<p>It wasn't intended this way, but ED does give you an admissions advantage to some degree. The standards are normally lower for students applying ED and colleges may fill up 20-50% of their freshman classes with ED applicants. This leaves less room for RD applicants.</p>
<p>However, the normal advice is that you shouldn't apply ED if you need to apply for financial aid. You ED college may give you $10K in grants and $20 in loans. One of the RD colleges may give you $20K in grants and $10 in loans. Therefore, it is $10K per year cheaper to go to the RD college. Both match you financial need, but you have to compare the grant/loan ratio. By applying ED, you are giving up the ability to compare aid packages.</p>
<p>(This is actually a hot topic nowadays about affirmative action. Only affluent applicants can apply ED and this hurts the non-affluent URM's.)</p>
<p>I'd almost overlooked the grant/loan ratio!! I wouldn't want to graduate drowned in debts...even if it's an ivy.
So I guess I'll have to rethink my Early plans. But is it still advisable to apply ED to schools(however selective) that are generous with aid?</p>
<p>I can't answer that very well. It does seem to me that financial aid can be very different beween schools, even schools that are known for having great financial aid. There have been posts on CC about people getting great FA packages at one school and bad at another, and then somebody else will post the exact opposite situation with the same two schools. The bottom line is that you are giving up your option to compare FA packages when you apply ED. </p>
<p>Depending on your own situation, this might mean having $30K per year at risk or $5K per year at risk. The colleges are only going to give you your demonstrated NEED anyway. NEED=COA - EFC where COA=Cost and Attendance and EFC=Estimated Family Contribution. You might want your parents to go to one of the EFC estimated available on the web (including CC and the College Board) to get some idea of how much this whole thing is going to cost.</p>
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<p>I can't answer that very well. It does seem to me that financial aid can be very different beween schools, even schools that are known for having great financial aid. There have been posts on CC about people getting great FA packages at one school and bad at another, and then somebody else will post the exact opposite situation with the same two schools. The bottom line is that you are giving up your option to compare FA packages when you apply ED. </p>
<p>Depending on your own situation, this might mean having $30K per year at risk or $5K per year at risk. The colleges are only going to give you your demonstrated NEED anyway. NEED=COA - EFC where COA=Cost and Attendance and EFC=Estimated Family Contribution. You might want your parents to go to one of the EFC estimated available on the web (including CC and the College Board) to get some idea of how much FA you would be eligible for.</p>
<p>So, applying ED may be attractive but I may be missing out on potential aid. Costs are of concern so it seems I'll need to do a lot more research before I make my decision. More work!! </p>
<p>Thanks dufus3709. help is much appreciated</p>
<p>well aaron I'm kinda in the same situation as you are....I've never thought about the grant/loan ratio either till now....but I guess this changes things completely....OMG....more research to do!</p>