<p>So I am considering applying ED to Bucknell, it is my top choice school and I really want to go there. My only concern with applying ED is that I wont be able to compare financial aid offers between other schools? How good is Bucknells financial aid, my parents said they will contribute $13,000 a year to costs, and I am willing to take out loans in order to attend. If I apply ED should financial aid be a big concern to me, becuase I know the price tag is quite high. Also, what happens if I apply ED, get accepted and then find out that I cant afford everything with the financial aid, am I completely screwed for attending a different college since I couldnt apply anywere else, what would I do then?</p>
<p>If financial aid is a concern to you ED is not the best way to go. If you apply RD you will be able to compare financial offers and also apply to financial safeties such as state schools. Technically you are allowed to back out of an ED acceptence for financial reasons but I don't know how easy it is to do. I know someone who had a very difficult time backing out of an ED acceptance (not at Bucknell) and ended up at a community college for a year. While ED gives you an advantage in terms of acceptance, I would strongly advise you not to apply ED if financial aid is an issue.</p>
<p>I understand your dilemma, but if Bucknell is your top choice, I would apply ED. I know for a fact that Bucknell gives really good financial aid packages (my mom is an assistant director of admissions). The average package given is around 25K per year, and about 62% of students are on some type of financial aid.</p>
<p>I'd strongly encourage you to avoid ED if financial aid is a question. You'd need about $35,000 and that's a huge amount. Don't count on merit aid and I'm afraid need-based aid is going to be tight, especially at Bucknell.</p>
<p>I'm a first-generation Asian American; middle class, possibly upper-middle. I got almost no financial aid, and I've found that to be generally the same for other students. However, many of my friends who are international students got very nice packages (one is going here almost for free). I know one of Bucknell's goals is to "diversify" the campus, and I am suspecting this is one of their ways to do it. Other than the international students, there are also the athletes to take into account. I don't know the specific distribution of financial aid, but my hypothesis is that this average of 25$k aid is offset due to "special" cases.</p>