<p>I am interested in applying to College of the Holy Cross for Early Decision and have the application to have a 80/20 chance into the school for regular (besides my ACT score which I don't plan on sending since its test optional). Does Holy Cross make their Early Decision applicants pay for the school although they make not have the financial support to make it work?</p>
<p>I have about an income of 80k and just want to know the dangers of Early Decision for Holy Cross. Thanks to anyone who can help. Holy Cross is the school I want to go to for sure.</p>
<p>I just checked the Holy Cross website and it is very confusing – one point it says they will begin reviewing the ED paperwork after Dec 1st, and later it says the deadline is Dec 15th. It may simply be that they extended the ED deadline until Dec 15th but check.</p>
<p>Re financial aid, here is what their site says:
“As one of the few colleges in the nation with a “need-blind” admissions policy, at Holy Cross no student is denied admission due to a lack of financial resources. We meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need. More than half our students receive some form of aid. The average need-based award is $25,000.”</p>
<p>So this means that even ED applicants will have their needs met 100%… NOW… what amount Holy Cross deems as your ability to pay and what they are willing to provide you could be very different than that from another college. This is why many guidance counselors discourage students who are depending on significant financial aid from applying ED as it prohibits you from “shopping around.”</p>
<p>I would suggest that you talk to your high school GC as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Holy Cross uses the Common App ED agreement. That means that if you are admitted to the school ED but without enough financial aid to make the school affordable for your family, you can decline the ED acceptance. However, you cannot then reapply to Holy Cross during the regular decision period. </p>
<p>You aren’t in any danger of being forced to attend a school you can’t afford. The danger would be that you wouldn’t be able to compare the Holy Cross financial aid offer with that from any other school. </p>
<p>Have you run the Holy Cross Net Price Calculator to see if your family can afford the school?</p>