<p>Seems that there are a lot of threads where students ask "which college should I apply ED to?" in the College Search and Selection forum. Isn't ED supposed to be used when the college is the applicant's clear first choice, and s/he does not need to compare financial aid offers? So if the student has no clear first choice, is ED appropriate at all?</p>
<p>We’re talking about sixteen and seventeen-year-olds here. Isn’t that explanation enough?</p>
<p>I think that the question of how to fund college is one of the least understood, both for applicants and their parents. </p>
<p>Kids hear that they have a better chance of admission ED, so are hot to trot and don’t really understand the admissions and financial implications.</p>
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From parents postings on CC it also seems a lot of guidance departments “sell” figuring out a ED school so a student can have things settled early … even if the student does not have a clear preference.</p>
<p>My opinion is that it is becoming more common for students and parents to just figure they will ditch the ED offer if they don’t like the financial aid offer from the school, so they are more willing to go that route than in the past.</p>
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<p>For those for whom financial aid is not an issue, it can be.</p>
<p>Let’s say that a student has researched and visited quite a few colleges and has decided that he would be equally happy to attend Penn, Northwestern, or Cornell. He has no clear first choice among them. Let’s also say that he is a realistic applicant for these universities but not so outstanding (or hooked) that admission is practically assured.</p>
<p>All three of the universities I’ve mentioned explicitly say that their admission rates are higher for ED applicants than RD applicants. So if the student applies to one of the schools ED, he enhances his chances of being admitted. </p>
<p>Why wouldn’t such a student apply ED to one of the three schools (with backup RD applications to the other two, just in case the ED application is unsuccessful) rather than applying to all three RD? Applying ED increases his odds of getting into one of the three schools he likes. </p>
<p>Of course, if the student does get admitted ED, then he is obligated to go to the school that admitted him. But so what? It was one of the three that he liked in the first place.</p>
<p>My kids wanted a lot more certainty that a college really was their favorite than they had in October. Frankly I think my older son was happier where he ended up than either of the college he applied to EA (one of which he almost certainly would have attended). But I do think kids are applying out of fear - they think the boost is worth it. High school GCs around here are encouraging it - some schools at least 70% of the kids apply somewhere early (though that includes EA which I think is perfectly acceptable.)</p>
<p>Applicants are begining to view ED as their best chance for getting into a reach. As Marian noted, a number of schools have higher admission rates for ED than RD. In the case of Northwestern, the rate is significantly higher. I think they accepted close to 40% of this year’s freshman class ED.</p>
<p>For all the reasons stated above.</p>
<p>But another point, the fact that people are asking this question (“which college should I apply ED”) in late October is pretty interesting.</p>
<p>remember too, ucb, that not all see it as you do. Some apply ed without giving a careful look at finances. then, if they don’t like the numbers they look for a way to weasel out of it. Some students/parents may lack the maturity, or the moral sense to be sure they can/will honor a committment before they make the committment.</p>
<p>To some, it is as clear cut as- If I’m accepted I’ll go.
Others see it as - If I’m accepted, then I’ll give careful look at finances, and if I’m not happy, then I’ll try to use the “can’t make finances work” loophole.
And of course there are some that apply ed without really even knowing what it means.</p>
<p>My previous post should say that 40% of their acceptances came during ED, not that 40% of the class came from ED.</p>