’s sophomore year, and had an erratic junior year. I got a 36 on the ACT and can technically claim extenuating circumstances backed up by a doctor’s note and endorsement from my guidance counselor, but I really don’t know. I fancy myself a decent writer, so I’m planning on submitting writing samples with my application, but is there anything else I could do to increase my chances (if I have any)?</p>
<p>Would it be worth it to apply early decision? And finally, does it make a difference whether you do ED I or ED II? Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>The danger with applying ED is that you are not only committed to attending the school if they say yes (yay!), but also committed to paying the rather pricey tuition and other expenses even if you don’t get a good financial aid package (ick!). The end. </p>
<p>On the other hand, you can get a ballpark estimate of what your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) toward tuition and expenses would look like from various EFC calculators on the Internet. Your parents contribution towards the EFC is around 5% of their assets (with certain exclusions such as the house you’re living in). Your assets as a student would be tapped at a much higher rate, around 20% for the EFC. Add the two together. Then FAFSA will then determine how much aid you get based on that number and any extenuating circumstances (like other siblings in college at the same time) after which Bryn Mawr may toss in something more based on the PROFILE form you will also have to submit. Know, however, that even after jumping through all those hoops there are many, many families who think they’re good for a nice finaid package who get their final EFCs and are unpleasantly surprised to see just what they are expected to contribute. Also, a lot of the “financial aid” may be in the form of loans you have to pay back, with interest. Rule of thumb is that if affording a school may be a problem without a LOT of financial help, apply Regular Decision.</p>
<p>Both ED I and ED II are binding, but because the ED II deadline is later it gives you more time to figure out if it’s worth the risk.</p>