<p>Do you think it is a good decision if I only apply to one school ED.
I have a great chance, maybe too good of a chance and I am totally committed to going here no matter what the financial aid. I've wanted Vassar since the 7th grade.
Do you think it is a good decision? Or no?</p>
<p>Apply to Vassar ED, since that’s your dream school. But, to answer your question: “Do you think it is a good decision if I only apply to one school ED.”
You can ONLY apply to one school ED. ED is binding. That means, you are financially liable to attend the school, whether you show up or not. Seems as if FA is an issue for you. If it is, don’t apply ED. Otherwise, call Vassar to see If they allow you to back out if their financial aide isn’t enough.</p>
<p>“That means, you are financially liable to attend the school, whether you show up or not.”</p>
<p>Absolutely, totally false. Where do people get this nonsense? </p>
<p>Here are the instructions from the common app:
</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf</a></p>
<p>If they don’t offer enough financial aid, you say “Thanks, but no thanks” and apply RD elsewhere.</p>
<p>But don’t apply ED if you want to compare financial aid offers.</p>
<p>OP since Vassar is within your sights and FA isn’t a consideration, the only reason not to ED vassar is that your materials won’t be ready. Go for it and good luck!</p>
<p>“Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.”</p>
<p>Realize that it’s the school, not your family who determines whether the financial aid is enough. If the school decides to give you $30 k a year in loans, the school may feel that they’ve met your need, but for smart reasons, you may not want to accept that offer. Your reluctance would not mean that you are allowed to back out of your ED commitment, however.</p>
<p>This is why so many parents on CC advise that if financial aid is a concern, do not apply ED.</p>
<p>“Realize that it’s the school, not your family who determines whether the financial aid is enough.”</p>
<p>Where does this claim come from? The common app instruction would be nonsense if this were true. $30K yearly loans are by definition not financial aid (look at any school’s Common Data Set); such loans are how a family meets its EFC. </p>
<p>So many parents are wrong; contact any school and ask their policy for this situation. Schools know that FAFSA/Profile doesn’t capture every family’s situation.</p>
<p>ED should not be used if one wants to compare FA packages. ED needing FA should be used only for one’s dream school, where a yes or no decision is the issue.</p>
<p>Believe the common app instruction; it’s there for a reason. Ask any school.</p>
<p>OP - Your plan is fine. Go for it. Good luck!</p>
<p>BTW some schools offer ED2, primarily for students who are deferred at their ED school. Something to think about in the unlikely event that your aren’t immediately accepted at Vassar.</p>
<p>"Where does this claim come from? The common app instruction would be nonsense if this were true. $30K yearly loans are by definition not financial aid (look at any school’s Common Data Set); such loans are how a family meets its EFC. "</p>
<p>What schools expect families to pay is typically more than the families would like to pay. That’s why so many students who were accepted to expensive private colleges, for instance, end up going to a nearby public university that’s much cheaper.</p>
<p>It’s very important to realize that the college, not the student’s family determines the family’s need, and what the college feels meets the family’s need may be less than the family feels they need and may include loans and work requirements that the family does not want to accept. </p>
<p>Consequently, if financial aid is a consideration, in most cases, it’s best not to apply ED.</p>
<p>I have a feeling what she is asking is if it is okay to only apply to one school and to do so ED. I would say that is only okay if you have time to prepare additional applications after the ED notification date on the outside chance you are not accepted ED.</p>
<p>^^ Now I’m with you 
and with the distinction: The school determines and offers the family’s need, but the family decides if the offer is enough in fact.</p>
<p>If the school insisted that an offer were enough and somehow forced the student to attend (doesn’t happen!), the student would just be expelled when the bill couldn’t be paid.</p>
<p>I agree that there’s only one case where ED with FA should be attempted: When there is that one dream school above all others, and the family is prepared to make a straight-up yes-or-no decision. This does often result in great disappointment when the offer is too small, so the decision to apply ED should not be made lightly.</p>
<p>^ Also agree (FWIW) with PhotoOp.</p>
<p>I’m almost reluctant to chime into this discussion. Vossron, you sound rather frustrated that parents have their facts wrong. But I (a parent and a teacher) remember going to an info session where the college admissions person specifically said “that if you’re worried about FA, do NOT apply”. </p>
<p>I know also that some schools, like Harvard and Princeton, eliminated ED specifically because families were reluctant to apply early, before they knew their FAFSA scores. But, I also know some students got into their ED schools last year and then found out they needed FA after they said they didn’t. In the end, they got the aide.</p>
<p>So, I suggest you apply, but also call them about FA when you know what you’re dealing with.</p>
<p>^ Yes, even admissions people can paint the picture more negatively than the rules require; it’s no wonder families were/are reluctant to apply ED to the one dream school when needing FA. 
Harvard and Princeton have endowments large enough to be able to forego the list-price-paying ED applicants.</p>
<p>exactly what I wanted to hear PhotoOP !! :D</p>