<p>If Princeton is my top choice, and i want to get in, but need significant Fin Aid, should I ED? Will I get screwed out of money? If they don't offer enough, how hard is it to back out? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Doesnt the U.S. New's and World Report rank Princeton in terms of getting students out without debt as #2 behind California Institute of Technology? So, if this is the case, wouldnt your chances of getting aid at Princeton, whether extremely needy or not, be significantly higher?</p>
<h1>1 Princeton is one of the most generous schools in terms of financial aid in the country. They are the one most likely to offer you the best deal. 'No loans' separates them from the pack.</h1>
<h1>2 ED is your best way to get in. The acceptance rate is much higher.</h1>
<h1>3 You can get out of an ED admission for financial aid reasons although I don't know how you will really compare as you have to pull your other apps upon ED acceptance.</h1>
<p>Gutsy but wise move to apply ED.</p>
<p>I was accepted ED this year, and i'm an international.</p>
<p>I "negotiated" the aid, and by this i mean that i sent a polite letter, and i sent it in april!!, and they sent me a re-evaluated offer. I did not even mention not attending or such , so i think that the chance to get a bad FA package and not solve it is minute... </p>
<p>my advice: go for it! :D Good luck</p>
<p>Edit: Oh, and yes, Princeton is need-blind and full-need :D
Edit2: the statement that it's easier to get in ED is highly doubtable.</p>
<p>To explain: the fact that the admit rate for ED is super-high has NOTHING to do with one's particular chance of getting in. This higher percentage only, and i mean only, shows that the quality of the ED applicants is higher than of the RDers... qed :D</p>
<p>I would quarrel with the assertion that the ED pool is, on average, more "qualified."</p>
<p>All available evidence suggests that this is not so - at most schools in general and at Princeton in particular.</p>
<p>SEE: "The Early Admissions Game: Joining The Elite" (2003, by Zeckhauser, et als)</p>
<p>well... i would not quarrel... :D</p>
<p>one short argument:</p>
<p>applying early is a one-timer, and students who know they don't have <em>a</em> chance at Princeton (let's take this example), will not apply, statistically, cause it's a long shot. Thus mostly only the people who really are in the game apply, thus the higher competitivity.</p>
<p>whereas during RD, even serious <em>no-chances</em> apply, as it costs them close to nothing.</p>
<p>bottomline: it's stupid to aim <em>way</em> over your head during ED, while this is perfectly normal during RD. Statistically, this matters!!!</p>
<p>Nice theory... but all known stats say it is not accurate.</p>
<p>There is no school anywhere - with the possible exception of MIT - where it does not advantage EVERY applicant with a given SAT score to apply early rather than RD.</p>
<p>You don't seem to understand: the stats show beyond a shadow of a doubt that at virtually every elite - including Princeton - an early applicant has the same odds of admission as an RD applicant with an SAT median 100-150 points higher.</p>
<p>Any school counselor who does not advise each and every student to apply early ... SOMEWHERE.... ANYWHERE .... should be sued for educational malpractice.</p>
<p>Don't colleges usually say something like "we find that our ED/EA pool is more qualified, and therefore we accept more of them than we accept from our RD pool" ?</p>
<p>I would also like to think that by applying ED, you're letting Princeton know that you've made a committment, and that they should in turn take this into account. So, I would think that the applicants are given a little more thought during ED, which would favor the applicant.</p>
<p>But Byerly is right. The stats don't reflect that.</p>
<p>A general rule for applying ED is you should only apply if you will be able to afford attending. Otherwise, you're financially screwed. What will you do if Princeton gives you nothing? You still have to go there.</p>
<p>The Early Admission Game says that the average early round applicant has a test score of 9 points higher than the regular round, very trivially different. The increase in probability of admission, however, is about the statistical equivalent of 100 points in old Sat scores. In other words it can turn a 20% likely acceptance to a 40% probability. No guarantee of admission but a big improvement in probability. demgirl - Why would Princeton let you in to screw you? They have 54% of their students on financial aid (very high to comparable schools) and are known for their generous grants. If Princeton gives you nothing for financial need, probably everyone will give you nothing. Perhaps a non Ivy will give you merit money but I doubt you will find a more generous financial need package.</p>
