<p>How does applying early decision to Rice work with merit aid/scholarships? It's my understanding that ED decisions are made in December but merit aid in April. I would think Rice would use merit aid as a way to attract students it wants. So if you apply ED and are accepted, you have to commit right away. Wouldn't that make it less likely for Rice to award merit aid?</p>
<p>To some degree, yes. But you can also withdraw from ED if you are unable to pay for school. As such, if you have a need, they will cover it though merit or grants.</p>
<p>If you do not qualify for aid, then yes I can see your point about not awarding merit aid.</p>
<p>If you did not get an award letter with your ED packet you are not receiving an award. We went through the same thing. Rice appears to use Merit aid to fill financial aid packets for the most part. While I am certain exceptions exist there are a multitude of stories that tell otherwise.
Don’t rely on merit aid absent financial need.</p>