<p>My daughter has taken a gap year and is in the process of beginning to apply.
Last year she applied 2 two schools that would allow a gap year if accepted.
She got wait listed for both. One school she changed her mind on wanting to attend after going back for a 2nd visit when she auditioned - asked not to be wait listed.</p>
<p>The other school she was hoping to get accepted off the wait list but didn't. Even after sending corresponding about how it was her top choice and how because she was taking a gap year would they please consider her just an early application for next year. It seems that because she didn't early decision it went against it. The wait list isn't large so the chances are very small. If she had gotten accepted she would have been very happy and free not to apply during her gap year - which she now has to do.</p>
<p>The school's ED and RD are the same date. Which definitely give priority to anyone who has applied ED. It was her top school but she did't think she could ED if she took a gap year and she really wasn't sure about EDing when she could have.</p>
<p>She has always had this school as one of her top 2. It is included in the list she is applying to but she still is not comfortable making such a big commitment. She feels very pressured because regardless of going RD - close to 80% are admitted ED.
The school is Muhlenberg. My husband thinks this ED being the same as Regular is not fair.</p>
<p>Since M’berg has such a late ED deadline, your daughter will pretty much have to apply to a number of other schools too. I believe that last year the advantage of doing early decision was even higher than it had been in the past. But if she were not to get in this go-round, she still would have to have other applications lined up/completed, since she wouldn’t find out till mid-February, right? So once again she’ll have to have other schools lined up and schedule auditions…and in late January she can still decide to send in that ED application to Muhlenberg. One possibility would be to do a couple of early action (non-binding) schools so that she might have back-up plans in place. There are some good non-audition options that offer EA.</p>
<p>Just for the record, I agree with your husband that there’s something unappealing about that super late ED deadline, not to mention the huge emphasis on applying early at that school. It’s obviously a great program, both in terms of curricular options and people, and its popularity appears to be very well deserved. Good luck to your daughter no matter what she decides this winter!</p>
<p>Is the ED called binding? And if so what are the consequences if you ED and then change your mind? I know that sounds like a strange question to ask.
I didn’t know Muhlenberg took so many ED. My D has great academic stats so its our safety. Now it sounds a little less safe…</p>
<p>I realize I discussed this with you before.</p>
<p>I think your daughter just needs to start the whole process over with Muhlenberg. None of this “please consider my application for last year to be an ED application for this year . . .” Schools generally don’t allow that.</p>
<p>In terms of the ED and RD, that’s going to be up to your daughter to decide. At some point you have to poo or get off the pot. She is sooner or later going to have to commit to SOME school, and it sounds as though Muhlenberg has been her number one choice for some time now.</p>
<p>In my experience, Muhlenberg College, more that any other school we looked at, values students who have identified Muhlenberg as their top pick and are willing to commit to the ED application. I would have your daughter officially revisit the school and the program she is interested in. Sit in on a class, do the official interview, and if your daughter is still convinced it is her top choice show them the love and do the ED application for next year . . . but have a back-up just in case. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Did a little research on Muhlenberg’s website. ED means as soon as you are admitted to Muhlenberg you are expected to withdraw all other applications. (That’s what I thought, but wondered if it was slightly different because of those high percentages.) This just makes it really tough… I’d really rather know everything my D would be offered from each school before deciding.
However, I did see on their website that 332 of the 580 students in this years freshman class were admitted ED. That is 55%, not 80. 55% is much more comfortable than 80.</p>
<p>Simply put, it gives them another chance. There are a lot of students who don’t get into a school they like the first time around and try again the next year with much better results.</p>
<p>My daughter has 6 definite audition schools, 4 not sure about, and 4 non-audition schools.Any of these schools are good choices. We live in the Boston area and know Emerson, BU, Boston Conservatory, Salem State, Brandeis-BA and Northeastern-BA. We just learned about Northeastern - a growing theatre program. The school has a strong, reputable co-op program. Getting real work experience (working with professional theatre companies as part of your eduction seems very appealing). </p>
<p>Knowing my daughter, I believe that taking a BA program where she can use the 4 years to make the transition to adulthood and then continuing on with a masters program of study might be better than the intense 4 years of a BFA and heading off professionally. She knows and has worked with staff and others professionals from Emerson and BU and Brandeis so I also think having connections in the area will be a positive when it comes to getting work.
