<p>I sent my ED app a few days ago, not caring about financial security, because I thought Brown has a 100% need met policy. And I also thought that if it is the case that Brown hasn’t supplied enough financial aid for me to go to the school, I could be released from the ED agreement. Everyone here applying ED is saying that you should only apply ED if you are financially able. I’m far from financially able. My family actually lives under the poverty line.</p>
<p>Please, I’m really worried I made a mistake. The only reason I applied ED is that I really, really love this school and I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else!</p>
<p>Brown does indeed meet full financial need. A lot of (usually middle class) people still don’t find the financial aid that Brown deems them to need enough however. If you’re below the poverty line I think that probably entitles you to pay nothing but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>miakim: This is a tough situation, and one for which you will get different advice from different people.</p>
<p>Brown does promise to meet 100% of your financial need. However, Brown determines what your need is. Have you run the net price calculator on the Brown website? I strongly recommend that you do. If your family’s income is as low as you are suggesting, then there is a really, really good chance that Brown will give you a wonderful aid package – although it will include loans and work/study. </p>
<p>Some people on CC do say that ED is for people not looking for financial aid. However, there is also a contingent that says that for someone who is low income who will get a generous financial aid package, ED can and does work fine. What you miss by applying ED is the ability to compare financial aid packages from different colleges, and the chance to go to the school with the better aid.</p>
<p>And yes, if you are not happy with the financial aid, you can turn down an ED offer. I would call the financial aid office before doing that, because they might reconsider your package under those circumstances.</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like you will have a loan component.</p>
<p>Undergraduate financial aid applicants with total parent incomes less than $100,000, at the time of admission, do not have a loan component in their awards.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your answers everybody! This has really put my mind at peace. Oh, and I just tried out the net price calculator at Brown using the information I put in on my CSS. According to the calculator, I might be getting around 55k worth of financial aid.</p>