<p>The student now realizes that ED was not the right way to go. But I think the issue is that the ED offer is <em>not</em> workable, and moreover the student realizes that they might indeed be able to get better offers elsewhere because other schools have tipped their hands. I don’t have a problem at all with this student using all the information available.</p>
<p>Beenthere, I, was a bit outraged here too. But what happened was that the ED2 decision and financial aid package arrived after or about the same time as acceptances and merit awards from the other schools. The ED school package is undoable and the OP is thinking that maybe the other schools will give more financial aid on top of those nice merit packages. Hopefully, the OP has been able to get an extension from last Wednesday for the ED deposit and commitment, or she can lose the other schools acceptances according to the ED contract she signed. Or the ED school may be working on a better package for her. The school is a PROFILE school, so that it does not meet full need as defined by FAFSA EFC may be an issue. If they can’t make the package affordable the OP needs to withdraw the app and forget about that school and focus on the rest of them</p>
<p>But the other schools have only given merit offers, none of which are acceptable either, but OP is hoping that when those schools do give out financial aid packages, that they will give enough to be affordable for her family. Right now ALbright is the best bet as it does seem to guaranteed meeting FAFSA need except for the discretionalry spending part (transportation, books, miscellany) They have already stuck in a merit award, and how else it will come up with the rest of the need, one can only wait and see. </p>
<p>None of the schools in the bunch that have already accepted the OP guarantee to meet full need other than ALbright with their definition of need. It is entirely possible that the merit awards plus PELL and Staffords are all the student can end up getting. IT happens. Schools that do not guarantee to meet need gap all of the time. So it is possible that Muhlenberg, the ED school has the best package except for what Albright seems to be promising to provide, but the OP isn’t sure what her EFC is. The most she will get from Albright is enough money so that only EFC plus another $2K in descretionary costs that it does not guarantee to meet has to be paid.</p>
<p>There is still another school that has not responded and it is the most selective of the group, does guarantee to meet full need defined by PROFILE, not FAFSA, and is need aware in admissions. </p>
<p>So the thing is, teh OP needs to cut loose from M, the ED school or commit to them and cut loose the other schools in the very near future. She has more info than most people do when ED has been done, so she is in pretty good shape that way. But my guess is that she will probably have to come up with $5 -7 K in contributions for any of these schools, even Albright.</p>
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<p>I apologize for offending you with my mistake. That’s what it was: a mistake. I’m only human. I do wish I could have applied RD, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.</p>
<p>I’m not going to go into detail, but my family managed to get some more financial aid from Muhlenberg, making it affordable. We’ve decided that it’s possible for me to go now, so go I will! YAY!</p>
<p>Thank you all for dealing with me and helping me out a lot. Really, it was more than I could’ve asked for.</p>
<p>Hey KittyCat, I’m glad you managed to work things out with Muhlenberg! congrats!</p>
<p>Excellent! So glad to hear that, kittycat!!! :)</p>
<p>Good for you Kittycat! Now let the other colleges know so that some of those funds might be released to others Both of my neighbors’ daughters graduated from M in the last few years, and they think the world of the school and experience there.</p>
<p>kittycatwindow -</p>
<p>Congratulations! Thanks for letting us know that things have worked out for you. Have a great time in college!!</p>