<p>By applying ED, you are implying that you are either willing to take out loans, or you are able to afford Princeton, because you are willing to go there no matter what. Princeton does not have unlimited financial aid resources. Therefore, there is no way to guarantee that you will receive financial aid. Even if you do not receive any, you cannot back out of early decision. drummerdude- You might want to apply RD to a bunch of schools. If someone offers you a lot of financial aid, you can negotiate with other schools to get a bigger package. Also, I'm guessing from your screen name that you are a sophomore. Princeton might replace ED with SCEA. It which case this won't be a problem.</p>
<p>demgirl...i don't know how, but i do know that if ur financial situation is so bad that you can not pay for princeton, you can pull out of an ED admission. i'm sure there are a bunch of strings attatched to that tho. </p>
<p>"Any school counselor who does not advise each and every student to apply early ... SOMEWHERE.... ANYWHERE .... should be sued for educational malpractice."</p>
<p>Byerly this is one of my favorite quotations from you. hehe</p>
<p>You are free to pass the quote on to any high school guidance counselor you know!</p>
<p>Byerly, I certainly agree with your quote. </p>
<p>To drummerdude, just keep in mind that an ED financial aid award is subject to review after your parents submit their 2005 income tax return. As Pavalon's story suggests, this can go either way.</p>
<p>Byerly, i agree with the quote too :D, i'm advising all my friends who want to study in America to ED somewhere, but that's not the issue.</p>
<p>It's true, i haven't got any stats to go with or go against my "theory" :p BUT:</p>
<p>remember that scores aren't everything, so isn't it rational to assume that the students who apply early have something else to make them aspire to an elite school: a very special EC, incredible essays or such... </p>
<p>Remember that, again statistically :D , students don't follow your advice (to apply ED to a super-reach), because it contradicts common-sense... so the presumption that the ED group is selective is quite accurate, i think. Now you tell me, people with the numbers, do these stats say anything except scores? I'm curious to know</p>
<p>and demgirl: putting aside that P is the most generous with aid, and this is really true, backing out of ED is no problem, because there is no legal basis for your commitment. But, most probably, they won't let you out, and will listen to your demands, to a reasonable extent. The simple fact that i've never heard of anybody to have felt "trapped" by an ED acceptance at P makes me think it's pretty safe... Any other testimonials are welcome, of course...</p>
<p>The damning stats about ED published in "The Early Admissions Game" were corrected to eliminate such factors as legacy status, athletic recruit status, etc.</p>
<p>The simple fact is there is no other explanation: the huge difference between the early admit rate and the RD admit rate at virtually EVERY school simply cannot be explained away by the alleged "strength" of the early pool.</p>
<p>Incidentally, I am not a big fan of binding ED plans on principle - I think the courts would very likely find the process an illegal restraint of trade if anyone pushed the matter.</p>
<p>If there is a choice, I'd always go first for: (1) the EA schools, where you can file a range of applications; or (2) an SCEA school which at least does not force you - with a gun to your head - to withdraw other apps if you are admitted.</p>
<p>i agree as well. the guidance counselors at my school urge ED/EA and most of my school applies ea/ed somewhere. =P. i dunno if ea/ed would boost ur chances of getting in nor would it be more difficult, but i do know that getting in ea/ed is a HUGE relief and i would recommend the option to everyone.</p>
<p>also, princeton is VERY VERY generous, the most generous ivy. i would apply ED and if ur aid is not favorable i would contact them right away. princeton is very accomodating.</p>
<p>demgirl - You should realize Pton is just not another school. You are rightfully worried about loans. Pton doesn' offer loans and uses grants only. Ask these 'competitive' schools there policies and I'll bet they all throw loans into their formulas. Finally, use Pton's web site. They have a calculator that will approximate their grant. I know applying ED scares the helluva out of you but you can't and shouldn't compare Pton to less generous institutions. You want them to bid against each other but unfortunately that isn't completely how it works. You are better being accepted by a $10 billion endowed college than one not so secure. The online model should give you comfort.</p>
<p>demgirl one more thing. pton is ED for their next class. No SCEA yet.</p>
<p>while applying early is a good idea, it is not always the best. Some students aren't read to apply by november 1 and could send a much better app with much better essays and everything by january 1</p>