I want to apply to Bentley early but they only offer ED. If Bentley is unable to grant me a sufficient enough scholarship and my family can’t afford the remaining tuition, can I be dismissed from the bind? Thank you!
I believe it is very hard to get out of ED. I do not think that financial situation is enough reason to break a ED contract. I would recommend applying regular if the financial aspect is a large decision maker in your case.
Thanks! Do you think I’d have a higher chance of receiving merit if I applied early?
If you cannot afford tuition whatsoever than you are allowed to break your ED contract but it seems that finances might be an issue for your family so play it safe and apply RD. It would be a bad situation to attend a school you can’t afford . Good luck!!!
If you want the opportunity to compare financial aid/merit aid offers it is not a good idea to apply anywhere ED.
You have until 11/15 to apply. Why not ask the people who actually know the answer – the admissions department at the school?
Just apply RD. Use your ED opportunity to apply to a school that you know would give sufficient financial aid.
http://www.bentley.edu/undergraduate/applying
Not sure why you think Bentley only has ED admissions.
@iwannabe_Brown : I think OP meant that Bentley only offers ED and does not have an EA option.
The only way you can get out of an ED binding contract is if you show the ED school their financial aid isn’t sufficient and they don’t change their offer after you proved it. If you can’t afford to go, you can’t - but you have no guarantee you’ll get a better package elsewhere and you can’t “go back” and get the ED package once you’ve turned it down.
Typically, ED is good at 100% need colleges, especially at “superaid” colleges.
@AboutTheSame, you are right. I missed the word “early” in “I want to apply early to Bentley” and now that I see it the OP clearly means what you stated.
thanks for the help guys! I’m attending a leadership conference at bentley next week so ill be sure to ask someone from the admissions department as well
@spencer2020 I actually asked them the same question. According to commonapp language (which Bentley adheres to) you can get out of ED if they do not meet your EFC that is determined through your financial aid forms (FAFSA, CSS). Worth noting Bentley doesn’t determine what the EFC is, its a federal thing so you can estimate it online.
And worth noting that most parents think the EFC is way more than they can afford. Generally if you don’t accept an ED offer you are expected to go to a public much lower cost university.
@kskskskskldpe thank you! Is the amount that EFC estimates a loan? so I would have to pay it back eventually? Or would Bentley provide that amount through merit/scholarship?
I don’t recall those specific words being used. I believe it states you can get out of ED if your FAMILY decides it cannot afford the school with the FA offer that’s been made. The FA offer may include any mix of grants and loans. Run the Net Price Calculator on their web site to get an idea of what it will be. The NPCs tend to be good except if you have a non-custodial parent or your parents have extreme assets or own a business.