<p>Okay I have heard people talk about applying to a college ED. Since I am new and illiterate when it comes to understanding ED, what are the benefits of ED and can it help you get into a dream school or just solid school that is a match for you based on your grades? Thnx.</p>
<p>It actually can help you get in as the school is sure you will go.
Acceptance rates for ED are higher than for RD. But competition can be stiffer too.
Make sure you don’t need aid or will be ok w/what you may get.</p>
<p>So don’t apply ED if you need significant financial aide.</p>
<p>How about: don’t apply ED if you are not prepared to foot the whole bill? If you are accepted ED, it is a contract. You are expected to be there in the fall.</p>
<p>I would only apply ED for schools I love and wouldn’t think twice about attending such as GWU. However, if it is going to destroy my chances of financial aide, I will just apply by RD.</p>
<p>Also look at schools that offer early action, most of them are non-binding and there are other threads on here which say which ones. You can only apply early decision at one school.</p>
<p>Yeah I found that Sticky, however, I still don’t understand if ED hurts your chances of getting financial aide.</p>
<p>I was told that applying ED may impact your chances of non-need based financial aid such as discretionary scholarships at some colleges but there does not appear to be any standard. I believe if you have need based aid requirements, and you want to apply ED, there is a separate form from the FAFSA, which is basically an interim financial aid application that colleges use for ED students. I can’t recall the name but I am sure someone else has it.</p>
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<p>It seems as though we are in EXACTLY the same situation.</p>
<p>Alright then I will take that as a yes, that ED affects your financial aide.</p>
<p>Second post was wrong. ED has a higher acceptance rate, and the competitions is EASIER. EA, though, is more competitive than ED</p>
<p>However, both will give you a harder time of receiving great financial aid, correct?</p>
<p>^yes.
10char.</p>
<p>Well I guess no ED or EA for me : ></p>
<p>It was my understanding that a student was accepted ED and could not afford the tuition due to a change in financial situation, they would be let out of the contract.</p>
<p>Well if you already know you can’t afford 99.9% of the universities, then it wouldn’t be in my best interest to apply ED.</p>
<p>EA: aid remains the same. You’re allowed to turn down whatever school accepts you early. It just gives oyu the assurance that you can, in fact, go to your #1 college.</p>
<p>ED on the other hand… well, there’s some weird things about it. If the school has an ED program AND is a school that’s need-blind in their admissions AND promises to meet all your financial need (i.e. Brown, Yale, Stanford, etc.), then applying ED shouldn’t significantly affect your aid, because while you’re obligated to go there, they don’t want oyu dropping out of college because you can’t get the loans/aid you need. For most of these schools, if your family makes under 60,000/year, you shouldn’t be screwed applying ED (call the admissions/aid office to make sure i’m telling the truth). It gets tricky when your family makes more than 100,000/year, though. However, typically, the people with the stats to make it ED also can make it RD, so there’s only a marginal advantage to applying ED to the top schools.</p>
<p>On the other hand, schools like Lehigh (not sure if they’re an ED school, but example), that DON’T guaruntee to meet 100% of need, will require you to say that you’ll attend their school if you’re accepted, REGARDLESS of the amount of aid you receive.</p>
<p>Do you qualify for Questbridge?</p>
<p>I qualify for Questbridge, but what are the benefits. Also before I apply ED I should talk to the college’s financial aid department, correct?</p>
<p>Yes to talking to finaid department. As for Questbridge, if you apply early with Questbridge, then they “match” you with a school. You create a list of schools you’d like to attend (I think with some counseling on their part), and then you’re obligated to attend the highest one on your list that accepts you, and that school promises to give you enough financial aid.</p>
<p>If you do Questbridge regular decision, then you can still apply to other schools that aren’t Questbridge schools, and you’re not obligated to attend schools that accept you, but you still are guarunteed enough financial aid.</p>