So i was initially planning on applying ED to Lehigh. I really love the school and it’s great for my major. However, just yesterday I found out that I got into a Tulane with a 20k a year scholarship! If it was any other school giving me that I would still want to commit to Lehigh. However i also really love Tulane! If not my first choice, it’s a strong second, and it’s hard to pass up that money. It would cost about 15,000 a year less to attend Tulane than Lehigh with my scholarship. Luckily I haven’t sent in my ED app which is due in 6 days and so I have 6 days to make the biggest decision of my life. What should I do? Thanks
Apply to Lehigh RD and see what happens. Lehigh also offers merit scholarships - maybe you will get one there as well.
Hypothetically, Lehigh students earn more post-graduation than Tulane students do. I’m not telling you which decision to make, but you should factor in that a higher salary is likely, and you could possibly pay back part of the difference in costs of attendance.
Unless cost is a non-issue for your family, I would consider applying RD to Lehigh so you can see how things falls out. What do your parents think about the merit award?
It sounds like you are pretty excited to attend Tulane! Embrace it!!! Apply RD to Lehigh resting easily knowing that you are in at a school you love and with a great scholarship. Then see what happens in April and make a final decision. Congratulations!
Unless you can control for major and state where the job is located this means approximately zero.
That’s exactly why I put “hypothetically” I know that salary statistics are taken only from people who reply to surveys. I just felt like it was worth mentioning.
I agree with an earlier response – it sounds like you’re pretty pumped about the offer from Tulane! Given that, I would recommend applying to Lehigh regular decision and then comparing the two once Lehigh responds. That will also give you a chance to visit both if at all possible (preferably for an overnight visit at each) to really help you make a decision. (Some schools will help cover some of those visiting costs; not sure about these two.)
Early Decision really is only for a school that is clearly and absolutely a number one choice where attending does not need to include any thought about costs, scholarships, etc. With your second choice being clearly something you’re very interested in (especially with a nice merit package - congrats), you should definitely NOT do ED. If you do ED and are accepted, would you always wonder, “What if I went to Tulane??” or “Maybe I should have gone to Tulane…”?
Too bad Lehigh doesn’t have that old friend, Early Action…!