<p>If I ED, and Emory doesn't give me enough aid am I still bound to go to Emory? I'm considered low income.</p>
<p>I am so depressed! I went to visit today and talked witht he financial advisor there and I am now pretty sure I will not be able to go. They says that they meet 100% of family need but the problem is that they "meet" with loans as well as grants. My parents have so much debt already from a failed business so getting more is hard to do. Emory said we needed to pay out of pocket almost 12k an then they gave us 6k in loans in the package. The banks will not give good loans to us so I would be paying around 100k from just undergraduate. there is no way I can do that so I probably cannot go. The finaid people dont budge so there is no way to change it. :(</p>
<p>i got almost 34k of grants! so emory is realllly tempting me</p>
<p>Emory gave me $27.5k in grants (well above my need) vs Carnegie Mellon's $12k - Made it an easy choice.</p>
<p>$30k emory vs. nyu $7k, it was even easier for me</p>
<p>Genius- according to what I understand - you need to pay 18k/yr correct? Why not work and get around 4-5k, parents pay (cash or loans) 3-4k, and you take loans of 10k, which you can take out yourself. That won't be too bad. Of course if you have other schools that are much cheaper, I would advise you to go there.</p>
<p>Badkarma89: no, you're not bound.</p>
<p>This worries me a little. Vandy is my first choice, but currently, Emory is my second. Should I be worried about Vandy or Emory? I'm applying ED to Vandy, so essentially, I have the same question as BadKarma89. If you apply ED are you still required to go if they don't give you enough aid? I mean if too much of it is loans? B/c I know Vandy also meets 100%, but my mom is a widow and has me and my bro she supports on her own. She only claimed 12k last yr. If they meet 100% fin aid, is most of that bound to be loans?</p>
<p>Not sure about Vanderbilt but Emory averages something like 74% Grants, 26% loans, and I received less than 10% loans. I'm sure both schools will give plenty of grants if your EFC is low.</p>
<p>Vandyhopeful,</p>
<p>Be very, very careful about applying ED anywhere if you have to rely on financial aid. If you can't meet your financial obligations to a given school, you are required to apply only to your local state uni. No shopping around for a "good" private school. Otherwise your name goes on a list that is circulated to other colleges and you can be effectively blackballed. Every year on CC, there are a few kids agonizing because they can't attend because of financial problems. Also remember that giving loans is considered a legitimate way for schools to meet your need. You can not arbitrarily tell them no just because a portion of your aid packet is in loans.</p>
<p>You will be obligated to pull out all other applications after an ED acceptance, and you will have no other alternative schools to attend. The best way to "shop around" for a good package is to go the RD route. I wish this situation was different. ED favors kids whose families can pay full freight but that's the way the system is.</p>
<p>Emory allows people to decide for themselves whether or not the aid package is sufficient. (for ED applicants) - And there is no penalty if the aid doesn't suit you, though I think you need to inform them quickly.</p>
<p>Though I'm not going to Emory, I felt I could share my loan package to help out those with lower incomes estimate their aid.</p>
<p>So, for being a lower income family, Emory is basically making me pay $1500/yr straight up and $5000/yr in loans.</p>
<p>Where I chose to go to (Duke), gave me a lot less in loans and a little more in what I have to pay straight up.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>