<p>ngocanh9a--If Smith is your top choice, I suggest that you go ahead and apply ED. You might get in; you may be deferred; and you could even be denied outright. But all of those options will be beneficial in one way or another.</p>
<p>Obviously, if you're admitted, that's great news, and because of Smith's commitment to provide full need, presumably your financial requirements will be met.</p>
<p>If you are deferred, at least you will have sent a message to Smith that indicates that this school is your top choice, which might end up being a big plus when you are re-evaluated in the Regular Decision pool. It's certainly possible that, because your current SAT scores are somewhat low by Smith standards and because your financial need is high, the Smith admission officials may want to wait and evaluate your candidacy when they have the full range of applications from Vietnam in front of them. But, if there are several comparable candidates, the fact that you applied ED might end up being the tiebreaker that works in your favor. (No guarantees, but maybe).</p>
<p>Finally, if you are denied outright, it will be disappointing, but it will also give you some valuable perspective on this process. You will know that you need to aim for some less selective schools. If you find out in December that you are over-reaching, there's a silver lining to the cloud. By the time you get good news from other schools in the spring, you've moved on and are excited by the colleges that said, "Yes," rather than shedding tears over the one that said, "No thanks."</p>
<p>In the old days, financial aid applicants were often discouraged from applying ED, but that's not my own point of view. What I DO tell aid applicants, however, is that an ED application will not permit you to compare aid offers. You need to decide in advance how much your family can truly afford to pay for each year you are in college. Hopefully, this number will be fairly consistent with your aid award. As long as you recognize that it's an acceptable "package," although perhaps not necessarily the best one out there, then an ED application is a good idea, for the reasons I listed above. </p>
<p>It's a bit "old school" to discourage finaid candidates from applying ED, as long as these candidates realize that there are some added wrinkles that full-pay applicants don't have to face.</p>
<p>One more suggestion: contact the Smith admission office and ask if there is an alumna interviewer near you. You strike me as a bright, spunky young woman with strong English skills. If all of this comes across in person, an interview should work in your favor, if available.</p>