<p>My first choice is Brown University, and I want to apply ED. But one can never be sure of how the financial aid will end up working, only a rough estimate with catch-all internet calculators and stuff. I want to apply to Brown ED, but I don't want to have to blindly accept the financial aid if it puts too much EFC on my family (and indirectly me).</p>
<p>My friend was telling me that there is a way to get out ED (if you get in), and not have to go, if there are financial reasons. Is he telling the truth?</p>
<p>P.S. - It's not to exploit or anything. It's simply because I want to apply to ED to increase my chances. I just want to get clarification on how ED works.</p>
<p>If it is not financially feasible for you to go, you can get out of an ED agreement. However, by applying ED you lose being able to compare financial aid packages from different schools.</p>
<p>It is pretty simple to figure out your institutional EFC. If Brown does not have an online calculator, their aid office will work with you to understand what’s expected.</p>
<p>When I was a counselor, I ran into many families that could not pay their EFC. If that’s the case for yours, you really want to understand that early. It makes no sense to spend the tome on apps for schools you simply can’t afford.</p>
<p>If you’re a candidate for Brown, consider an application to HYPS, which are the only schools which many upper middle families can afford, the aid at these 4 schools is truly exceptional.</p>
<p>It’s on the Common Application, clearly spelled out: if you are accepted ED and your financial aid is not sufficient to attend, you can be released from the ED agreement. The problem is not so much getting out of it, but if your application is strong enough to get into Brown, it’s probably strong enough to get some amazing merit aid at a number of other excellent schools. By applying ED you miss out on the opportunity to compare offers later in the year.</p>
<p>financial aid if it puts too much EFC on my family (and indirectly me).</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year?</p>
<p>What are the online calculators indicating that your family would be expect to pay?</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about FA, it’s not a good idea to apply ED because you need to be able to compare offers. </p>
<p>Either way, be sure to apply to some financial safety schools that will give you big merit for your stats. Many of these schools have early deadlines for scholarships, so apply to them early as well.</p>
<p>Another thought…when you apply and get accepted ED, your timeline is very tight. You will get your acceptance (hopefully) and a financial aid package. The thing is…you need to make a decision quickly regarding your choice. You have to decide whether this financial aid package will meet your needs. </p>
<p>One thing folks do not mention…it is possible that this ED offer will be the BEST one you get…but if it’s the only one you really have no way to know.</p>
<p>“My first choice is Brown University, and I want to apply ED.”</p>
<p>For all the reasons given above, ED should be used only at the one dream school above all others, the one you’re dying to attend, where the only question is: can I afford it?</p>
<p>If you in any way care about comparing FA offers, apply RD.</p>
<p>People will tell you a lot of things, how easy it is get out of ED, how they did it etc. May be they did get out ED very easily or may be it is urban legend. That is beside the point.</p>
<p>The point is that if you have a lot of financial need, you want to be able to compare packages from different schools. The only way you can do it is if you have all the offers and time to compare it. Let us Brown gives you an offer with an EFC of say $15,000 and loans of $20,000. If you applied ED you have no idea if that offer is good or bad as you cannot compare it. You can say no, but later if you find that was the best offer, you have missed the boat.</p>
<p>As everyone has pointed out, better you apply RD and do not try to game the system. If you apply knowing that you have a lot of financial need, you are trying to game the system.</p>
<p>Well, that’s not necessarily true, mazewanderer. You can apply with a lot of need with the clear intention of attending if it is at all affordable. That’s what my son did, with my full support. He applied ED, his aid award was very do-able for us, and it all turned out great. We couldn’t compare offers, but the whole point was not “where’s the best deal?” – it was, “can it work for us at this particular college?”</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry; the college has no real way of actually forcing you to attend a college you can’t afford. What are they going to do, toss you into university jail if you refuse to rob a bank or turn tricks or whatever they want you to do if the financial aid package doesn’t work out? I don’t think so.</p>
<p>The real issue is if you really do need to compare offers. If you wait till after the ED deadline, you then have to run around trying to get other applications filled. I’m honestly not convinced that the bump is really worth it if you’re desperately in need of financial aid. It’s not ALWAYS a bad idea, but I just can’t fathom why Regular Decision is such anathema to a lot of applicants. At many colleges, it’s where most of their admits come from!</p>
<p>Here’s what I think. If you are applying ED with a notion that you might not attend the school…don’t apply ED…it doesn’t matter WHAT the reason is. The purpose of ED is to attract applicants who plan to attend the school if accepted. If you are applying with the notion that you might not attend…don’t apply ED. Apply RD.</p>
<p>Agreed with Vossron…I don’t know of ANY school that accepts the most of its admits ED.</p>
<p>*Hmmm. Which schools get the majority of their admits from the ED pool? *</p>
<p>Read his post again…he said that most schools get the majority of their admits from RD.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a good idea to apply ED if you have need, but you’re not low income. Those who are “in the middle” (who may have a greater need than the school will indicate) shouldn’t apply ED. </p>
<p>If you apply ED and you get a package that you don’t think is that great, you won’t know if you should accept it or decline it because you can’t compare it to anything. And, if you decline it, and that package ends up being the best one offered, then it’s a problem. You can’t go back and get it.</p>
<p>“Read his post again…he said that most schools get the majority of their admits from RD.”</p>
<p>Implying that there are some schools that get most from ED. ;)</p>
<p>“I don’t think it’s a good idea to apply ED if you have need”</p>
<p>The needy kids who are successful at ED think it’s a good idea! :)</p>
<p>“If you apply ED and you get a package that you don’t think is that great, you won’t know if you should accept it or decline it because you can’t compare it to anything.”</p>
<p>Those applying ED to their dream schools don’t want to compare it to anything.</p>
<p>here’s one vote for rentof2’s reco. we did exactly the same thing. if the finaid offer fell short of reasonable expectations based on school’s policy and online calculators, we’d have declined for financial reasons. fortunately, they met, and slightly exceeded expectations. </p>
<p>as i’ve posted before on these boards, no school is going to “short change” ED applicants. there is no upside from the school’s perspective to do such a thing. </p>
<p>bottom line. if you want to compare offers, then go RD. if you really want to go to brown, and you’re only hesitation about applying ED is that their offer might be low, i’d still apply ED. </p>
<p>that said, make sure you’re ready to apply elsewhere if things dont work out as you hope. :)</p>