<p>"In the old days, financial aid applicants were often discouraged from applying ED, but that's not my own point of view.... 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>I like this advice in theory. In practice, for candidates with a high level of financial need, I can say with some confidence at least based on our experience, it is wrongheaded. We had a very uncomplicated financial need sitaution - no side businesses, big illnesses, etc. - just a high level of need. From among the so-called "100%-of-need" schools my d. was accepted to (all claiming to use the same methodology), the difference in financial aid awards over four years from low to high was $47k, or more than the cost for an entire year! Loan amounts varied from $0k to $17.9k over four years. Now if $47k in total owed, and $17.9k in additional loans doesn't make much difference to your family, then Sally's advice holds water. </p>
<p>I wish I could agree - it would be great if our experience would bear it out - but it just wasn't the case.</p>
<p>It's definitely true that there can be big discrepancies among financial aid packages, even when colleges claim to use similar methodologies to determine need. Similarly, some families feel that their official EFC isn't remotely close to what is realistically affordable.</p>
<p>So, when I work with financial aid candidates who want to apply Early Decision, I tell them to first compute their approximate EFC using one of the online calculators. Then they must decide if it's a number they can live with. If it is, then an Early Decision application might make sense. Certainly ED will boost admission odds at a top-choice college. So if the student is admitted and the aid package is reasonably consistent with what the online EFC calculator suggested it would be, then ED was probably a wise move for this student.</p>
<p>However, if the aid award isn't at all in line with the expected EFC, the student can withdraw from the Early Decision commitment without penalty.</p>
<p>As I said before, financial aid applicants applying ED will not have the chance to compare a range of aid offers and may end up paying more than they might at another college--even a similar one. But, if the family determines in advance that a certain bottom line is affordable, and the aid package is in the ballpark, then ED may be a smart bet. In other words, the student will end up at a school he or she really wants to attend and at a price the family can manage--even if it's not the best possible deal that might be out there.</p>
<p>However, when it comes to international students, it's a lot harder to determine need. The EFC calculators don't apply. So international students like ngocanh9a have to determine what the family can afford to pay without a clear sense in advance of whether the aid package will come close to meeting these requirements. Even so, ED can still be a good choice, as long as the applicant knows that it's okay to back out of the "binding" commitment if the aid award is really out of whack with the family budget. However, this is a decision that must be made immediately, once the ED verdict is in, not months later after new applications have been filed and other aid packages compared.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I emailed the admission office and they told me to check Smith's website, which says there is no place in Vietnam where i can have an interview with Smith alumna. I do not have that chance.
So disappointed! :(</p>
<p>Too bad. Perhaps that will change in the months ahead. I'll keep an eye out. </p>
<p>In the meantime, in addition to "talking" to Smith students and alums on CC, you can also use this form from the Smith Web site to connect to current students to ask questions. (My advice: Do ask the genuine questions you have, but don't view a barrage of questions as a way to make yourself more attractive to admission folks):</p>
<p>Using the Ask a Student Page is a good idea. As a note, though, your question goes directly to a student based on the department OR activity you select. While someone in the Office of Admission does see it, he doesn't answer the questions.</p>
<p>Please don't ask a barrage of questions (I think someone once received about 100 all at once!). You can use it to ask an initial question or two and then possibly follow up with the student once you get a reply.</p>
<p>Also don't ask admissions questions -- the students who receive the emails have no say in who is or isn't accepted, and they also can't tell you whether or not you might get in.</p>
<p>I have one question, i will retake my SAT 1 test this Nov, which is on the 1st. But the app deadline for ED is Nov 15th. Can the school wait around 5 days for my SAT Nov result and should i include a letter asking the school to do so?
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>You can indicate right on your Smith application that you are retaking the SATs in November. Then, as soon as you see your scores online, make sure that your counselor sees them, too. If they are better than your initial scores, have the counselor fax them to Smith immediately. You will still need to follow up with an official version of the scores from the College Board, but at least, this way, your new scores will be part of the decision-making process. </p>
<p>Depending on how promptly Smith sees your scores, your file may be "read" and a preliminary rating issued before the new test results arrive. However, if the test results show up shortly thereafter, the admission officials who read your file will take another look and will consider the new scores when they do.</p>
<p>Thank you, but i do not have a counselor (Vietnamese students usually ask for there teachers, often head teachers, to write their counselors' recommendations). Can i fax those scores myself?
One more question: I asked for 5 recs (2 from teachers, 2 from bosses and 1 from peer), is that too much???Does sending too many recs affect my chance? Or it might be good if the recs are great??
Thanks,</p>
<p>Well, generally you shouldn't send that many recommendations. It's not that it will adversely affect your chances, but I was told by my guidance counselor/admissions officers that they'll just ignore the extra ones.</p>
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<p>Can i fax those scores myself?<<</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>You can, but they'll have much more impact if they come from an official at your school, even if not a guidance counselor.</p>
<p>Re the recs: SmithieandProud is right. Don't go overboard. Send one extra (from a boss), not three extras. Unsolicited references need not be confidential. So if your two bosses give you copies of their letters to send to Smith yourself, you can choose the best one. By "best," I suggest that you pick the letter that doesn't just string together complimentary adjectives ("hardworking," "responsible," etc.) All of that is good, of course, but-better yet--are anecdotes that provide examples.</p>