<p>I'm beginning to see a trend that quite frankly is disturbing to me. And it's not just on cc, it seems like everyone is applying ED AND EA somewhere these days. It bothers me because I don't think a lot of people (even on here) really know what they're doing. It bothers me that people are deciding between an ED/SCEA college, when I feel this option (well for ED anyways) should only be used when either one college is the obvious first choice and this won't change or the student would be equally happy, and not bothered by the fact of only applying to one of the schools they'd like to. I know the benefits of ED just as well as the next person, but at the same time, I'm concerned that people are making impulsive decisions about a huge decision. I guess I'm concerned that the advantages of ED/SCEA are being overexxagerated. In some schools, there is a definite advantage, but I don't think it's quite as clear in a lot of other schools that it's a concrete boost. I'm not against ED/SCEA, I just wish people were taking it more seriously, and doing it for the love of the school, not just to boost their chances even if it's not their #1. Sorry for the rant...</p>
<p>I also get the feeling that there is this "must apply early somewhere" mentality that is prevalent now and like you say, it is not so much due to love of one school above all others but more like a feeling that they have got to apply early because it would help their chances (which is true at some schools) and perhaps also to just be done with the process early (who wouldn't want to be?). But it does seem like everyone is doing it. My kids did not do ED. They did EA at one school which was not a committment and gives the finding out early thing a possibility (which for them were deferrals as it turned out) but they were ALWAYS going to apply to their list of schools anyway. Neither wanted to commit to an ED school, though for my second child, hardly any of her schools had ED (as they are by audition) though the school she ended up at had it and was one of her first choices but she did RD and got in anyway. </p>
<p>I'm glad my kids did not do ED. I think for my first child, she had a couple favorites, not one clear "winner" and as the year evolved and as she got her admissions results and went back to visit, she turned out picking a school she always loved and was in her "favorites" pile but never had considered doing ED at (was not necessarily her number one in the fall) and so the passage of time helped in making the final decision too. My second child ended up at one of her first choices but I am glad she did not do ED there (even if the year would have been easier and less costly in terms of audition trips to 8 schools) because now she KNOWS it is her first choice after fully exploring all options and coming full circle to this choice. Doing ED was too quick of a decision in her case and also she liked one other school a lot and wanted to see what her choices might be in spring. It was worth it. </p>
<p>ED increases the odds at some schools, more at some than others. But the motivation to do ED should really be when there is such a CLEAR first choice that you would never second guess it and want to learn early and to be done. But many seem to be doing ED as it is the trend to do it and appears as a big advantage. For many kids, as the year goes on, their ideas of which is the favorite may change. I do not think ED is for all people. But clearly LOTS seems to be going in this direction lately.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>You both have very good points.However, I'll be frank with you. The reason everyone is going for the Early Action is because the merit money runs out.I have been told by several AC's to 'apply early' 'apply by Dec.'. With the cost of college what it is, many of us need to be in the running for merit money.</p>
<p>hello Sue....nice to see you.........(do I sound spooky?)</p>
<p>Applying EA can make sense in order to get merit $ or to have an early acceptance in the bag. After all, EA is not binding.</p>
<p>I am concerned, too, about students who apply ED for no other reason than desperation to get accepted anywhere. I remember the thread a few weeks ago on another forum where a student wanted to know where he should apply ED the next day. He had absolutely no criteria other than the college had to be a good one.</p>
<p>I should have clarified. I didn't so much mean EA as ED. Though I think too many people are applying SCEA when they would have a better shot RD.</p>
<p>BHG, nice to see you back here too. </p>
<p>Actually that might be true about merit money in some peoples' motivations but not all. For instance, for my older D, barely any schools on her list even GIVE merit aid...like Ivies and some of the most selective schools just have need based so merit aid is not the motivation in those cases for ED or EA. In fact, for need based aid, it is better NOT to do ED as you can compare packages plus schools may be less motivated to make a generous offer when you have committed to going there no matter what. </p>
<p>As far as merit aid, we never got involved in applying to schools to get that. For D1, we assumed none of her schools offered merit aid. As it turns out, two do but we did not realize that until April when she got generious offers (one was Smith and the Lehigh one was a $15,000 merit scholarship) in RD. For D2, again, we were unaware of the merit aid as well. Turns out, every school that admitted her offered her merit scholarships, plus need based aid, pleasant surprise. Right now, she is going to a school where she got a $20,000/year scholarship (all four years) in the RD round. So, in my kids' cases, for schools that DO offer merit awards, they got them and they got them in the RD round.</p>
<p>So, what you are saying about merit aid as being the reason for applying EARLY may be true in some cases, but I am not sure that is the main thing driving the ED/EA frenzy. Lots of CC kids are doing ED and lots of them are going for the Ivies and elite schools and those do not have merit aid so I'm not sure we can use merit aid as the main reason for this ED trend/frenzy.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>PS, to BHG, on a second read of your post, I realize you MAY be talking of rolling admissions schools and in those cases applying early and if going for merit, makes sense. I know one of your kids is at a rolling school. I was not really talking of that type of situation. You mentioned applying by Dec. and I was only discussing the ED schools where you apply by Nov. 1 or 15.</p>
<p>I also think EA is different than ED. As mentioned, my kids did do an EA school to have one possible decision earlier but would have still applied to their other schools (ok, maybe have taken off the safeties if those apps had not yet gone in but did all the apps before knowing the final EA outcome). </p>
<p>My remarks have had to do with ED and the seemingly big trend of "must apply early.....it will help me get in" rather than using ED for instances when there is a clear cut first choice.</p>
<p>DD submitted two EA applications, one to her top choice school and another to a serious contender for that spot. She also just submitted a rolling admissions application. In her case, she is much less busy now than she will be once the swimming season begins in November (when she has practices six days a week, and still works a job every morning before school starts). I know several of her friends who wanted to get their applications submitted early for the same reason...they just want it done before the senior year gets more hectic. Another reason for EA or early submittal of rolling applications is that the HS guidance office is much less swamped with requests for recommendations and transcripts in Sept/Oct than in Nov and Dec. And then there is the reason...for EA and rolling applications, you also find out sooner than with RD. And in most cases, you'll still have time to submit a RD application if you don't get accepted EA/rolling. This is a win/win situation as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>NOW....ED is another story. In my humble opinion, this is ONLY for the student who is absolutely sure that they will attend the ED school if accepted....with no financial or other restrictions to consider.</p>
<p>Thumper, I agree that EA is good for the reasons you have also stated. It really is just ED that I was talking about as that is a totally different situation. Both methods let you know early....a wonderful thing. But the COMMITMENT in the ED method, is the one I really was talking about. And simply finding out early is not enough of a reason to do this one.</p>
<p>Soozie...I agree....finding out early should not be the only reason...and in a binding situation like ED, it should not even be a consideration. ED needs to be taken VERY seriously....very.</p>
<p>Thumper and Soozie, I believe with both of you about ED; if a student REALLY wants to go that particular school and is convinced that it's a good fit, then s/he should apply ED. I saw many of D's classmates apply EA last year just so they could have a back-up to their RD schools, but that tactic backfired for a lot of them. There have been times when I wish it were just a level playing field with just ED and RD. IMHO, the EA application and its lack of commitment has contributed to the frenzy. Just a thought.</p>
<p>I guess another thing about ED that bothers me is that if you're not in the financial position to say "I can afford this school regardless of how much aid" than even if you have a clear 1st choice, you can't do ED. Which gives an advantage to wealthier students. But if we flip the coin and there was only RD, then no one could say, this is my first choice, and I love this school above all others.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>"I can afford this school regardless of how much aid" than even if you have a clear 1st choice, you can't do ED. Which gives an advantage to wealthier students.>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Students who will qualify for need based aid who are applying to schools that meet full need (and some of those with full free aid) benefit also....it's not only the wealthy.</p>
<p>Well, what a university says you can afford doesn't mean that's what you say you can afford. I'd rather not get into a financial discussion, but full-need based aid doesn't always mean what it's technical defiintion means.</p>
<p>Celebrian, as you well know, many, many things in life benefit the wealthy. Some might say, "yes, but college is extremely important, not like an airline seat or a fancy car." True. But, for example, membership in certain select clubs might be important too, as so much business is conducted there (I am thinking of country clubs, Ivy clubs, etc), and no one demands special status for people who can't afford to join.</p>
<p>While my sense of justice might prefer that all ED schools go to EA, I believe <strong>private</strong> (not public) schools have the right to have it if they want. Any and all financial aid is a gift, not an entitlement or an obligation.</p>
<p>Please note - I repeat, my sense of justice prefers EA, but I am in no position to dictate to others. I am personally extremely grateful that my first kids got in ED and saved me the stress of worrying for the next few months! My next child is applying to an EA school, and if she gets in, the result will be the same. EA seems like a winning thing to me, but private schools need to control/guarantee some of their enrollment, which is why they will not give up ED.</p>
<p>Yes, I have also heard that if merit money is a important factor do not apply Early Decision. BUT for merit money at both Rolling Admission and Early Action apply early.</p>
<p>Aside from students who have a clear first choice, let's remember that some students are comfortable with 4-5 schools and know they'll be happy at any of them. Not all students agonize over a list of schools and scrutuinze these choices to the bitter end. If a students is happy with a group of schools and isn't interested in 1 any more than the others, that student may decide file an ED app and be done with the process before Christmas break. </p>
<p>We shouldn't assume that this process is interesting, fun, exciting or necessary for everyone. Some kids just don't really have a favorite and don't find any benefit from going through the dance of admissions...they want to be done...they find a few great matches....figure ED odds are good at one...go for it without looking back......and live happily ever after.</p>
<p>For some kids, this process just isn't that dramatic.</p>