Financial Aid and ED

<p>How drastically does applying ED to a school effect the financial aid package that you are offered?
For instance:
If a school's policy promises to meet all of your financial needs (as an RD applicant) and you decide to apply ED, are you eligible for any financial assistance, assuming that you are in need of it?
I'm just wondering how this commitment will effect the amount of aid you are offered...</p>

<p>If a school’s policy promises to meet all your fin. aid for RD applicants, I would assume the same is for ED. I would be very surprised if someone could counter that. Some people will say that you may be offered less because a school knows you will be attending, but I believe it has little affect. At the very worst, if the school does not meet your need and you receive a better fin. aid offer, you are able to pull out.</p>

<p>In theory, it shouldn’t affect your financial aid offer at all, and in practice I don’t think it does have any significant effect.</p>

<p>The problem with applying ED if financial aid is a problem is that you cannot “shop around” for offers. So long as you cannot demonstrate that you NEED more financial aid than the school offers, you’re stuck with it. If you get a full ride scholarship elsewhere, sucks for you; you don’t have the option to take it and avoid financial problems.</p>

<p>Ah, I see. Makes sense.
Thanks for the responses!</p>