<p>I am applying to Columbia University via ED:</p>
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<li><p>When the ED contract says to withdraw all other applications after being notified of ED acceptance and the financial aid package, does this mean I have to erase records of me applying to those schools (if I started filling out an online application, will I have to take it down?)? Or does it mean I simply cannot "press the Submit Application button"?</p></li>
<li><p>I fear that Columbia would continue to find out if I will truly honor the ED-contract even after I back out of it for financial reasons. If I do back out, will Columbia keep track of where I am applying to and when I get into my alternative school, find out how much I paid for that school? Logically, y'all and I know that the alternative school I apply to and accept will obviously be more affordable. Still, if Columbia will look at where I apply to and how much I pay after acceptance, will they do anything if I pay at least a few-thousand less for my alternative school? This seems to be a rare, goofy scenario, but I acknowledge that ED-ing is a BIG act and I want to get all my concerns (sane or insane) out of the way.</p></li>
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<li><p>You haven’t submitted an application at all until you press that button, so you don’t have to “erase” anything.</p></li>
<li><p>After you turn down an ED offer for insufficient financial aid, the school has no way of finding out your financial aid package anywhere else–nor would they give a hoot. Once you say “no”, they’re never going to think about you again.</p></li>
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<p>There’s nothing obvious about FA when it comes to ED.</p>
<p>This is the whole point with ED–you may or may NOT get a better FA offer than Penn’s. When you get Penn’s ED FA package, you’ll have to decide whether you think it’s the best you’ll do and accept, or assume that you can do better and decline. How do you expect to make this decision? </p>
<p>Reread post #2, it’s the bottom line on whether or not you should apply ED.</p>
<p>What I meant by “obvious” was the decision after turning down an insufficient FA package. When I turn it down because the package is not good enough, I will accept another school’s offer if its cheaper.</p>
<p>"…I will accept another school’s offer if its (sic) cheaper."</p>
<p>Hopefully you realize that by applying ED you will not be able to compare FA offers. If Columbia admits you, you will have a relatively brief period to decide whether or not their FA package is acceptable. It is unlikely that you will have received any other offers before notifying Columbia.</p>
<p>If you decline an ED acceptance for financial reasons, you will be doing so “blind”.</p>
<p>OP, here’s a possible horrible scenario for you to think about: you’re accepted ED to Columbia. You look at your FA package, and it’s a few thousand dollars more than your family was planning on paying. So, you turn down Columbia and wait for your RD schools. You get lots of great acceptances, some to schools that are considered academic peers of Columbia. They give you enough FA to fit in your family’s budget. </p>
<p>Why is this scenario so horrible? Because you could’ve shown those FA offers to Columbia, and asked them to match them. And they might have…if you’d applied RD. </p>
<p>If you and your family are concerned about cost differences of a few thousand dollars a year, you shouldn’t be applying ED. You really need to be able to wait and see what school is going to offer you the best deal.</p>
<p>The other horrible scenario is that you get in Colombia ED, but the FA is somewhat short, so you turn down the admission. Later, all of your other acceptances come with FA that is similarly short…</p>
<p>“after consultation” - You have to talk to them.
“cite financial reason” - You better have used their Net Price Calculator, and the “estimated award” better be a lot different (or your circumstances have changed - like parent getting laid off, etc.)</p>
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<p>Don’t expect anything more than need. Also, they may meet “need” with “loans”. Are you prepared to take out the loans?</p>