<p>It is my understanding that if you apply and receive an ED that you are expected to pay for the schooling in either merit or FA. </p>
<p>I thought you were going to research all the particuliars after THXday. If you have researched the parent forum/parent cafe you will find that the catch phrase is something like, strategic aid. Just like strategic admissions, which is why you are applying ED. </p>
<p>I think you and a lot other students/parents are under the impression that because they have certain amount of income or assets that you will be ineligible for FA and thus do not qualify for need based aid, but perhaps qualify of merit aid.</p>
<p>For the schools that you are attempting to matriculate, Merit aid will be designated first to those who NEED the aid, who enhance or have some type attribute attractive to the school/student body before those who have good just scores or grades. Need based aid will be done on the Federal methodogy which is pretty clear but unclear on how the money is derived. Perhaps if you look at admissions and disbursement of $ as like the NFL or NBA draft. The candidate pool is talented, but not every team needs a 1st team quarterback. A team may however need a third string QB who they can develop into a 1st team QB. The sports draft is a seller's market which the teams are bidding amongst themselves but not particularily for a player. </p>
<p>FA is a combination of loans, grants, scholarships, workstudy, For just about everyone, FA will consist of a loan qualification. For those who have Need, the FA will consist of loans, grants, scholarships, or workstudy in part or in combination. If you want merit aid, then you should check FA. If you don't need any type of FA, then do not check FA. </p>
<p>From the forums/threads: you will need to file for FA before you will get any type of merit aid. If you do not file for FA then how will the school know that you want merit aid (which for most schools is very scarce and reserved.) </p>
<p>You should read the parents forum/cafe, one or two of the references - sponsers, school's policy, Roger Dooley's essays in the Main CC section. Also make plans for Plan B & C. </p>
<p>Please, try not to be so shrill. You are not the only one worried. Do your research and you will find the path.</p>