<p>I am thinking of applying early action to Yale. However, my family would probably only be able to pay around $20,000 for my education annually. Would I be less likely to get my need met if I applied early action instead of regular decision?</p>
<p>Specifically, I know that early decision affects a financial aid package, but does EA also affect the amount of money that would be offered?</p>
<p>No, you only have to worry about fin. aid with ED because it's binding so you have no other choice and no bargaining tools. Since EA is not binding it will not affect your fin. aid</p>
<p>I believe since Yale offers need based aid only you don't have to worry much about getting worse aid in SCEA and RD. However, be aware that Yale uses the Profile and not FAFSA, taking into account assets rather than just income.</p>
<p>Negative, SCEA is designed specifically to enable acceptees to compare finaid packages in April. Good luck.</p>
<p>I believe Yale uses both the Profile AND the FAFSA. But now...you don't have to worry about EA applications and finaid. EA is non-binding and you still can compare finaid offers.</p>
<p>My son applied SCEA to Yale and was deferred - then accepted in the spring. His financial aid package was by far the best one he received. So, I'd conclude applying early didn't hurt him at all... Although Yale was his first choice school initially, he chose to attend Brown University's combined medical school program. He showed Brown the Yale fin aid pkg and we discussed extenuating circumstances (high med bills, etc). In the end, his Brown aid pkg was increased.</p>
<p>^My DD had the opposite experience. Yale had by far the worse financial aid award of the schools that she was accepted to (HYPSC). We did, however, appeal the award twice, and they increased it to a little less than Harvard. In the end, she decided to attend Harvard.</p>
<p>ditto the experience of MSMDAD, Yale EA was the lowest of HYP. But they did come close to matching (slightly more loans and WS) the other two when we asked for a review and sent the other offers. </p>
<p>That said, as far as the OP, I don't believe that applying EA had any affect on the FA process.</p>