<p>ED gives you some advantage, and I might want to do it with Duke since it's really competitive, but it's so expensive that if I get bound into it, my parents might struggle. How much scholarship can you realistically get with a private school like Duke? </p>
<p>With two other universities(University of South Carolina Honors and Emory University), I was thinking about doing ED with either one of them, but my guidance counselor nominated me(well I asked her for it) for a scholarship program for the Emory Business School, so I don't know if I can do ED with USC when I'm applying to Emory with this scholarship(then my counselor wouldn't really be content if I do that, I'm not sure). What should I do?</p>
<p>1)South Carolina doesn't have early decision so don't worry about that
2)Yes you can still apply early decision to Duke if you are applying to Emory with a scholarship, it's your choice, not your counselor's.
3)don't worry about being bound if you can't afford it. the common app ED agreement was changed this year (and Duke and Emory are both on common app). now it specifically says, "Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment."</p>
<p>If you're applying ED, you will not get aid. It is not smart to bind yourself if you can't pay. Yes, you can get out of it, but it's such a ridiculous risk to take.</p>
<p>There are good things about applying ED, but you should a) have the money to afford the school if they offer you a stingy FA package or no money at all, and b) it should be, without a doubt, your first choice.</p>
<p>If you like another school as much as or more than your ED school, you shouldn't be applying ED.</p>
<p>If finances is a problem, apply Early Action or Regular Decision..!</p>
<p>Does Early Action give some advantage? Would the university think that they can either accept you early now or wait for the students that applied after that may be better?</p>
<p>So I won't apply ED, but with USC Honors, I have to apply by Oct. 1 if I want the decision before December, otherwise I have to wait till March.</p>
<p>The advantage of applying EA is that you get a decision early. From what I have gathered, if they believe you're a good candidate for the school, they will accept you. If they are unsure, they will defer your application to Regular Admissions. And if you would not be competitive with the rest of the applications, they will deny you.</p>
<p>The schools I am looking at generally accept or defer. It will not give you a great step up although it does show some interest in the school. But the % accepted is generally on par with what they normally accept.</p>
<p>And you will get much more aid than those who apply ED since you're not binded.</p>