<p>I would think that the ED schools are skewing the data. I can tell you that a number of schools, that the financial aid does not wait until all the apps are in before making the awards. There is a tendency to be more generous while there is more money in the pot, that is just human nature. And once the awards are made, they do not backtrack and reallocate unless there is a really good reason. Once the money is gone, it is gone.<br>
As for merit awards, many lucrative ones have very early deadlines, well before the application deadlines.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse, This is what I was thinking, esp. based upon our own experience. Thanks.</p>