<p>Title says it, really. I don't want to apply ED because if I don't get any merit scholarships, I don't think Duke's a possibility.</p>
<p>Logically speaking, RD = more likely to get merit scholarship.</p>
<p>Think about it, one of the main purposes of these scholarships is to attract top notch students whose future endeavors will bolster a university’s reputation. An analogy would be athletic scholarships for recruits.</p>
<p>So given the intent of these scholarships, it would be illogical to give it ED applicants who are already committed vs RD applicants who undoubtedly have more choice (especially if they are given a merit scholarship).</p>
<p>Of course, that’s just an extreme scenario. I’m sure that ED applicants aren’t completed excluded from scholarship contention. But I can speculate that RD applicants are more favored. Just keep in mind that that’s pure conjecture on my part.</p>
<p>If you apply ED you do not hear about merit scholarships until ~March. You have to wait to be compared against the RD applicants, and then admissions decides who to invite. So really chances are about the same, but you are stuck with ED if you are accepted because you won’t find out about scholarships until too late.</p>
<p>But do think about financial aid. Take a look at that before you decide whether or not you (or your family) can afford Duke.</p>