She has been inclined to wanting to go to schools outside of Massachusetts. I also can see her living in a city like Philadelphia, Chicago or NYC. So there are many options.
I think after thinking about what ED is asking of her, she still doesn’t want to do it.
If Muhlenberg wants her then they will have to accept her early decision. She has heard wonderful things about Drew University’s program from a friend who’s transferred there this year. U.ofArts fits her creative, quirky personality.</p>
<p>Dramamom, Muhlenberg themselves gave out that higher percentage…in writing, at the time that decision letters were mailed. I don’t think it said 80%–I remember something like 75%–but it was an increase over the 65% (roughly) that they had mentioned in the past. We knew several kids who applied/auditioned there and, like my son, they were exhorted to apply early (only one did, and he was admitted). My son’s enthusiasm waned over the course of the year–he never intended to apply ED, and he didn’t really follow up after his October visit–and he was wait-listed. My guess is that the smaller number of enrolled freshman you have seen on the website might reflect students taken off the waitlist? But the waitlist-offer letter my son got in March definitely said that their application rate had increased dramatically and that they were expecting over 70% of the class to be from the ED pool. If you are highly qualified (or OVER qualified) for Muhlenberg, that’s one thing, but you can’t be comfortable with an RD application if you’re in the middle of their applicant pool, alas. I agree with you about waiting to see what your options are, and I’m glad my son held out for the auditioned programs that were his goal.</p>
<p>Things may have changed a big since my D applied in '11. She did NOT apply ED because she wanted to see how things played out with auditions and was accepted with both merit and talent $. In the end, she chose Muhl over NYU. At the time, it was clear that Muhl valued that clear expression of interest and took a large percentage of kids through ED but it sounds like it may have gone up?</p>
<p>Anyway, here is my 2 cents for what it’s worth. As you know, the audition is not required and as far as I know is only for purposes of talent $$. I suppose it’s entirely possible that the theater dept gets a few “tips” like an athletic department might. But I don’t know. Let’s assume not and that your daughter has to get in solely on the basis of her application. What will make her application this year stronger than her application last year? What can she bring to the table from her experiences this past year? It sounds like as much as she likes Muhl, she wants to keep her options open. I think I would encourage her to do that while at the same time making sure her Muhl app was super, super strong.</p>
<p>I believe that the 80% or 75% refers to the admittance rate of Muhlenberg’s ED applicants. From the common data set published on their website, in 2012-2013 they admitted 312 ED applicants out of 392 ED submitted applications, which equates to 79.6%.</p>
<p>You are actually able to get out of an ED binding contract if the money does not work for your family. Think about it… what choice so they have?? They can’t force you to come up with money you don’t have…</p>
<p>Exactly…but most people that apply ED CAN afford it… if you need FA is is not wise to apply ED. I think the colleges know if they met need or not too. So if they met need, it might be harder to get out of the contract.</p>
<p>It’s fine to apply ED to your by-far number one choice even if you need FA, as long as your only question is: Can I afford it? It’s solely your decision, even if the school meets full need. If you want to compare FA packages, apply RD; with ED you must take it or leave it.</p>
<p>Use the school’s Net Price Calculator to see if you have a good chance of affording it.</p>
<p>Also, it’s not a contract; it’s an honor-system agreement.</p>
<p>I’ve known several families who declined an ED offer because of finances. As vonlost says, there is no contract. It’s not a great move, but it happens pretty regularly. One family I know did bargain with the school and received a higher offer of aid. Most schools will let you know your financial aid package right away, and there are some that reserve a large proportion of their merit money for ED applicants (this tipped the scales for one of my advisees a few years ago who was trying to decide whether or not to apply early; she did, and got a large merit/talent award).</p>