<p>While on the CMU website, I found something interesting for the Design and Management kids. They offer Early Decision for the tech kids. I thought that was interesting as I haven't seen it on any other college's site. What would be the benefit for early decision as a tech kid?</p>
<p>There was a girl that went to the same performing arts school as my kids. She was an amazing tech student and went to CMU for their summer program. She was offered acceptance before she was a senior (they sometimes do that with their summer program kids when they see talent). However, the cost was way out of the question for her family. The benefit of early decision is knowing that you got into a college program and you can focus on your senior year and keeping your grades up. If that school is your first choice, not having that stress during your senior year is great!</p>
<p>Just to be clear though, a summer acceptance at CMU is not technincally an early decision. Unless I’m confusing concepts, I think an early decision is where you essentially agree that, if admitted, you will go there. </p>
<p>Auditioning for the summer was a part of the program. The kids were told in the very rare case that the school accepted a kid based on what they saw this summer, it was not binding in any way. Kids could still go and audition other places.</p>
<p>Going with what “regular” colleges do (and this was 4 years ago with older DD), Early Decision was not binding but Early Action was. I guess the only benefit I can see is that you know, ahead of most people, if you have been accepted. Still, for us, it will all come down to finances, so I’m not sure where Early Decision is even an issue for us. Either way, she is working on that app next weekend, so I suppose it fall in with the Early Decision group. Perhaps I should just contact CMU Drama about this.</p>
<p>Hi ugadog! I see the source of your confusion: you have the two application plans reversed! Early action is NOT binding–early decision is–this has always been the case, even back in the dark ages when I got into college ED. There are other variations on the theme, but that’s the gist. So the advantage of early DECISION is that if a student knows a school is her first choice and doesn’t need to compare financial aid packages, she can have the whole process over with by Christmas. At some schools, the odds of acceptance can be higher for ED applicants, which is another reason kids sometimes feel pressured to apply ED. But it isn’t cool to apply early decision and then change your mind.</p>
<p>The advantage of early ACTION is that a student can know if he or she has one or more acceptances early on, but they can still apply to other programs, compare aid packages, and make a final decision in the spring. A few schools use “single choice early action,” which forbids students from applying EA to any school other than theirs. </p>
<p>I hope that helps clarify the difference, although I probably didn’t really answer your original question…</p>
<p>Times3, thank you so much. I want her to go ahead and get the application done, but we do not want Early Decision because this all is dependent upon the financial aid package. Thanks again.</p>
<p>After doing a little more digging, I found this on the CMU site:</p>
<p>“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. However, we do not guarantee to meet full need for students who are deferred or denied admission under Early Decision and later admitted under Regular Decision.”</p>
<p>Now, I know what range my EFC will fall in. If they truly guarantee to meet full demonstrated need, then this might be something we seriously consider. Of course, there is still the little problem of being accepted, but to say CMU would be at the top of her list would be quite the understatement! 
</p>
<p>Any thoughts or advice on where to go from here? Good or bad idea?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything directly about the theater program, but I do know that in the past, CMU has been willing to work with families and has been great about financial aid in general. If I were in your shoes, I’d talk to somebody at the school and be very clear about your situation. Since you are pretty sure about your EFC, you should be in good shape, and it might optimize your daughter’s chances to apply ED. But again, I’d talk to someone there. Good luck–and please keep us posted!</p>
<p>Wow, this definitely throws a wrench into the plans. I had no idea this was possible with any of the theatre schools. I think before we work on the app, I will talk to financial aid.</p>
<p>Hi all! Just wanted to chime in about early decision in general.</p>
<p>At some schools, they give the bulk of their Fin. Aid to the ED kids. College after college said this at their info sessions. We just went to URI and they talked about a number of scholarships that they offer, but only if you applied Early Action. Other schools stated that they hand out most of their money to the ED kids because they really want to be at the school. </p>
<p>And for admissions - YES, you have an edge for getting in. The schools look at it, again, that you really want to go there. Along with your ED application, you have to sign a letter of intent, that says if you are accepted, you need to contact every other college you applied to and withdraw your application. They are stopping you from getting an acceptance somewhere else with possibly a much better fin. aid package that could change your mind. My D’s freshmen class at Wesleyan was 40% ED kids. 40%!!!</p>
<p>I just don’t know what to do with this. I think my daughter would put CMU at the very top of her list of schools. If they truly meet full economic need then I don’t see how any other college’s financial package could be better. Decisions, decisions…</p>
