<p>I am thinking of applying Early Action ( not early decision) to several colleges but I have read and been told that if you apply early (action or decision) that colleges do not offer you as much merit scholarship money- Is this true? My brother received merit scholarship offers from 2 of the colleges I am thinking of applying Early Action to but he applied regular decision?</p>
<p>The impression I have is that the sooner you apply the better for scholarships. We are thinking of applying sooner than EA/ED dates.</p>
<p>I think it’s the opposite :-S </p>
<p>Yeah, no, its the opposite. Applying EA makes it more likely to receive merit scholarships at most schools.</p>
<p>A lot of schools are first come fitst served with merit. Apply early.</p>
<p>Many schools have merit aids only for EA applicants (or with the same deadline). You should check each school on your list. Purdue and UMich are two of those.</p>
<p>I agree about he EA and merit aid comments (that your chance of receiving a merit aid award might be higher with an EA application). But, as a reminder – do not apply ED if your attendance at college is dependent on college-awarded financial aid packages – you want to be able to “shop around” between colleges.</p>
<p>Complete wrong; I cannot imagine where you read such utter rubbish. </p>
<p>It’s the conspiracy theory of college admissions - they’re so desperate to get people to attend they need to bribe the last minute applicants.</p>
<p>If you look at a place like Ohio State, you actually need to apply by Nov. 1 to receive priority consideration for merit scholarships even though the actual application deadline isn’t until Feb. 1. Odds are, if you apply RD, you get nothing.</p>
<p>TopTier - which part is rubbish? </p>
<p>@Momof2back2back i think TopTier was referring to the OP.</p>
<p>The EA part is rubbish. Colleges still want to get the best students to enroll, which is what merit aid is for. Whether you apply EA or RD, there is no guarantee you will come, so merit is often offered to sweeten the pot.</p>
<p>Now I do think ED applicants are less likely to get merit aid. Why waste their “pot sweetener” on someone who has already agreed to enroll?</p>
<p>^ ^ ^ ^
@Momof2back2back: The OP’s initial report that merit scholarship funding is depleted for most/all who apply RD is (IMHO) entirely erroneous. The universities with which I am most familiar make ALL merit scholarship decisions AFTER RD acceptances (and denials/waitlisting) are concluded (I admit, however, that this is a small segment of the universe). In essence, whether ED or RD, admitted applicants will be selected for merit scholarships from a pool that includes the only the very BEST of both RD and ED candidates. When one applies and is accepted is wholly irrelevant. </p>
<p>Not true. Both my kids got merit offers with EA acceptances (within a couple of days) from every school they got EA acceptances from (a total of 3 schools between them).</p>
<p>@TopTier I have not found that to be true. Most schools I’ve found will give automatic consideration merit scholarships out with your acceptance. The ones that come out later are typically ones you have to specifically apply for with essays and such.</p>
<p>It varies by school. For example, I have seen a school like Tulane give out large merit awards for kids who very early (Tulane app opens in July) through Early Action or SCEA. More even more qualified applicants who applied later or on RD did not receive as substantial of a merit award.</p>
<p>There are some schools who explicitly say the applicant must apply ED / EA for consideration for certain scholarships. </p>
<p>@intparent and @guineagirl96: I understand; however, at the schools to which I refer – all in the top dozen national universities/LACs . . . and note that I specifically indicated they were a small part of the overall undergraduate universe – ALL merit scholarships require application, essays, and so forth and ALL are decided upon after RD decisions are concluded. The remaining financial aid is exclusively need-based grants (not merit scholarships),</p>
<p>Oh… I’m sorry… the “top dozen”… well, one of my kids was accepted EA at University of Chicago, and got her merit offer with her acceptance. You don’t really know what you are talking about. All merit scholarship (even at top colleges, which offer very few anyway) do not require specific applications and essays.</p>
<p>No, @inparent, you need to read more carefully. I did not say “all OF the top dozen,” I said “all IN the top dozen.” Obviously, there is a substantial difference, and you own me an apology. </p>
<p>Does the OP’s post sound like he/she is applying for scholarships that require extra essays and applications? Most merit aid offered by colleges is not the type you are talking about. The OP is asking about apples, and you are making a bold statement that is about oranges. It is misleading for the OP. </p>