<p>Aside from being committed to a school, doe ED effect the chances of a person getting some form of merit scholarship ? ( there seems to be some dichotomy on this issue; then again, maybe it varies from school to school ? )
Thanks.</p>
<p>It does vary school to school.....Penn has ED but awards money based on demonstrated need, NO MERIT MONEY.</p>
<p>Think about colleges' purpose in awarding merit aid - it's to attract the kind of student who wouldn't otherwise attend that school. Once an applicant has declared his willingness to attend regardless of merit assistance, I can't imagine why the college would use up one of its merit scholarships on him. It would be like giving an after-the-fact rebate to a car buyer who's already agreed to buy.</p>
<p>Some schools do award merit money to ED applicants. At least one school we visited (and at which we asked the question) said that they have separate "pots" of merit money for ED and for RD applicants. The ED kids are evaluated only against other ED kids for merit money. As they put it, "Why should we penalize our best customers? We want them happy here."</p>
<p>Check with the colleges in question - they're admissions office should tell you (remember that merit aid is often controlled by admissions, not financial aid).</p>
<p>One thing to think about is the ability to ask for more $ to match another offer with RD. You can't do that with ED (no place to compete with).</p>