ED vs. RD?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>Hey, everybody! I'm new to CC... I've been on the forums for a while looking through the Rice University subsection, but haven't been able to find an answer to this question, so I hope you guys can help me out! :)</p>

<p>Rice is my top choice university, but when I apply next year, I am doubtful of applying ED in the case that I get accepted, but with inadequate financial aid. Also, if I apply ED, then I don't see the point in applying to any other colleges (admission fees), though I want to... </p>

<p>To be perfectly blunt, I love Rice, but it isn't Harvard. I want Rice because (besides its academic prestige), it is close to home, and it's a minor reach, as compared to the Ivies. I understand that Rice is already fantastic in itself and regarded as highly as the Ivies, but still, if I were granted admission to an Ivy over Rice, my decision would be leaning more towards the Ivy.</p>

<p>RD sounds more reasonable, giving me more choices, but I'm afraid Rice won't REALLY think I'm serious about wanting to attend their university if I do so this way. I suppose I'm not 100% committed to this college, but it IS what I think is the best fit for me... More simply put, I just want my options to be open, and ED seems so... Binding! However, I don't want to be rejected RD from Rice AND other top colleges, if I could have gotten in Rice had I applied ED.</p>

<p>I understand that you are allowed to withdraw your ED decision (if accepted) if you are unable to attend due to not enough financial aid, but who determines this?</p>

<p>I guess my biggest question is this - exactly HOW much more of an advantage do you get applying ED rather than RD? What did YOU guys do? </p>

<p>If it helps at all, I'm a Texas resident, which I know can be disadvantageous at times... </p>

<p>I know this was a REALLY confusing post, but I would appreciate any help at all! This whole college process is new to me! </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Just apply RD.</p>

3

<p>Rice isn’t your top choice if you would lean towards attending a different university ahead of it. Apply RD. Lots of people are admitted RD every year.</p>

4

<p>I agree with NYSkins1, OP posting doesn’t make me feel that Rice is your top choice. You should absolutely want to go to the school to which you apply early decision. There is a some admittance advantage to applying ED, and that advantage should go to individuals who are really committed.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the replies, everybody! I’m now reconsidering applying ED. </p>

<p>This is a bit off topic, but hypothetically speaking, if I were to apply ED, would it be a good idea to apply ONLY to it (whilst having all RD applications ready), and if I were to be rejected/deferred, THEN send in all the RD applications? </p>

<p>Or would it be too late then? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

6

<p>You should have 2 weeks after the ED decisions come out to send in other applications so thats fine. I sent in most of my apps before i got my RICE ED admission results (because i figured i would just get denied haha). Either way is fine.</p>

<p>BTW you CAN still get scholarships when applying ED, and you can appeal any financial aid decisions. Hope for the best.</p>

7

<p>If you’re applying to any schools that application have deadlines before you would receive your ED decision, you should apply to those. If you’re applying to any schools with rolling admissions, it may be in you best interest to apply as early as possible. For the rest of the schools, just get your applications ready for them and only send them if you’re rejected by your ED school.</p>

8

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<p>Um, that’s what usually happens. You hear back from ED on December 15, typically, and RD deadlines aren’t until January 1 or 15.</p>

9

<p>Don’t feel guilty about not applying ED if your heart is not 100% into it, seriously. I applied RD, got in, and decided to attend. Applying RD was what was best for me at the time.</p>

<p>Do whatever you feel is right for you. This is your decision and your choice in applying to schools, one of which, upon acceptance and matriculation, you will attend for 4 years. Don’t worry about what other people think, do what’s right for you. You’re not going to hurt anyone’s feelings.</p>

10

<p>unless you are willing to commit to Rice regardless of finances, DO NOT apply ED. “Gaming the system” is not worth it and especially in today’s economy, there’s nothing worse than wondering “what if?” as you repay loans. I applied RD and actually got merit aid from Rice (I think it was intended to lure me away from the Ivies, which it did) so it turned out better for me in the end than if I’d applied ED.</p>

11

<p>Okay, so if you are thinking “oh I’ll apply ED because the admit rate is higher and I’ll have a better chance of getting in,” a good part of that is false. From what I’ve heard from attending the info session at Ivies (and I don’t know if it fully applies to Rice but this is a general information to know), the admit rate for academic seeking students (students who are apply for academic purpose) is actually closer to the RD than you think. Why? A good deal of people accepted during ED is actually athletes which the university recruits. Some universities want them to sign early so they have them apply early (I know many kids who signed with schools like Princeton, Duke, UNC, Northwestern, etc. before RD). So the admit rate is rather deceptive since a lot of the students accepted during ED actually have their application go through the “express accepted line” (made that up but you get the idea).</p>

<p>Now back to you: I would actually advise you to apply RD. ED is for people who are 100**+**% sure that they want to go to Rice. These people are the people who have checked out other schools and (to quote an admissions officer) “who are absolutely sure they would like to be at” Rice and “not at any where else.” If you have any doubts and reserves, please (and I mean) please do not apply ED. The worst thing is to get accepted ED, be bound, and spend at least a miserable year (if not more if you don’t transfer) at Rice. If you feel like you have any doubts about going to Rice (like “I might be happier at _<strong><em>” or “man, I probably could get accepted to _</em></strong>”), apply RD, you will have the time and chance to really deliberate over your choice of college.</p>

