<p>Could somebody explain in detail, thanks.</p>
<p>It's a nonbinding early app (similar to EA) sent to students who have already demonstrated interest in the school. The Blue Ribbon Application has no application fee and offers a February decision notification. The deadline was Dec. 15, so it is too late to get one for this year.</p>
<p>can anybody get it? Or do they need to have strong academic standings?</p>
<p>Stats posted by someone on another thread suggest that you don't have to have very strong academics to be Blue Ribbon but some who get it are very highly qualified. We went to an info session at Brandeis last March and they were fairly close-mouthed about this BlueRibbon thing in response to a question from the audience.They said they weren't sure yet if they would have Blue Ribbon again for Fall 06 admission. My guess is admissions looks at the interested students they have by end of September and then sends out Blue Ribbon to targeted people who fulfill some criteria they would like to maximize--geography? special interests? financial status? (who knows--some of each?)--in order to influence the pool of RD applicants--those who show early signs of being ED and thus already committed don't get Blue Ribbon. All this is conjecture.</p>
<p>I did a Blue Ribbon application. I understand we get the decision in February. I am also hoping for merit aid. Would I hear back at the same time on that as well?</p>
<p>Does anyone know the answer to the question just above?</p>
<p>I believe that they said that you will receive a preliminary estimate shortly after the decision - but don't hold me to that!</p>