<p>I initially thought about EDing to columbia but recently I went on a campus tour to Swarthmore, and I'm kind of unsure where to ED.
Here are some aspects I like in each school
Columbia
Urban but park-like campus
Core curriculum
Double-major program
small school</p>
<p>Swarthmore
sub-urban location (easy access to Philly)
core curriculum
more attention and opportunity to undergra students
quaker tradition of equality
arboretum beautiful campus (i like to aimlessly walk around)
More focus on research rather than GPA
small classes
are there more aspects to consider?</p>
<p>When you apply ED there is a chance that you will get less gift aid from the college (scholarships and grants) than you would get by applying regular decision. I am not sure this would happen at Columbia or Swarthmore but there is some controversy over this practice. I don't know of anybody who has been sued by a college for breaking their ED pledge but I have heard that the Ivys have an agreement not to admit anybody who was admitted ED at another Ivy. Not sure if it is true. Students are really caught in a bind by ED because there is a belief that your chances of admission are better ED. </p>
<p>Some colleges have discontinued ED for ethical reasons. Students are asked to commit to a college before they know what the aid package will be. They are not able to compare aid packages. In effect, students might be charged more because they really want to go to the ED college. </p>
<p>Also, how do you know you won't change your mind?</p>
<p>There are things to think about. Check out the "Ask the Dean" section of College Confidential.</p>
<p>You might want to consider Swat's rep for being really hardcore academically. Columbia probably has a better party scene. Swat generally attracts really intellectual people.</p>
<p>Why not? I think it's a clever way to say Richmond.</p>
<p>Anyway, you're overestimating the benefits of ED. You do not have a MUCH better chance. If you're right on the borderline, a committment might push you over but it won't improve your chances that much that a normally rejected student would get accepted.</p>
<p>Actually, Columbia is EA right? If Columbia is single-choice EA and Swathmore is ED, then go for Columbia since it's not a committment.</p>
<p>If they're both ED, my advice to not do ED unless one college clearly stands above the rest stands, otherwise you may experience buyer's remorse in April.</p>
<p>Don't ED unless you are completely sure about the school that you want to go to. By applying early decision, you are saying that you will go to the school if accepted. You are bound to go there. Colleges take this very seriously. Basically, I would wait until the fall to see if your opinions change. For me, this time last year, I was all about the University of Pennsylvania. I was so sure that by the time the fall came, I would be applying ED. However, when fall came, the University of Pennsylvania was not even on my list anymore. This didn't just happen with me. A friend of mine thought that Columbia was the school for him in the summer of last year. So, when the fall came, he applied ED, and he got in in December. However, now, he doesn't even want to go to Columbia anymore, but he is bound to go. He wishes that he applied to Yale instead. I guess what I am trying to say is that your opinions change and your desires change. I am not trying to discourage you from applying ED, but I am saying that you should really think about it, and see where you are by the time September, and October come around.</p>
<p>Sdma is right. This time last year, I was all about Georgetown. I ended up not even applying there. Minds definetely change when you discover new info and new schools.</p>