Help us decide b/w ED2 or RD for Oberlin?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
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My daughter’s first choice by far is Oberlin, whose ED2 deadline is January 2. She and we are really torn about the two options. On the one hand, her application could use the boost of the somewhat higher ED2 acceptance rate. OTOH, while our family can make the $$$ work (Oberlin gave us a personalized estimate for need-based aid), it would make a huge difference to us for her to get merit aid, and I worry that doing ED will make merit aid unlikely.

We (she and her parents) are also tempted by the possibility of seeing what aid & scholarships her other schools might offer her. Every school on her list has pros and cons, both for her and for us as a family. But Oberlin is her top choice and we like the idea of her going there.

Here’s some basic info about her as an applicant:

  • Lives in Seattle, WA
  • Transgender
  • GPA 3.69 unweighted (senior year grades will likely improve the GPA, but 1st semester grades won’t be available till Feb.)
  • SAT 1380
  • Applying to the theater program & submitted optional creative supplement of 2 monologue videos and a short script she wrote
  • Good ECs, especially focused on theater, incl. drama club president and many acting roles
  • I’m not sure if this makes a difference, but a friend from her same high school just got in there ED1 (with a different declared major). I wonder if there’s a limit to how many students they’re likely to accept from the same public school.

I guess we’re wondering: Are her odds of RD low enough that she probably needs the potential ED2 boost? Or would we be better off sticking with RD and getting to compare multiple offers, plus have a better chance of merit aid from Oberlin?

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I think you need the ED2 boost.

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Only you really know your financial situation, so only you know how important merit aid is.

No one can say with any kind of certainty what your daughter’s chances are.

Money aside, since this is far and away your daughter’s first choice, if it were me, I would ED because I would want to feel that I’d given it my absolute best shot. I wouldn’t want regrets if she were denied, thinking “if only we had applied early decision!”

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I would find out if aid is stackable. If it’s not, depending on the need pre-read, merit may not matter. It says all A&S get $10k in merit and it appears theater is in A&S but again if it’s not stackable it likely won’t matter…ie if you get more than 10k in need and they don’t stack (can’t figure out), merit would wash out.

I was looking at whether you should go TO. Yes you’re well above the 25th but more than half scored 700 on both SAT portions. But at 1380 I suspect you are good unless really imbalanced.

What I don’t know is - how much of the ‘chance’ comes from the videos and script vs your academics.

I would look at the set of schools you applied. For example, if it include - just throwing out a name - W Washington and the COA is $29.1k ( I assumed no merit but obviously there would be). If the estimate for Oberlin is $60k, taking the mom emotion out, which would help the family avoid long term financial strain ? It’s theater. Oberlin is great and supposedly very LGBTQ friendly but you also need to afford to live. And retire. And that, in IMHO, matters more . And the career ahead will likely be low paying.

You likely know your upcoming acceptances and where they could put you financially.

If you think you can get to a figure at another and that figure would ultimately wins out over the likely Oberlin #, go RD. If in the end, you want your daughter at Oberlin no matter the strain on the family, then ED.

Just remember, college costs more than they say (add $3-5k) and you can be at the dream school and have it not be great -bad roomie, bad profs) or the non desired school and meet your bff or spouse. No way to know.

Based on what you wrote, I wouldn’t ED. You seem like many a parent who wants to do anything for their kids. But anything could hurt the rest of your life.

But on the flipside, if you want her there no matter what, then go for ED.

Academically she is not superior vs the school so I would not assume high merit. The other thing is they say they meet 70-80% of need through grants. How will she manage the rest (loans) on likely low pay? Just something to think about.

I would find out if you get the $10k merit in addition to need or if it’s whichever is higher. I can’t tell.

And put that into your decision making. I’d also find out likely post graduate outcomes so you can ensure you are not saddling yourself now and daughter later financially.

We all want to do the best for our kids. But don’t forget mom and dad too.

Tough decision. Best of luck.

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Thanks so much for the replies, and extra thanks to @tsbna44 for the helpful detailed response, which gave me some things to think about.

My husband and daughter and I had a good discussion about it and decided not to do ED. Although it may mean the difference between acceptance and rejection, we decided that the money is enough of a factor (esp. given that she probably won’t be making a lot of money after graduation, and that we have a younger child) that it makes sense to wait and compare any offers she might receive. And although this is definitely her top choice school, she’s also interested to see what happens with a couple other schools where she’s had meaningful admissions interactions.

She has already received a $23K scholarship from Loyola Chicago, as well as an acceptance at Western Washington (which is much more affordable for us), so financially I think RD is the right decision. It’s hard not to agonize over the potential ED boost, but that ship has sailed!

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