<p>I have completed my college search, and my first choice is clear: Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. However, I am not sure if I want to apply early decision. Here are the facts:</p>
<ol>
<li>Mount Holyoke admits about 53% of its total applicants. </li>
<li>Since MHC is often a safety school, the admissions office prefers ED applicants.</li>
<li>My test scores and GPA are on the low end of average for this school, but I have hooks (southern, low-income, published poet, autistic savant). 4. I will need financial aid. Lots.</li>
<li>MHC guarantees to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. </li>
<li>I am not sure if that means a lot of loans (I don't want to be in debt forever)</li>
<li>Most students are happy with their financial aid packages. 8. If I am accepted regular decision and given a FAP that I can afford, I will go to this college, bar none. It is the best fit that I have found.</li>
</ol>
<p>So, should up my chances of admission and take a financial gamble, or should I play it safe? There's a lot on the line here, of course. I greatly appreciate your input.</p>
<p>You should probably apply ED. First, if you’re on the low end of average for MHC, you’re probably not going to get into a school with more generous aid. You can look at their FA info online to see how they construct aid packages. If you can afford your EFC and are OK with loan limits, you’re good to go.</p>
<p>The second reason is that again, you’re at the low end of average. This is not HYP which can afford all the low income students they want. You’ll get a big leg up applying ED.</p>
<p>You should probably apply ED. First, if you’re on the low end of average for MHC, you’re probably not going to get into a school with more generous aid. You can look at their FA info online to see how they construct aid packages. If you can afford your EFC and are OK with loan limits, you’re good to go.</p>
<p>The second reason is that again, you’re at the low end of average. This is not HYP which can afford all the low income students they want. You’ll get a big leg up applying ED.</p>
<p>I’d say you should definitely apply ED, and also apply to an in-state safety which has an early round. Having an early acceptance is a great asset, but even an early rejection can help by making your search much more focused. If you don’t have any early decisions, you may feel overwhelmed by not knowing where to aim; this leads to a Christmas break of writing excess applications or, sometimes, a student getting tunnel vision and applying to a the wrong schools.</p>
<p>One of the huge myths that is spread on these boards is that colleges are seeking the low income. You can pretty much count on both hands the few colleges that are and even they have their limits.</p>
<p>At most colleges being low income is a tremendous disadvantage. Most colleges, especially now, need all the full pays they can get.</p>