<p>Columbia is my first choice as of now and am pretty sure I will apply ED. However, I have read some recent articles discussing the ED situations in private colleges, and they suggest that colleges will offer less generous financial aid to ED admits because they are obligated to attend.</p>
<p>Is this true or is it just unreasonable speculation? If you guys could tell me your opinions or experiences that would be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>if you apply and are accepted ED, then yes, you are obligated to attend....however, if you show the college that you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT attend due to financial problems, they can either annul the binding article or they may reconsider your finaid app.</p>
<p>yeah, that's the catch. But I'm wondering if colleges will (or are allowed to) purposely offer a less generous financial package knowing that students will have to attend, as opposed to giving more money to attract others that have more options?</p>
<p>They say that even though students can be released from the commitment if they absolutely cannot attend, few students seek this option.</p>
<p>Columbia has a computer figure out how much aid you're entitled to based on your data. There isn't a separate algorithm for ED and RD. The problem with RD is that your leverage to appeal your award is significantly reduced.</p>
<p>If you apply RD you can show Columbia an offer from another Ivy League school and they will probably match it, but if you apply ED, you're basically stuck with what you get (I think).</p>