<p>Applied ED in order to get more financial aid. Still didn't get enough to make it even remotely feasibly possible. :( </p>
<p>I understand that backing out of ED means that I won't be able to transfer there later on... you know, if I won the lottery ... but does it also mean I am unable to apply there for grad school?</p>
<p>You applied ED to get more aid?</p>
<p>It sounds like you got bad advice.</p>
<p>...You are in a pile of deep doo doo.</p>
<p>yeah.. the school I applied to guarantees to meet full need if you apply ED...
That was before I found out I'm rich. Ugh.</p>
<p>thanks sweety. :)</p>
<p>I dont understand. Whats the problem if they meet full need?</p>
<p>Perhaps too many loans.</p>
<p>No, most likely the OP didn't realize that he/she was not numerically 'needy' before applying.</p>
<p>I can empathize. Colleges' version of need doesn't quite depict what I really 'need'. Anyhow, good luck and have you talked to the college about your concerns yet?</p>
<p>You need to talk to the college about your concerns.
However, since when one gets an ED acceptance, one is supposed to withdraw all other applications, I'm wondering where you now plan to go to college.
I'm curious: Why has it taken you so long to realize you can't afford to attend your ED school. Did they take that long to send you your aid package?</p>
<p>Get on the phone immediately with the school's FA office and tell them your predicament, including the records you'll need to back up your claims. You MIGHT get sympathetic voices but you should have done this weeks ago. Good luck</p>
<p>Even if the office is sympathetic, it may be too late to do anything because money may already be gone.</p>
<p>You should certainly call. Although as zoozer says, most of the finaid money has probably already been awarded to RD candidates, every school has some wiggle room. When you call, you should be prepard to explain why you waited so long (if you were EDI, you should have rec'd your award letter before Xmas!).</p>
<p>I didn't receive my award until April.. the same time as RD kids. I wasn't required to withdraw other applications until I received the financial information AND I contacted the folks there immediately upon receiving it. They have been monumentally understanding!!!! So I will be able to go to my state university.</p>
<p>It would all be fine except for I'm totally in love with the school..</p>
<p>Rabbit,
I hope things work out for you! Best of luck!</p>
<p>It is CMU, right?
"Carnegie Mellon will meet the full demonstrated need with a combination of grants, loans, and work-study as calculated by the university for all students admitted under early decision."</p>
<p>thanks, northstar :) </p>
<p>r: yep, it's cmu. and they did meet my full need. it was mostly in loans at first, but after I emailed about it, they increased the proportion of grants.
however, my expected contribution is half what my parents make in a year. </p>
<p>I would be a lot happier going to my state school if I knew I could try for grad school at CMU later in life.</p>
<p>If you do well in your state school, you probably can apply to CMU and have good chances of acceptance to grad school. I have seen stellar students from state schools get into some top grad and professional schools. You also can stay in touch with the grad or professional school at CMU to find out what what you could do to have the best chances of admission.</p>
<p>Also, could you start at your state school and transfer to CMU and get financial aid? By working through the summer and school year while at the state school, you might be able to defray much of the costs your parents otherwise would have to pay.</p>
<p>You applied to CMU for aid? CMU is probably one of the worst schools for financial aid.</p>
<p>If CMU has already re-evaluated and revised your award, a second increase in your grant (especially at this late date) seem unlikely. Under the terms of your agreement, however, it sounds like backing out won't be a problem - - and thank God you have your state sch as a back-upl</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>rabbit, graduate admissions is handled by entirely different people than undergraduate admissions -- it's highly unlikely that anyone will know who you are in 4 years when you might be applying to grad school. It sounds like they are very understanding in any case -- the truth is that if you turn down your ED spot, CMU can go to some full payer on their wait list so they aren't going to be all that upset when you tell them you can't come. </p>
<p>So: go where you can afford to go. You will have many more options for grad school, including CMU, if you aren't burdened by heavy debt.</p>
<p>calmom: thanks for the advice!! what you said makes a great deal of sense</p>
<p>i can't even fathom the amount of debt that I would end up with from CMU, eek.</p>