<p>Is it better for me to just apply ED at a school I really like just in case it raises my chances of being accepted? I haven't done enough research one which school I'd choose, but just wanted to know if I should at least apply ED to a school I like. Do you think I should apply ED to a "reach" school or to a "possible school"? Reaches for me are like Hopkins and Northwestern, while possibles are Washu in St. Louis.</p>
<p>I wouldn't apply anywhere ED simply because you run the risk of going somewhere you might find you don't like as much as you thought you did farther down the road, or you might get stuck with crappy financial aid and go six figures into debt. If you do, aim for your dream school.</p>
<p>I don't know if those schools accept multiple ED, but I think you should. :D
you have a chance to get into, why not ?
or you may try EA instead.</p>
<p>Apply if you love the school: end of story. This is more for the people who have a "dream school" that they love above all. I wouldn't do it just to raise my chances. Like the person above me said, if you want to try to get into some school sooner, you might want to try EA because its not binding. Good Luck! :)</p>
<p>Apply ED only if you are absolutely sure of two things:
1. The ED school is your first choice
2. You can afford it</p>
<p>yeah so the only thing about ED is financial condition. dream school + good financial condition -> go ahead</p>
<p>There are two process paths to get to college
EA/RD - application, acceptance, negotiation, decision
ED - decision, application, acceptance</p>
<p>As Aeneas' points out, the ED school must be your first choice, because you are making an up-front commitment to attend, and you must be able to afford it because there is no guarantee you can negotiate better FinAid.</p>
<p>IF you have to ask, the answer is "probably not."</p>
<p>Hmm...I'm not sure that I agree with the "only if it's your first choice" advice. Unless you're looking for a very specific learning environment (like the Great Books program at St. John's), I don't think there is only one PERFECT school for you.</p>
<p>If you know that you love the school (you should probably visit) and really would be happy going there, then apply ED. If you would have massive regrets about not going somewhere else, then don't. I have two schools that I like more than others. I don't think they are tied for first choice, and they definitely won't be by November 1st. Neither one of them offers ED. If either of them did, I would apply in a heartbeat. ED is for people who know they want to go there, and don't need to apply anywhere else to be satisfied with their college options. If you wouldn't have regrets about going there, then you should consider applying ED. </p>
<p>Also consider the financial aspect, finaid is different for ED applicants than RD applicants in terms of how much they may award you. Make sure you can make the financial commitment as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"you might get stuck with crappy financial aid and go six figures into debt"</p>
<p>"2. You can afford it"</p>
<p>"the only thing about ED is financial condition"</p>
<p>"you must be able to afford it because there is no guarantee you can negotiate better FinAid"</p>
<p>"Make sure you can make the financial commitment as well."</p>
<p>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This myth keeps being perpetuated. If you are accepted ED with financial aid, the school is making you an *offer<a href="unless%20it%20comes%20from%20one%20of%20those%20very%20few%20schools%20that%20guarantees%20100%%20aid">/i</a> which you can decline without consequence. Many schools are trying hard to encourage students needing FA to apply ED and not be afraid in case the offer is too low. Schools know that the standard formulas don't work for all families. If you decline the offer, you simply enter the regular decision pools as if you never applied ED, albeit with disappointment that you could not attend your dream school.</p>
<p>FYI, WUSTL is not a match (or, considering your stats, a high match, meaning you're likely to be accepted but no guarantee). It's equivalent to Northwestern and JHU in admissions. </p>
<p>As for ED, I agree with everyone else. You don't seem at all sure which school you'd like to attend, and ED is a binding decision. It will also put you in a more competitive applicant pool, meaning that even though acceptance rates are traditionally higher, it's harder to stand out. Only do ED if your stats are good enough that you don't need first semester grades to pull up your chances; you're financially secure; and the school is your 100% favorite.</p>
<p>@vossron
I don't think that's necessarily true. You are legally bound to ED and although you are not totally bound to accept their offer it would probably be really hard to wriggle out of it as they may have a totally different idea of 'meeting need' and offer a pack of loans with it (but still meeting need, right?). Also, I heard that some will only release you to go to say your state school (just a noticeably cheaper school all around, not even if you might get a better finaid package at another school). </p>
<p>^ is this true in all cases? Probably not- but why take the risk?</p>
<p>There is no legal issue (where does that idea come from)? These are rumors (I heard that ...). If you want the real answer, do what I did: email the schools and ask. They'll tell you that you will be released without consequence if their offer of financial aid is not affordable. There is no way they can or will force anyone to attend, and they won't blackball you. They understand that FAFSA (and PROFILE where applicable) don't properly measure every family. Really, just ask them! They want all kinds of students to apply ED to their dream schools!</p>
<p>Looks like I need to do some more research and think before I commit to anything. Right now, though, it looks like JHU is my top choice. Still, I probably won't make anything certain until october.</p>
<p>Yeah... what glassesarechic said- I think WUSTL actually has a lower acceptance rate (although Hopkins' pool may be more self-selected though). Lots of people get into both, or one but not the other.</p>
<p>WUSTL's by no means a match for anyone (unless you're a Danforth...)</p>
<p>Don't apply ed unless you know for 100% certain that you want to go to a particular school. Don't do it to increase your chances.</p>
<p>One more thing: If you need FA and want to apply ED to your one dream school and you don't care about comparing FA offers, your chances are better of being able to afford the ED/FA offer if the school says it meets 100% of need. Schools that "gap" FA recipients will be much tougher to afford.</p>
<p>Luckily for me, my parents told me not to worry about college tuition. They just want me to get into the best school that I can. Thanks for all the feedback CC members. I'll most likely devote most of my research in the future to see if I really want to pursue ED at a top university.</p>