<p>MHC is a little different in that they want- and need- to encourage young women to attend a single sex school. In that respect, ED tells them you have considered the gender bit and are ok with it. I don’t believe MHC would hamstring you as an ED kid. It’s to their advantage to play fair. What could affect you, however, is the actual finaid application. There could be something in your finaid app that differs from the limited questions asked in the NPC. (Eg, self-employed, some addl asset, some assumption about numbers Dad made, that will be covered in more detail in the actual FA app- or cross-covered.) You have to be alert to this. Each family has to not just come up with “a number” they can afford, but also the range they could stretch to, if needed. </p>
<p>If grandma agrees to kick in some funds, you really don’t know if she will continue- or will be able to. In our case (not MHC,) we not only knew what we felt we could contribute, but also what we could afford to take (and pay off) in Parent Plus Loans. And, what those payments would be. </p>
<p>But also, don’t just assume ED is the trick to tip you toward an admit. Take a look at their actual common app supplement, know what sorts of strengths, outlook, etc, they want in their students. Envision how you actually fit- and how they fit you. Good luck.</p>