<p>I am wondering if students tend to get better financial aid packages if they apply early action or early decision, versus regular admission. My concern with early decision is that you don't have much leverage in terms of other schools making better offers, but this is my first time down this road and maybe I'm wrong. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you are right that it is better to apply regular admission if you want a better chance at merit aid. However, there might be a trade off that your chances may be better to get accepted early decision than regular decision. I suggest you inquire at the universities you are most interested in before applying.</p>
<p>To answer your question, foremolemom, you'd need to be more specific about which schools you're thinking of, what the basic outlines of your family financial situation are, and what level of certainly you need. I would say, just as an answer to your first question, "I am wondering if students tend to get better financial aid packages if they apply early action or early decision, versus regular admission" that the answer is very likely 'no'... they almost certainly won't get <em>better</em> FA. Whether it would be any worse than the aid they'd get in Regular Decision, is more the question. That will depend on the school's policies and your financial circumstances.</p>
<p>Leverage is something to consider. If you want it, then Early Decision would not be your best option. That's not to say that you will definitely get leveage in regular decision. Some schools are more open to such discussions than others.</p>
<p>The only way that ED can be financially advantageous is if it increases your odds of getting accepted in the first place to one of the very few schools that offer the very best aid and your family finances are such that need-based aid at those few select school can be fairly accurately predicted.</p>
<p>There are some schools where you do have to apply early to be eligible for some merit awards. BC, Georgia Tech, UMiami come to mind.</p>