I’m contemplating applying to Wash U in St. Louis as an early applicant, but I need some clarification before I make any regrettable decisions. If I were to be accepted as an early applicant, would the financial aid offer be substantially different from a regular decision financial aid offer? If so, why?
I doubt it. Visit the Wash U college forum here and you may find discussion of financial package from last year’s cycle. Also run the Net Price Calculator on the Wash U or college board website.
the only difference will be is that if you apply ED, you will not have the opportunity to compare offers.
For example, if a peer school gave you a better financial aid package, you would be able to present that package and request a financial review where Wash U may end up meeting or giving you a better package.
You do not have that opportunity in ED.
The other side of the coin is, that you may end up pullling out of ED because you feel that the package is not affordable. It is only after you receive every one else’s package that you may find out that the ED package you turned down was the best package that you received. But you don’t know that at the time when you are applying ED. You are essentially rolling the dice and hoping for a good out come.
As Brownparent stated, sit with your parents, run your numbers through the net price calculator to determine if the ED estimate is a financially feasible option for your family.