<p>Is it true that you can chose not to go to a school that you ED if they don't offer financial aid?</p>
<p>Yes, that is one of the options</p>
<p>It is still not easy ot get out of ED. The college may offer you what the college feels you need, but your family may disagree. Since the college met your need by their standards, they may not let you back out of ED.</p>
<p>Consequently, if finances are a consideration, do NOT apply ED. </p>
<p>Check CC's archives because this subject has come up a lot.</p>
<p>If you're tight for $, use EA instead of ED so you can compare financial aid offers.</p>
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If you're tight for $, use EA instead of ED so you can compare financial aid offers.
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<p>The problem is that most schools offer one or the other and not both.</p>
<p>you can drop out of ED if you can't afford it, I would assume. It's logical, how can you go to a school that you can't financially afford? Even if it's ED...</p>
<p>College won't let you drop out of ED if they believe they've given you enough financial aid. Or they'll let you drop out only if you go to a far less competitive school, for instance turning down an Ivy for an in state public.</p>
<p>Invoyable, you're right - they can't make you go there. But they can make it very difficult for you to go anywhere else.</p>
<p>For instance, if a highly competitive school meets your need with a loan-heavy package that also expects you to work, and expects your family to contribute $10 k a year, yet a less competitive school gives you a full ride of merit aid plus paid internships abroad, the highly competitive school won't release you so you can accept the better offer.</p>
<p>The problem with ED is you don't get to compare offers and pick and choose.</p>
<p>Many colleges also will withdraw offers from students whom they learn have been accepted ED elsewhere, and your GC -- who faces major embarassment and problems getting other students into colleges that were turned down by ED accepted students -- aren't likely to be cooperative about sending transcripts (which will be needed to finalize admission), etc. to colleges that you'd prefer to go over the one that accepted you ED. When you apply ED, you do commit to going there unless there is a bona fide emergency or you don't get enough money -- by the college's standards, not by your family's.</p>
<p>Please, please search the CC archives for this topic. There are many, many stories about how difficult it is to get out of ED (from people who have tried) and the potential ramifications of breaking the ED contract. (And that's exactly what it is!) Read the words very carefully before you sign that ED form. And if finances are a make-or-break issue for you, do NOT -- I repeat do NOT -- apply ED.</p>
<p>Do not count on being able to simply go to another school if the ED offer does not give you "enough" financial aid (since it's the school that determines that) -- unless you are sure that you will be perfectly happy attending your in-state public university.</p>
<p>Dont play around with ED. Its not worth the consequences. Its a binding legal agreement. Why set yourself up for trouble? If you have money issues you probably should not apply ED. That's why Harvard, etc, cut out ED. They know it discriminates against those with less $$$. USE EA INSTEAD.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies you guys! I guess I won't do ED unless my rich grandma promises to give me 120 grand, which will never happen.</p>