Thank you for knowledge about this whole process. It is much appreciated.
My daughter is very interested in Brandeis University and wants to apply Early Decision. I have read a lot of the pros and cons involved. Do you know if Brandeis has differential packaging practices for ED vs regular decision? Do you know if Brandeis allows one to apply regular decision if you have turned down the ED due to financial aid not being enough? These seem like critical questions I can ask their admissions, but just wondering about your input.
The financial aid is very important to us, and so far, Brandeis is the only school she feels very passionate about. Hard to watch her go through this stress.
Thanks in advance for your input.
I don’t understand what you mean by this. If you turn down an ED acceptance due to insufficient FA, you’re done. What would be the point in then applying RD (even if allowed, which it wouldn’t be)? The FA package isn’t going to get any better.
As for whether Brandeis offers different financial aid packages based on whether a student applies ED or RD, you can certainly ask, but I doubt this is the sort of thing a school would admit to.
I understand your question, and I don’t know the answer. I think it’s a great idea to call the financial aid pros there, and ask them such questions. They might not be completely forthcoming - but they might be. Schools vary in how easy they are to communicate with over this, and I think Brandeis has a pretty good approach. Also, if she does apply ED and is accepted, but the FA isn’t do-able, don’t be afraid to have a conversation with them about a possible increase. Sometimes they are not clear on a particullar aspect of your financial situation, and it can be reclassified, leading to a better FA award.
Of course, the common wisdon is not to apply ED if financial aid is an important consideration.
On the other hand, the one reason to break the agreement one makes when applying ED, is if it will not be affordable.
Hi MommaJ. Thanks for your response. When I was doing some research on CC, in the Ask the Dean forum, she brought up both of my questions above indicating that 1) some schools will allow you to apply RD if you turn down the ED due to the financial aid not being sufficient and that this was an important question to ask. She also brought up the differential financial packaging for ED vs RD. She also indicated as @hanaviolet said to have a conversation about the aid if it is not sufficient. I was hoping to “Ask the Dean” her particular knowledge in regards to Brandeis as she seemed to know some of these answers for some other schools, but I am not sure if the Ask the Dean forum still is up and taking current questions as I am new to this site.
I agree Hanaviolet that some schools might not be forthcoming about if they indeed have different financial packaging for ED vs RD. We asked someone who used to be an admissions person at a prestigious school and she said most schools do not offer different packages and would offer the same either way, but many people do feel the schools might offer less aid with an ED hence the common wisdom to not apply ED if financial aid is an important consideration as you indicated.
I will pursue these questions with Brandeis if possible and let you know what they say. Thanks again.
Some schools may adjust the financial aid package if it is deemed insufficient, but I have never heard of a school that allowed a student to apply during the RD if the financial aid package is not sufficient. That just doesn’t make sense to me considering a) the decision has already been handed out and b) the financial aid package isn’t likely to change greatly from ED to RD rounds. If FA is need based, like most schools claim, this reasoning would not make any sense
OP, the Ask the Dean blog still exists (here: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/ ). I think the post you’re referring to is here: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/will-emory-early-decision-applicant-move-to-regular-decision-pool-if-aid-is-insufficient/ (“Some will automatically put admitted Early Decision candidates into the Regular Decision applicant pool if the student turns down the ED offer for financial reasons.”) But honestly, that statement doesn’t make much sense to me, and I can’t imagine why any school would do this or why it would be a useful path for the student. Maybe someone will be able to offer an example of this practice–I’ve never seen it mentioned over years of reading the FA forum. In any case, a call to the Brandeis admissions office should provide your answer.
If you can discuss what exactly makes Brandeis a “passionate” choice for your D, I’m sure you’ll get suggestions for other colleges that may appeal to her.
Any school wants to maximize their yield, and with ED, the student is, by definition,“captured.” With RD, the schools are competing with other schools for students. Therefore, I can see how the financial aid offer could go up, to make the school more competitive, more attractive, and mazimize their yield.
And then it gets complicated, with the student vying for acceptance within a bigger pool, probably a pool of students with higher average stats, and various financial “capabilities” which affect acceptance decisions at most schools.
But if your daughter were to be accepted ED, and you couldn’t manage the costs, I would think the school would be partially vested in that ED student, and would try to make it work. But iffy, of course.
Great to know @MommaJ that the Ask the Dean blog still exists. Thanks !! That is totally where I formed my questions.
My daughter is really interested in schools that breathe social justice. Where the Professors that teach some of the social justice courses are still engaged with activism. Older daughter goes to Hampshire( takes lots of classes at Amherst ) which has been great for her and the opportunities for her have been amazing. Younger daughter doesn’t want to go to Hampshire which is probably good. She is considering some DC schools like Georgetown, George Washington and American University. She is also considering Northeastern, Boston College, Oberlin, Bard, Tulane and Emory. We have a ton of possible reach schools and not a great deal of goal schools that appeal to her. She would like a school that ideally has about 4-7 thousand students…obs, small private liberal arts school. Her SAT scores and GPA etc seem to fall in line with a lot of these schools.
My gut says not to apply ED anywhere and I think she is hearing ( not from just me which is good) the cons of applying ED. She is wanting to do it out of fear per say, as it seems like her odds of getting in there would be increased if she applied ED and right now, that is her number one choice.
I keep telling her that there are many schools out there she could be happy attending. Big decisions for these kids.
Thanks again for your input. Appreciate your time and opinions.