<p>Hi,
i have been accepted ED to Cornell CoE, </p>
<p>but I still haven't received my financial aid package, and I don't think i will be receiving it anytime soon since the office will be closed during the holidays... (and I live in Canada)</p>
<p>so am I allowed to apply to other schools in case my financial package is not sufficient to cover the college costs...? the letter says that my place in cornell may be jeaporadized if I do not immediately withdraw all of my applications... </p>
<p>You're right, niceshrp: you can get out of an ED commitment if you/your family cannot afford the financial aid package/tuition. Its true that Cornell covers 100% of your "financial need," but that still doesn't mean that you can afford Cornell. If i'm not mistaken, financial need is determined in large part through the government forms like FAFSA and CSS (correct me if I'm wrong, somebody). When I applied, according to those forms my family would have to pay $22,000 a year for Cornell. Now thankfully Cornell, when calculating my financial aid package, was a lot more generous. But (and I applied ED), if Cornell had not been so generous (even if they had covered my "need" with loans), I still would not have been able to afford it. In this worse case scenario, I would have no choice but to break my agreement.</p>
<p>If such an instance was to occur, though, (and you'll find out very soon), get in contact with the financial aid office asap and let them know what your situation is.</p>
<p>it's really going to suck if finance doesn't work out. Most schools have their deadline for regular decision set on Jan. 1/2. It is already too late for me to apply to them because my teachers know i got into cornell and will not write more recommendation letters. I personally am not motivated enough to write more essays either. Furthermore, i know im not supposed to apply to anywhere else.</p>
<p>To me this means, if Cornell doesn't take me or if I cannot afford Cornell, I am not going to college, not even my state one if I withdraw my apps like they told me to.</p>
<p>I would tread very, very carefully niceshrp. I'm also in Canada, and my cousin from two years ago applied ED to Cornell and got in. However, despite the fact that his letter said he must withdraw other applications, he didn't (because, like you, he needed financial aid and his family wasn't sure they could afford it). He kept his other applications in, and contacted Cornell as early as possible in January to let them know about it. The were appalled -- the financial aid office thought they offered a very generous amount. </p>
<p>So, they rescinded his acceptance ("What good is a student to us who we offer thousands of dollars if he applies to other schools after?") AND let all the other ivies/top schools that he was applying to know. Needless to say, he was rejected from all of them because of this "breach" in the agreement with Cornell (it was explicitly stated this was the reason in the letters he received). </p>
<p>The only school he got into was the University of Toronto in Canada, and they didn't give him any money. So, now he's in his second year in Toronto, pretty much hates it, and has to pay the university tons and tons of money. It's a crappy situation to put yourself into after obtaining something as fortuitous as an early acceptance.</p>
<p>whoa... really...?
that does sound horrible timatti3...
but I don't even know how much i am even going to get...
I know that if I need FA, i am not supposed to apply early, but
I applied ED becuase the website said i will be notified of my financial package in mid-December, which would have given me plenty of time to apply to other schools if the financial package is not sufficient enough...
But since it is apparent that I will not find out until mid-january... i don't know what to do... </p>
<p>I guess I must withdraw all applications and hope for the best ... ?</p>
<p>niceshrp (and the rest of you guys): I would, if I were in your position, withdraw all the other applications BEFORE the deadline. You found out from Cornell that you got in almost a week ago, and, in their minds, that is plenty of notice to withdraw your other applications. I really wouldn't worry about the financial aid package though, they should give you good aid. Even my cousin's offer, when it arrived, was something his family could afford, albeit after some slight lifestyle adjustments (nothing major at all -- one less movie here, one more dinner in there). He, however, decided to gamble and see if he could get something better. </p>
<p>Moreover, if you have yet to submit your other applications.. do not even think of doing it. Not withdrawing once you know you have been accepted is bad enough; imagine how bad it would look if you apply AFTER you were accepted under a binding agreement.</p>
<p>niceshrp: I think that timatti3 gave you very sage advice. I might be reading the post wrong though - but it looks like his cousin called Cornell's office after he knew his financial aid and just wanted to keep his options open to see what other schools offer. That is probably why Cornell rescinded his application. </p>
<p>Do you have a copy of this promise in writing?
[quote]
I applied ED becuase the website said i will be notified of my financial package in mid-December, which would have given me plenty of time to apply to other schools if the financial package is not sufficient enough...
But since it is apparent that I will not find out until mid-january... i don't know what to do...
[/quote]
When will the financial aid office re-open? If they told you (in writing) that you would find out about your FA in mid-December, I don't think it would be unreasonable to call the office and just ask about your package without mentioning applying to other schools. As an ED candidate you are not allowed to apply to other schools or keep your other applications active just to compare financial aid packages... either it meets your need, or it doesn't. </p>
<p>Here's a copy of what you signed on the Common Application. There's an interesting thread on the Parents Forum from a dad who is feeling badly because his daughter did not apply ED to any schools because they had to compare financial aid packages and he received a lot of support from other parents. </p>
<p>
[quote] From the Common Application
Under the Early Decision Plan, it is a violation of the spirit and the letter of the agreement for an applicant to be an Early Decision candidate at two or more institutions
at the same time. Students who apply under the Early Decision Plan may initiate applications to other institutions, provided that none of the other applications is made
under an Early Decision or an applicable Restrictive Early Action Plan. The obligation explicit in the Early Decision Plan, as described here and as defined by the National
Association for College Admission Counseling, is a commitment on the part of the candidate to withdraw any other applications and to initiate no new applications if
accepted under an institutions Early Decision Plan. <a href="This%20commitment%20is%20binding%20only%20if%20sufficient%20financial%20aid%20is%20offered.">b</a>**</p>
<p>Yes, I wish to be considered as an Early Decision candidate. If I am accepted under the Early Decision Plan, I will matriculate in the fall. In addition, I understand that,
if accepted under Early Decision, I must withdraw all my applications (if any) to other institutions and make no new ones. I further acknowledge that it is a violation
of the agreement for an applicant to be an Early Decision candidate at two or more institutions at the same time. By checking this item and signing our names
below, we acknowledge the terms of the Early Decision commitment.
<p>the cornell office e-mailed me back (surprisingly on December 26th) saying I am allowed to postpone the withdrawls until I receive my financial aid notifications.</p>
<p>They also said that they have not completed my financial package yet,
I guess this means my place at Cornell will not be jeaporadized until I receive my financial package.</p>
<p>Still, niceshrp, I would be careful. Cornell should give you good aid, and they will likely see it that way. Just to clarify, my cousin didn't contact Cornell until after Jan 1st, because he couldn't reach them by phone (time off for holidays). He kept his other applications in; however, he received his financial aid offer in the mail very early January, before he was able to talk to Cornell.</p>
<p>By the way, you're putting undue stress on yourself. Cornell will give you good aid. :)</p>
<p>thanks timatti3, your comments have been very helpful.
How much do you think the university will offer me if my parents' income is $70,000? The Collegeboard EFC calculator estimated that my contribution should be aroung $30,000... which seems like a hefty amount considering 70,000 is before tax...(that almost exceeds 50% of our annual income)..</p>
<p>ok i need advice:
if i have been accepted under ED, and havent received a letter yet. I'm not allowed to apply anywhere else even before i get my financial aid letter???</p>
<p>depends. the financial aid office takes into account many factors when making these decisions including income, expenses, value of property, number of dependents in a household, etc.</p>