<p>Can anyone direct me to a discussion here about financial aid and early decision? Specifically, I'm a newbie who wants to know about the impact of early decision on the possible financial aid award. My son has a decent chance at merit aid at the college of his choice. Should he not do early decision, reasoning that the award could be higher if he does not declare himself as a sure thing? Sorry...I'm sure that this has been discussed thoroughly before, but I haven't been able to find it.</p>
<p>This might start you down the road: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/372435-early-decision-financial-aid.html?highlight=early+decision+worth[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/372435-early-decision-financial-aid.html?highlight=early+decision+worth</a></p>
<p>Thank you, Erin’s Dad!!</p>
<p>It can be fairly subtle question about ED and financial aid when talking about need-based aid. The answer can be different depending on people’s level of need and on the schools’ policies for meeting that need. Merit aid is different though. In that case, I think ED is probably not your best bet.</p>
<p>Do ask the school if ED kids are given equal consideration for merit awards. Many times it depends on who is distributing those awards as to whether ED kids are equally considered. If they are a recruitment tool, it makes no sense to give them to ED kids as they are already committed. If they are used as part of the financial aid package, it is possible that all students are equally considered.</p>
<p>At some schools, applying ED can increase one’s chances of acceptance, and (as duly noted above) can decrease a merit aid award at some schools. Some schools will honestly disclose their policies. In any case, ED should be used only at the one dream school above all others, due to the inability to compare FA packages. If he is also applying for non-merit FA, he can decline the ED offer without consequence if the aid offered is insufficient to allow attendance.</p>
<p>I would check with the schools financial aid office. My daugher applied ED and recieved a fantastically amazing financial aid award. So in her case applying ED had no adverse effects at all !!</p>
<p>Also be aware that if you apply ED and get a financial aid award, even an amazing one, you will never know if that is the best that could have been had at that school, or at some other school, had you followed the normal procedure. You ask for an early decision and that is exactly what you get, one early decision, and nothing to compare it to.</p>
<p>Yeah, dt123, but the OP said that this was her son’s college of choice. It’s true that if a person is looking only for the best possible deal ($), you need to be able to compare. Generally, though, students applying ED just want to know if that first choice school is going to be financially feasible… not whether it’s the very cheapest option they could possibly have.</p>