<p>Because when you think about it, the early batch of kids are probably all top-notch, competitive students.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>If they are all top notch, why would they feel compelled to file ED ? I think the opposite might be possible : that some are not top notch, use ED for the reach school and if not accepted, proceed with their RDs...</p>
<p>Some schools recognize legacy during ED ONLY.</p>
<p>A fact is that the ED acceptance rate for colleges that have it is most often higher, many times significantly higher, than the RD rate. Whether that fact is enough for you to believe it is easier is up to you. Nevertheless, I have never seen any reliable data that establishes, one way or the other, that the pool of students that apply ED is more top-notch than the RD pool.</p>
<p>I've been told by more than one school that ED is for students who do NOT need financial aid (that if you do, you shouldn't apply ED).</p>
<p>The way I see it, it exists for the college to fill it's freshman class with full paying students who are willing to commit to that school. Therefore, logic dictates that if the stats of those student fall a little short, the college will be more forgiving than they will come RD time. </p>
<p>So, yes, applying ED will give you a little edge in most cases.</p>
<p>Hi Pearl. At about what income / asset level does financial aid become unattainable...??</p>
<p>"I've been told by more than one school that ED is for students who do NOT need financial aid (that if you do, you shouldn't apply ED).</p>
<p>The way I see it, it exists for the college to fill it's freshman class with full paying students who are willing to commit to that school. Therefore, logic dictates that if the stats of those student fall a little short, the college will be more forgiving than they will come RD time.</p>
<p>So, yes, applying ED will give you a little edge in most cases."</p>
<p>Eh. My brother got into MIT ED and got a lot of financial aid, even though my family is upper middle class.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Eh. My brother got into MIT ED and got a lot of financial aid, even though my family is upper middle class.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>MIT does not have ED. It has Early Action (non-binding).</p>
<p>Daniel Berkowitz, Director of FA at MIT offers this advice regarding Early Admissions:
[quote]
- Do not apply Early Decision to any school unless money is no factor or you are assured the option of applying early for financial aid as well.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you do a financial aid application early, make sure that you do your best estimates as to income, taxes, etc. Keep in mind that the aid award you receive will change if your estimates are inaccurate.</p></li>
<li><p>If the program to which you apply is Early Action, and especially if it is non-restrictive, don't assume that your college search is done if you are accepted. Keep your other options open, especially if money is a concern, and don't commit to attend until you have received your financial aid award, and can evaluate your cost.</p></li>
<li><p>Of course (this goes without saying, right?), meet every financial aid application deadline, especially under the Early Action programs. Do not EVER wait to apply for financial aid until AFTER you are admitted (this is true of regular admissions as well). You will be forced to make a decision without the complete facts; you need to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
[/quote]
</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also keep in mind that while it may "seem" easier to get admitted ED, a large percentage of the slots are going to hooked applicants with the lion's share going to athletes as coaches want their top picks committed to attending. As Haz stated, legacies stand the strongest chance of being admitted during the early pool along with developmental admits.</p>
<p>I don't think it's true that ED pools are all top-notch students. As others have pointed out, the ED pool is unusually rich with recruited athletes, full-pay students, legacies, etc. In other words, students who may have gotten an admissions advantage not because of applying ED, but because of other qualities that made them enter the ED pool. </p>
<p>I've been to at least two information sessions where adcoms were quite frank about the ED "bump." For what it's worth, both schools had similar profiles that can sometimes be indicators of a possible ED advantage: large disparity between ED/RD admit rates; low RD yield; not need blind (meaning once the FA budget is expended, they're shopping for full-pay admits only).</p>
<p>for some it is ,the other not so much..</p>
<p>for example, uppen and nwu openly said that they love ED students..</p>
<p>"MIT does not have ED. It has Early Action (non-binding)."</p>
<p>Really? Is this new or something? He applied in '07 or '06 or something. I could very well be wrong, I wasn't really tuned into college applications back then.</p>
<p>MIT never has been EA for years</p>
<p>Being accepted ED does not mean that the student isn't eligable for merit scholarships or financial aid...BUT the student should be prepared to attend whether or not they receive any aid at all. </p>
<p>If you are dependent on financial aid, don't apply ED because it is a binding agreement and the student will be expected to attend regardless of financial considerations.</p>
<p>and for this question: "... At about what income / asset level does financial aid become unattainable...??"</p>
<p>That would vary a lot. I know that Emory offers an Advantage Program which caps loans for families with household incomes under $100,000. So that leads me to believe that incomes over that amount might recieve less aid. </p>
<p>Remember, however, loans are considered aid...and most folks who are thought to be able to pay the loans back will recieve them - regardless of income.</p>
<p>So in general, if I have the money, applying ED increases my chances of getting in?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Being accepted ED does not mean that the student isn't eligable for merit scholarships or financial aid...BUT the student should be prepared to attend whether or not they receive any aid at all.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Students are released from the the ED agreement if they cant attend due to financial reasons.</p>
<p>But the release usally happens so that they can attend the state U. in their home state (which should be the most financially feasible option) if money is an issue.</p>