<p>I'd like to apply to GW ED. My EFC is 0 and my CSS/PROFILE is the same - 0 - with the exception of the student contribution. I'm a URM with stats (sometimes way) above the 75th percentile. I know I want to go to GW above any other school. In your opinion, is the financial aid at GW good enough to warrant applying ED if I can make NO out of pocket contribution and am looking to take out less than $30,000 ($7500) in loans per year? Ideally, my loan debt would not exceed the Stafford loan load. I'm asking for your OPINION because yes, I know that nothing is certain until I actually get a financial aid package.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Personally, I had a low EFC and received a very generous financial aid offer as a transfer. I did not receive a full ride or a full ride when you include Stafford loans (granted my EFC wasn’t 0 but it was low). I would not recommend applying ED if you are depending on financial aid. If you are a strong applicant it wont matter if you apply ED or not… yes you may have to wait a bit longer to find out but is it really worth the stress of worrying if you will or wont get in ED.</p>
<p>Anyone with stats way above the 75th % and great essays has a high probability of acceptance RD. I think you should ask yourself a different question: is GW worth $30k in loans to you over another college that would allow you to graduate debt free? If so, then yes go ED to GW. Otherwise, look into the no-loan colleges and go RD.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not applying ED for the application “bonus”. I’m applying ED because GW is really the only school I want to go to and I’m almost positive (with the exception of FA) that I’ll end up choosing it above the other schools anyways. But, bluebayou, you pose a good point. My debt free colleges would cost me, on average (there are three), $17,000 in loans total. This is because I can’t make the student contribution (the money I make during the summer is my only spending/transportation/books/incidental fees money for the whole year) and I probably won’t take my work study, except for one year, because of internships, study abroad, and a desire to do other things. So, the question is really, is GW worth $15,000 extra (I’d take the work study at GW for at least two years since it’s more consequential there)? That’s definitely something I should consider.</p>
<p>You’ve both made good points, though. Thankfully I have some time to decide. It would be great if other people told me about their FA packages. That would help a little, although like I said, nothing is set in stone. The reason I’d apply ED is not for the bonus, but rather, since I’m 85% sure I’ll end up there anyway (the last 15% dependent on FA only), I’d rather not waste the money (and the time, though that’s secondary) applying to other schools. On top of that, I’d get priority housing and registration, which is always good.</p>
<p>A high stat URM might even have a shot at a full ride somewhere. Instead of a summer earnings requirement, they’d throw in a research stipend. Look into Emory & Vandy. Dartmouth is no-loan with great finaid, but not far from the City.</p>