<p>UGADOG99: If a college really wants your D, they will offer more than demonstrated need. This is likely to happen if her stats compare favorably to the average freshman stats. In our case, CMU did not offer more than “demonstrated need” (as they assessed it) but other schools did offer this and because CMU often matches offers from competitive schools, if we had accepted CMU’s demonstrated need on early decision, we would have been throwing away a considerable (several $K) amount of adjusted aid. It is greatly to your financial advantage to wait.</p>
<p>Thank you, theater mom. You answered a lot of my questions. I’ll talk with my daughter, but I’m thinking we will go with regular decision. I think it makes sense to see what the other schools will offer.</p>
<p>Hi Marbleheader! I have seen the same thing happen with the bulk of financial aid going to ED applicants (this happened to a film student of mine who applied early to Tisch because they told her–at least for THAT program–that most merit aid went to ED admits). And my older son was accepted EA to Wittenberg, who gave him his entire award with that acceptance, and it was the best financial aid he received (he is now a senior there and loves it). And there’s Muhlenberg, who told us they take 60-65% of their freshman class from the early decision pool–argh! Evansville told us that it was advantageous to audition and apply early also. </p>
<p>However: There actually are a few schools where it’s more competitive to apply ED than regular decision–Cornell is one example, at least for last year’s class. So you really do have to check with each individual school. More fun time spent hunched over the computer… Marbleheader, very helpful to hear about URI–hope you will share your impressions at some point! :D</p>
<p>Times3 - I’ll send you an email about URI. </p>
<p>I was shocked about the 40% at Wes - totally blown away about the 60-65% at Muhlenberg who come in Early Decision!</p>
<p>ugadog99 - see, this is, and always has been the dilemma. As theatre mom says - it makes sense to wait and compare all your award packages. Even bargain a bit, if you can. But you also run the risk of simply not getting into the school, if they take so many kids ED! I wanted my D to wait and apply other places so we could compare, but she said she would want to go to Wesleyan even if she had to take out extra loans - so she did ED. She has now decided the school is not for her and she will be transferring!!! Wow, huh?</p>
<p>And now I have S saying he might want to do ED, too. UGH!</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, there are so many things to consider. Of course at dinner tonight my daughter said, without hesitation, that CMU would be her number one top pick of all her schools. Then, as if some twist of fate, she received an email from CMU admissions today about an event they are having next weekend in Atlanta. We will, of course, be attending, and I will be asking a lot of questions. </p>
<p>Which brings me to the next issue, what kinds of questions should I ask them in regards to the Early Decision and Demonstrated Need?</p>
<p>ugadog99, my S applied to CMU BFA Theatre Design 2 years ago and went to the regional portfolio review as required. He applied Reg decision, btw, but at the interview he was told he was admitted! He was pretty well shocked to get the news in early Feb when reg decisions aren’t mailed until the end of March. So in this way, he had one “in hand” before the rest of his decisions came in.</p>
<p>I will also mention that CMU’s FAid was not very generous for our family, and much lower than he got at many other schools. While they say they meet demonstrated need, they can make their FA package more loans than grants. Other schools can meet the same need with mostly grants or even all grants. In the past, CMU had a terrific policy of meeting better FA offers from peer schools, but in my son’s case, this didn’t happen. So, if FA is a big issue–as it was in our family–I think you lose pretty much all leverage if your D applied ED. I also feel that applicants who are committed and talented tech students are actually in demand and may get many great offers. If your D has the grades and test scores to fit into CMU’s profile, they also love that.</p>
<p>As for applying ED, there is always the out that if the school’s FA package is not sufficient, your D can ask to be released from her binding admission. The tough part is I believe this must be done before you will have heard from any (many) other schools, so it can be very painful to the student.</p>
<p>Best of luck!!</p>
<p>I am a little confused by something mentioned in this thread. How can a school give someone more then demonstrated need? </p>
<p>Do any of you know if NYU and USC are likely to give fin and merit aid to ED kids or hold out with that for the kids who apply later on.</p>
<p>My daughter applied to NYU RD and got merit aid. Schools sometimes give more than demonstrated need in the form of merit awards. BTW, “demonstrated need” is an itchy topic because the formulae for determining need leave out some financial details. Sometimes it helps to write detailed letters, including supporting evidence, of your specific financial circumstances (after the original award is received) as part of an appeal.</p>
<p>You bring up a very valid point, gh. I am concerned that what CMU might view as “demonstrated need” is not what I can afford. Of course, all of this is dependent on her being accepted in the first place, so it all may be for nothing anyway. I just have to decide if we are going ED or Regular.</p>