<p>Hello,</p>
<p>So my first-choice college is Columbia University, and I want to major in Chem Engineering with SEAS. My SAT score is a 2140 (CR: 620, M:770, W:750), and I got a 4 on the chem AP exam and a 5 on the AP Lang Exam (if that makes a diff, considering my CR score). Also on my Chem SAT II, I got a 760 and I have retaken my SATII Math 2, whose scores will come late Oct. I understand that these are just stats, which do not define my admissions. However, bc columbia is competitive in nature, I want to apply ED.</p>
<p>The only concern is the tuition. I know columbia is generous with their fin. aid; however, i come form a middle class family. I am afraid that I might not be able to meet the family contribution aspect of the tuition, and then I will be binded. That is my only concern.</p>
<p>Has anyone been able to get out of ED after being admitted? What would you suggest about this case.</p>
<p>Thank You in Advance!!</p>
<p>I personally hate early decision, because a student may have much different interests and newly developed opinions in May of their senior year than they had in September. However, many private colleges give much greater preference to ED applicants than regular admissions cycle.</p>
<p>You should look at the admit rate of ED vs. regular applicants for Columbia. They vary greatly from college to college, and are not hard to find on the web. If all else fails, look up the name of the college and “Common Data Set”.</p>
<p>I have read that the only way to get out of an early decision agreement is if you prove that you cannot afford it. However, Columbia gives out as much need-based aid as anyone, so that should not be a problem.</p>
<p>For some schools, if you change your mind, you can convert an ED application to a regular application if you contact the college early enough, before the review has been completed.</p>
<p>Oh,</p>
<p>For Columbia admit rate…ED: 19% and RD: 9%
I think there is a big diff there…</p>
<p>I am just nervous bc if I can go to Rutgers for free, then paying however much ($20-30,000) would seem like a lot. But then again, a Columbia graduate has more likeliness of getting a job right away, right? What do you say??</p>
<p>“…a Columbia graduate has more likeliness of getting a job right away, right?”
Wrong.<br>
The kid who gets the job has the right preparation and personal attributes, maybe the right contacts- and a lot of luck.<br>
It’s crazy, in today’s economy, to make such an assumption.</p>
<p>Not being able to afford the financial offer is the one reason you can cancel the ED acceptance. However that doesn’t give you much time to find another school. If you can get an application into a rolling admit school before the ED decision you’d be better off.</p>
<p>“I have read that the only way to get out of an early decision agreement is if you prove that you cannot afford it.”</p>
<p>Imagine what would happen if a school didn’t accept your “proof.” You’d somehow be forced to attend, and then be expelled when you couldn’t pay the bill. Guess why we’ve never heard of that happening. You’ve also already submitted all the pertinent financial data with your app.</p>
<p>I’m confused by what you mean…
Do ED students receive better/worst fin aid than RD??</p>
<p>I think most of us think there is no ED vs RD difference for a given school and applicant.</p>
<p>The financial aid derived from the Federal formulas and each college’s formula is supposed to be the same in ED vs. regular cycle. However, it makes it harder to negotiate a better deal with ED because you can’t play 2 colleges’ offers against each other. </p>
<p>The formulas used by each college varies, and many schools also supplement the need based aid with merit aid depending upon how much they really want the student, if they are in open competition. The mid level schools in particular throw lots of merit aid to students who are at the top of their applicant pool, if they can afford it. However, if they know you have to accept anyway, a college is less likely to make an offer to supplement the standard financial aid offer.</p>
<p>I have read that Ivy League colleges don’t offer merit aid, but there is often an unclear dividing line between need based and merit aid.</p>