Hi everyone, I was considering applying to Vanderbilt ED and the merit-based scholarship and was wondering if my chance of earning one decreases if I’m an ED applicant.
Does the chance of earning a Vanderbilt merit-based scholarship decrease if you are an ED applicant?
The schools will tell you no - but logically, why would they give you one if they have you hooked.
But me saying this is anecdotal, not factual.
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See below text for what Vandy says about merit in ED. The main point is that ED admits won’t be notified about merit scholarships until March. So, if you need merit to afford Vandy (which is hard to get), do not apply ED. If you are admitted ED, you will have to pull all apps and then what would you do if you don’t get any/enough merit and Vandy wasn’t affordable come March?
No, applying under the Early Decision I or II deadline is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in the merit scholarship selection process. If you do choose to apply to Vanderbilt under the Early Decision I or II deadline, however, be aware that merit scholarship recipients are not notified of their selection until late March of their senior year. If you are admitted under the Early Decision I or II decision plan, you will have to commit to attend Vanderbilt without knowing if you will be offered a merit scholarship. You will receive a need-based financial aid award if you complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application for financial aid online and submit it simultaneously with your Early Decision application for admission, but you will not receive notification of merit scholarship awards prior to either of the Early Decision deadlines to commit to Vanderbilt.
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My daughter is a CV scholar at Vanderbilt. She applied RD and most of the scholarship recipients she knows also applied RD, but not all of them - obviously this is just anecdoctal, but it seems that you may be a little less likely to be awarded a merit scholarship if you apply ED. When you do the NPC, is the school affordable?
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Schools will say they still give merit to ED applicants, but in reality it is very rare, especially at a school like Vanderbilt because they basically use those big merit scholarships to lure kids away from Ivies. So, if you apply ED and are therefore already committed if accepted, they really have no incentive to give you merit. If Vanderbilt is truly your first choice and you can afford it without merit I would definitely recommend applying ED. Vandy has ED1 and ED2 rounds, so very few spots leftover in RD round. Also, not to sound negative, but unless you are a truly exceptional applicant with some kind of a hook where Vanderbilt definitely thinks you will get multiple Ivy acceptances, the chance of getting one of their large merit scholarships is really quite low. So again, I would probably recommend just applying ED if you can afford what the Net Price Calculator shows. Good luck to you!
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