<p>ChasingStarlight – You’re being too casual about the financial implications here. I applaud you and your family for saying you’ll do whatever it takes to get you to the best school you can get into but you don’t want to take on debt that could be crushing if you don’t have to. There are so many good schools and one of them out there might give you a lot more money than your dream school.</p>
<p>Here is the reason finances keep some families from being able to apply early decision. Sometimes it is hard for a family to see how much need based assistance they will get from a school, or maybe it looks like they won’t get enough, then they can’t go early decision.</p>
<p>Financial aid packages vary greatly between schools. Some families have to be able to shop around, it has to be a consideration in the decision about where their kid will go. Now I understand that some people are in the position of Obstinate and they can tell how much aid they will get from a school and it will be enough so then they can go early decision.</p>