<p>American University is a bit of a reach for me, but within grasp. I've been weighing two strategies:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Apply ED. If I'm accepted, great. If not, appeal with midyear report showing (hopefully!) A's.</p></li>
<li><p>Apply RD and let them factor in my midyear grades then.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I have 2 concerns. How many people actually succeed with an appeal? Would my midyear grades even be looked at if I applied RD (of course, if not I could appeal that as well I suppose).</p>
<p>You apply early because you have decided that this one college or university is definitely the one you want to attend. Frankly, most students early in their Senior year do not really know this for sure – and those who are sure often grow up a good deal more and end up changing their minds.</p>
<p>In fact, ED programs are designed primarily to benefit the colleges, not the students who once they are admitted are locked into going to that school (not legally, but morally since they promised). Colleges like ED programs because they allow them to grab the best students and hold them hostage, if you will.</p>
<p>It has always seemed to me that this is not a good approach for students, and that continuing to consider a lot of colleges right up to April 1st works much better for most students. My own daughter was “positive” she wanted to go to Middlebury, but at the end she decided that – on second thought – she just loved Colgate a lot more. But, she didn’t know that until she had thought about it for months and months. </p>
<p>I’d do regular admission and apply to a lot of schools. You’ll get into a few, and then YOU are in the driver’s seat and get to tell THEM which college you will attend. Now, that’s a good feeling!</p>
<p>For my D, EA is the way to go. She can’t do ED because there will be significant FA packages at stake, and we need to see and compare them. But RD is too long a wait for us (and for some of the scholarships she will be applying for, you must apply either
ED or EA).</p>
<p>Not sure if this applies to your situation with American.</p>
<p>If American is your absolute number one choice, go ED. But bear in mind that your chances for merit aid may not be great, if your stats are on the low end of their admitted range. So, if merit aid is not a factor in your decision making (either you can pay full frieght, or you know you will qualify for enough need-based aid), go for it. It is really disappointing to get accepted but realize that your family can’t afford it. Don’t count on any ability to “appeal” an ED rejection, however.</p>
<p>In the American forum, an admissions rep stated that they accepted a few appeals before going to the wait list this year. It’s not common, but they do allow them.</p>
<p>My main issue is I think first semester may be significant. I’m weighing whether first semester grades will tip me or ED’s 75% admit rate. Or which would help me most.</p>
<p>CIA, in our family we could not allow ED because we needed to compare financial packages. See whether your family can afford American assuming no merit aid and just the stafford loans and maybe W/S. Also, ask your parents what would happen if there were a sudden change in your family’s finances (ie: illness, job loss). I know families who can just write a check for whatever the full tuition is, regardless of unemployment, illness, etc. Most people cannot do that. You really need to discuss it thoroughly with your parents. Even if this is your first choice school, if you are a typical non-wealthy family, don’t focus on one school because it may not be affordable to you and your family. Apply to a variety of schools. I can tell you that the cost varied wildly for our son.</p>
<p>CIA…can you pay the bills for American regardless of the financial aid package you receive? American does not meet full need. Applying ED would not necessarily be in your best interests if financial aid is a concern.</p>
<p>And I might add, if you do apply ED and your family cannot afford to take American’s finaid offer are you prepared to walk away and attend one of your state schools or a school that is non-competitive with American? And most importantly, read American’s information regarding ED and make sure it is in writing that you can decline the ED offer if the family cannot afford. Some colleges are upfront about that and others sidestep that important caveat. The intent of ED is that if you are accepted you will attend. If there is any concern that cost might be a prohibitive factor the general advice is to not apply ED. You must, absolutely must, discuss in detail with your parents all the ramifications if you plan on applying ED.</p>
<p>If you are sure that you want American U and if you can afford it no matter what the financial aid package, ED is fine, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Although ColgateDad has a valid point, the counterargument is that nothing horrible would have happened if his daughter had applied ED to Middlebury, been accepted there, and been obligated to go there. </p>
<p>My daughter applied ED to Cornell, was accepted there, and went there. Might she have been happier at one of the other schools on her list? Possibly, but she didn’t think about it that way. She thought about it as a way to enhance her chances of admission to Cornell and to get the whole thing over with by December.</p>
<p>If you’re like my daughter – ready to choose one school as your favorite and not look back, I think ED is fine, as long as there’s no problem with money.</p>
<p>After reading CC for more thatn a year, I am tempted to start at “ED (binding)- Just Say No” thread. I have not done so though because our family has no personal experiences. </p>
<p>I’d vote for RD, with great fall semester grades and a top notch essay. You can start the essay now and refine over time.</p>
<p>“read American’s information regarding ED and make sure it is in writing that you can decline the ED offer if the family cannot afford.”</p>
<p>I am regularly perplexed by this warning. What do people think is the alternative? That attendance could somehow be compelled and then the student would be expelled when the bill couldn’t be paid? Does anyone seriously think this happens?</p>
<p>For schools that accept the Common Application, it is already in writing: