<p>I first posted this in the Wellesley forum but I'm going to also post it here to get more advice.</p>
<p>I'm a Canadian trying to transfer to Wellesley, but since I'm international I'm technically applying as a freshman. I was planning on taking my ACTs for the first time in December, since I missed the October deadline, but I just found out I might be able to take it on October 25th as a standby. If I do this, I will be able to apply ED and rush for recs, essays, transcripts etc. I don't know how hard of a problem it will be to get these things since I was planning on asking a TA at my university (so no other really big commitments) and a high school teacher (our school doesn't really have people who ask for recs as it is in Canada and most people don't need them). I'm about halfway done with my essays.</p>
<p>However, I haven't requested an interview yet and the ED deadline has already passed. I was thinking of emailing them or something but apparently interviews are required for transfers. I also don't know if that applies since I'm in the freshman pool. I don't think this will be too big of an issue since I've heard that the interview does not hold much weight.</p>
<p>But if I apply ED, I'm afraid that if I get accepted, I won't be able to receive sufficient financial aid. My family's total income is around 120K but we don't really have any left over. We live in a good neighbourhood, but in an apartment, and my dad currently lives in New York by himself right now for his new job so we have two sets of expenses and taxes to both Canada and the US to pay. My parents said they would be able to contribute 20K ~ 25K at the MOST and I could maybe handle 5K in student work. If we were to apply for financial aid, would we be able to receive the 17K to 22K needed?</p>
<p>If I don't receive enough financial aid, can I opt out of ED?</p>
<p>Wellesley is basically the only school I'm trying to transfer to aka my first choice.</p>
<p>yeah, i think ED is binding, even if there's money issues. that's why they advise you to choose carefully and why some schools, like harvard, have opted out of it; they claim that it's unfair for people who have to compare finacial aid offers.</p>
<p>Well I don't really have to compare financial aid offers since I'm ONLY applying to Wellesley, I just want to know if I'll be able to actually go.</p>
<p>You can be released from ED if you can't afford the school after receiving the financial aid offer. It is clearly printed on the ED contract.</p>
<p>The issue is that the school and not you decides what aid is sufficient, but ultimately of course they can not force you to attend. The potential trouble with getting out of an ED agreement is that it can be a bit messy, and can possibly cause you problems when applying to other schools. If you are not planning, though, on any other applications then it doesn't seem like that's an issue.</p>
<p>You are not in a great income bracket for being able to assume anything about the aid you'll get, on the other hand it sounds like your parents are trying their best to help you out as much as they can.</p>
<p>Why don't you just apply in Regular Decision?</p>
<p>No, I want to try to apply ED because Wellesley's acceptance rate is around 66% for those that do. I know it's very self-selective, but I still think there is an advantage to convince adcoms that you will definitely attend.</p>
<p>But really, a big part of me just really wants my decision sooner rather than later.
When I did the CSS/Profile + FASFA calculator on College Board, my EFC was around 20K-25K, but I'm mostly just wondering how often is there a huge gap between the estimates and the actual offer? Also, can financial aid offers still be negotiated successfully in ED?</p>
<p>It sounds like the calculators put your EFC in line with what your parents are willing to pay, that is assuming that 20K-25K was what the CSS Profile calculator gave you. What you don't know is how close Wellesley's FA policies are to the generic calculations of the online calculator, and how much of your aid package would come in the form of loans.</p>
<p>I have known two kids who applied ED and had to go back and negotiate better aid awards from the colleges. They were both successful in that, but with just two examples those are purely anecdotal and don't necessarily represent what would happen for you. You certainly can ask for a re-evaluation and more aid, but it's up to them whether or not they want to work with you on that.</p>
<p>If Wellesley didn't accept you, or else offered you an aid package that meant you couldn't afford the school, or had more loans than you're willing to take out, would you just stay in college in Canada?</p>
<p>I thought that Wellesley's FA policies were based on the two profiles.</p>
<p>Originally, I contemplated applying to different schools for transfer in March, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay if I can't go to Wellesley. I'm at UBC right now, which is pretty reputable in Canada. I might change my mind come March, when most transfer apps are due.</p>
<p>Schools that require the Profile will also require the FAFSA, because the FAFSA is required for federal aid....... but considering that you're not a US citizen, you wouldn't be eligible for federal aid anyway, right? In any case the Profile calculator will likely be more accurate since it uses institutional methodology, not federal.</p>
<p>Also, Wellesley isn't need-blind for international students, so the fact that you need financial aid may weigh into their admission decisions. However, your parents are willing to commit a certain amount of money, and you could borrow some as well (I checked the website and they have a decent loan-cap there, so your debt shouldn't go sky-high by graduation)... anyway, there would be a solid contribution from your family, so that's a help with the non-need-blind policy for internationals.</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck with it if that's what you decide to do. Just bear in mind that if you are accepted and then you decide you're not able to afford it, that you can get out of your ED agreement, but it's possible that the whole thing could make your chances in regular decision to other top schools more difficult. If you're not applying elsewhere, then I guess that's not so much a problem. Anyway, go into ED with you eyes wide open, and I hope you get in!</p>
<p>Wellesley also has another option: Early Evaluation. That's non-binding.
[quote]
*Early Evaluation *
If your credentials are complete by January 1, you may opt for a nonbinding decision plan under which students get an early indication of their chances for admission. At the end of February, students who apply under the Early Evaluation decision plan receive a letter that lists their chances for admission as "likely," "possible," or "unlikely." Students will receive their final decision from the Board of Admission in April.<br>
<p>Wellesley's financial aid policies are the same for US and Canadian students. I emailed them to check. </p>
<p>Thanks! I think I'll just go ahead with the preparation but I'll definitely think about it more. </p>
<p>Chedva, I was originally going to apply Early Evaluation. But I think there is definitely an advantage if the acceptance rate for ED is 66% and EE is 36%. I know it's self-selective, but that's a 30% difference.</p>