<p>I am currently a senior that will be applying to cornell. Recently, I have found out that Cornell has started a new program that will drop need based loans for students whose families are making less than 75,000. Additionally, I know that Early decision applicants usually do not receive much financial aid from the school. I am wondering if I qualify for Cornell's new financial aid program, and I get accepted through early decision, will I still be able to go tuition free?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Of course.</p>
<p>You would not attend necessarily tuition free. I believe that there are no loans if your income is below 75,000, but you could still be expected to contribute out of your pocket. You might qualify for free tuition (not sure about this) if you make below 50 or 60K.</p>
<p>Theoretically speaking, ED applicants get the same financial aid as if they would apply RD. While this is the case, you cannot compare offers from other schools. Personally speaking, I applied RD, and comparing offers from Penn and Columbia to that of Cornell's got me an extra 6k in grant money. If you think you can get into a single other Cornell caliber, need-blind school (Ivies, Chicago, JHU, Duke, etc.), wait it out. Just my advice.</p>
<p>well i know that i definitely qualify for the free tution, as I am well under the cut off. I just want to know if applying early decision would affect the amount of money I would have to pay out of my pocket. </p>
<p>If I got in regular decision, I know I would not have to pay, or pay very little, because of cornell's new program.
I just want to know how this would change if I got in early decision</p>
<p>No difference whatsoever.</p>
<p>There is no difference between the aid you would get in ED versus RD. The only advantage of RD is that you can wait to compare offers, and possibly extract a little more money from Cornell. </p>
<p>If you are well under the cutoff of 50 or 60k, you probably qualify for free tuition (this is what I would think though I can't say for sure). Keep in mind that Cornell has not established or announced a cutoff for giving free tuition. Most probably you can expect a generous package.</p>