12

<p>WOW, these responses have been exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thanks to everyone for clearing up the whole RD application thing; I had been a bit confused about that…</p>

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<p>By ‘appealing’ financial aid, do you mean that I could ask for more aid? Does anybody know of somebody at Rice to contact who could give me a rough estimate about how much financial aid I would receive if I were to be accepted? </p>

<p>Ivies are still Ivies, but the more I think about it, the more appealing Rice seems. I’ve been researching Rice extensively (since soph year), visited, interviewed, loved everything… Right now, the BIGGEST concern I have is the financial matter, which is keeping me from the ‘100+%’ decision, as gunit15 put it. </p>

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<p>Hmm, I never thought about it like that before. While that could be true, my main purpose in applying ED is to let Rice know that it is really what I want (that could, however, translate to thinking that there is a higher admit rate, which I know isn’t the case). If I did apply RD, I am afraid of being overlooked as somebody who isn’t really THAT interested… Does Rice see that a lot? I know that above stats, ECs, etc., Rice wants somebody who shows definite interest… Any advice on doing so? My stats are well above average, but still lower than that of other CCers that I’ve seen around here, so I know that I wouldn’t stick out in a massive pile of applications… </p>

<p>I apologize for the rather long posts with the many, many questions… Just trying to seek out answers that I haven’t been able to on the Rice website/old CC threads!</p>

13

<p>^Yes you can ask for more aid. Theres certain “predictions” you could probably find on the rice site about how much money you would get, but it isnt perfect. Maybe something happens and your EFC goes down, they may boost up your FA a bit. Its worth a try. Good luck!</p>

14

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Okay, so I did not mention anything about financial aid. Out of the 6 Ivies and various top schools (including Rice) I have visited in the past, most who address the Early Decision choice also stated that you should select ED (and I quote) “if you are not worried about financial matters.” One admissions officer said that “if you are concerned with financial aid, we advise you apply RD so you can compare.”
Although Rice does meet 100% of you demonstrated need there are some complication to that.

  1. Each school has their own formula to compute it
  2. Some schools have eliminated loans, Rice hasn’t (they do camp it for middle class)
  3. Rice’s financial aid is good, but some school (especially Liberal Arts) do give more money because they have that
  4. Rice gives out their merit aid more during RD</p>
15

<p>“I understand that you are allowed to withdraw your ED decision (if accepted) if you are unable to attend due to not enough financial aid, but who determines this?”</p>

<p>You do. Rice accepts the Common Application; from its ED agreement:

<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Consider the alternative, that you are somehow compelled to attend, and then expelled when you can’t pay the bill; it doesn’t happen.</p>

<p>But ED is only for your one dream school above all others, where the only question is: can I afford it? If you want to compare FA packages, apply RD.</p>

16

<p>Rice caps student loans at $10,000 for undergrads now - and $0 if your family makes less than $80,000 a year. Merit scholarships are awarded for RD and ED students, so no benefit to applying ED there. I strongly suggest that you and your parents sit down and run the FAFSA calculator here: [Expected</a> Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/efc/]Expected”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/efc/) and take a look at approximately how much you and your family will be expected to contribute to your college education BEFORE you make apply to colleges. And I would strongly recommend that you NOT apply ED to Rice. You are not certain enough about Rice and you are not certain enough about your financial situation - better to apply to a number of schools and compare financial aid packages. JMHO ;)</p>

17

<p>Take the advice from someone with pretty competitive academics that was rejected RD, definitely go ED!!! Especially since Rice is your top choice. They take more applicants ED, and if you get in, you’re most likely going to get adequate financial aid, from what I’ve heard, Rice is great about it. Good luck! I hope you succeed where I failed!</p>

18

<p>What I realized is that a lot of the people who applied RD this year were really great students with high ACT/ SAT scores who also applied to places like Caltech, MIT, Stanford, etc, and used Rice as a backup. Well, a lot of them got into their top choices, and Rice, but chose not to go to Rice. So people like that will be using up your acceptance, and not end up going anyway. Acceptances are… “nontransferable,” so if you’re one of those 34 ACT, 2400 SAT people, go for RD. If your more 30 ACT, 2070 SAT, ED may be better.</p>

19

<p>Hey you guys, is it possible to take the November Sat II and apply ED? And rice can view my Sat II scores directly in mid november when they come out. Is that possible?</p>

20

<p>Regarding financial aid, I took a big risk when I applied early. The amount that Rice gave me initially doesn’t even come close to what I actually need to attend. However, after sending them a detailed appeal letter they increased my financial aid dramatically. </p>

<p>Anyway, I think that if you REALLY need the money, Rice will give it to you. However you might have to fight for it. </p>

<p>Btw, don’t expect the FAFSA EFC to match Rice’s EFC.</p>