Got deferred, writing a LOCI. I want to basically say, “I would TOTALLY go to your school if accepted, but the only reason I’m not committing to ED2 is the fact that I can’t commit to the tuition right now!” But obviously not with that wording. Is even mentioning something along those lines a total faux pas? Or would it be okay/beneficial?
Have you run the net price calculator for the school? If not, please do. If yes, how close does it come to what your family can afford without hardship?
After you have that info, you can ask the financial aid office if they can provide a financial aid “pre-read” so that you can feel confident about applying ED2.
But…can you even apply ED2 if you were just deferred from ED1?
Not helpful for your application.
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That’s what I figured, but I was getting conflicting advice from other students, so I wanted to ask some non-teenagers, lol. Do you think it would sound ingenuine to even mention anything about it being my top choice since I’m not committing to ED2?
If it is your first choice, let them know. If it isn’t, don’t.
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I got deferred from EA! And, yes, we did run the NPC before I even applied the first time. My parents can probably afford my tuition for a year or so, but I have younger siblings who will be entering college soon, we just bought a new house, and we have a complicated situation with our savings. So we likely won’t be able to afford the price even with negotiation.
Well, it is, but again - I feel saying that w/a non-binding application is like telling your partner you’d “definitely marry them” but then refusing to actually propose. Lol.
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If it is a css profile school, it may continue the current policy of giving more financial aid when siblings are also in college.
FAFSA schools will no longer be doing that, but it is unclear what CSS profile colleges will choose to do.
That said, if the financials will make it unlikely that you can attend, you need to find one or two colleges that you like and that your family can afford for four years. Students can and do have to withdraw from schools they love mid-stream if finances become difficult. It’s much better to find a school that meets all your needs from the beginning than to start someplace where you can’t finish.
Good luck!
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There are lots of reasons for applicants not to go ED and colleges understand they may well be your first choice but you are not able to commit ED.
Ultimately, you have to decide what you want to say on your LOCI. Without knowing a lot more about where you applied and their admission policies, I’ve given you the best advice I have.
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If your family just purchased a new house, you may want to focus on colleges that ignore home equity as an asset when assessing financial aid, or that limit home equity to a percentage of parental income.
All FAFSA-only schools ignore home equity for the primary residence, and some CSS profile schools do as well.
Here is a website that provides information on specific schools. As always, it is best to check with the college’s financial aid office to verify if this information is still current, for the schools that you actually want to apply to.
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Thanks, I really appreciate it!
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No you shouldn’t mention finances…especially the if I can afford it which is like saying, even if you let me in, I won’t be able to attend. Smart you applied EA and not ED unless you are assured of finances.
You should write a brief letter of continued interest.
If it’s a demonstrated interest school, let them know of the efforts you’ve made…visits, attendance at webinars.
Two sentences as to why the school is a good fit for you…
Thank them again and move on.
My personal opinion is that if you follow instructions…check the yes consider me box and update grades or any other items of substance and you are good. I personally don’t think the letters matter but the schools encourage them and people say to write them.
You should treat a deferral as a rejection from an emotional POV. Get your letter in and get the school out of your mind. Hopefully you have matches and safeties lines up.
That said, many deferred kids get in…UGA and U Miami deferred a ton. My daughter got in after being deferred at Miami with the same merit award her friend who got in EA received.
Good luck
Ps…don’t know your stats, or type of school you seek but with siblings to follow, you may want to find a big merit school to keep costs down…assuming u don’t qualify for need aid. What school deferred you?
Here’s sample letters to peruse.
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You’re welcome. I personally found that site quite helpful when my kids were applying over the last couple of years
If you post your stats (GPA --weighted and unweighted, test scores, budget/financial constraints, and what schools you are interested in (including the one from which you were just deferred), it is very likely that experienced posters here can help you find some schools which woud be good safeties and matches for you. I recommend starting a separate thread for that purpose.
Also, to follow up on your original question – I agree that it is not a good idea to mention financials in your LOCI. I also still don’t think that in general you can apply ED2 if you were deferred EA, although I supposed individual colleges might make an exception.
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