<p>I don’t know when Tulane started SCEA. Could have been that long ago or longer. But I do like that Tulane doesn’t wait until the Dec 15 deadline like a lot of schools and tells accepted applicants as soon as they have made a decision.</p>
<p>I have been told if you apply regular EA that Tulane let’s you know earlier than many other schools. True? Does applying EA lessen one’s chances of merit aid?</p>
<p>@Mauswa - #1) True in many cases. The earlier you apply the better your chances of hearing early. There are many cases of people applying by October 1 and hearing back in 2 or 3 weeks. The closer to the November 15 deadline you apply, the less your chances of hearing back before Dec. 15.</p>
<h1>2) No, not at all. If anything they are probably slightly improved. I think I know your reasoning. Something like “If Tulane knows I am that interested then they have less incentive to offer me a merit scholarship”? It is actually the opposite, if anything. Tulane wants students that really want to be at Tulane, sure. But they also know that you have lots of other choices, most likely. They will compete for students they want. That is the dominant mindset. The same goes for SCEA. It won’t lessen your chances either, but only improves them if anything. For the most part, after they accept you they look at your stats again and pretty much give the very highest performing students the top award, and so on down the tiers. The last couple of years they seem to take into account other talents beside stats more than they used to, but for the most part it is still stat driven. After all, they are called merit scholarships, and the “academic” in merit is understood. Here is a quote from the Presidential Award, the highest of the scholarships that doesn’t require a separate application:
Everything I have seen over the last 6 years or so demonstrates that they try to be very equitable in making sure students of similar merit get the same award. Obviously there is some judgement involved (How many AP courses were involved in getting that GPA, for example) but as I said, it is based pretty strictly on your record, not on how early or late you apply. Applying early certainly shows strong interest, and at Tulane that is nothing but positive for all aspects of admission.</h1>
<p>Thanks very much.</p>