Merit Aid - Vanderbilt

[Anonymous]

DD has already applied to her ED1 school and should find out in early December if she got in or not. Vanderbilt was her second choice and the merit aid application is due on 12/1. So my questions are: 1) Could she apply ED2 to Vanderbilt even if she didn't get a decision yet from her ED1 or would it be best to apply RD and then switch it to ED2 once we know the result? 2) Is applying for merit aid even worth it? Seems like a very low percentile are awarded it, unlike the need based financial aid. Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

You can't apply to two EDs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't apply to two EDs.

Have her apply RD to Vandy - that takes care of that question. Can’t speak to the merit aid question, but hopefully someone else can.

[Anonymous]

Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

OP here. Agree, but the merit deadline is 12/1 and you have to submit the application by then to be eligible. Her ED1 decision unfortunately won’t be out by then. So the question is, is it worth it to apply for the merit aid or not - that way we could wait until Jan and apply without changing the status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

OP here. Agree, but the merit deadline is 12/1 and you have to submit the application by then to be eligible. Her ED1 decision unfortunately won’t be out by then. So the question is, is it worth it to apply for the merit aid or not - that way we could wait until Jan and apply without changing the status.

Probably not worn it unless her app is absolutely amazing, in which case she likely will get into her ed1 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

OP here. Agree, but the merit deadline is 12/1 and you have to submit the application by then to be eligible. Her ED1 decision unfortunately won’t be out by then. So the question is, is it worth it to apply for the merit aid or not - that way we could wait until Jan and apply without changing the status.

My DD is in the same boat. I saw on the Vandy website that you can apply RD, then apply for merit, then change to ED2 once your DD gears back from her ED1 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

OP here. Agree, but the merit deadline is 12/1 and you have to submit the application by then to be eligible. Her ED1 decision unfortunately won’t be out by then. So the question is, is it worth it to apply for the merit aid or not - that way we could wait until Jan and apply without changing the status.

My DD is in the same boat. I saw on the Vandy website that you can apply RD, then apply for merit, then change to ED2 once your DD gears back from her ED1 school.

This is what I would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why nit wait to apply until after your ED 1 decision is out? Might be better for optics than changing status.

OP here. Agree, but the merit deadline is 12/1 and you have to submit the application by then to be eligible. Her ED1 decision unfortunately won’t be out by then. So the question is, is it worth it to apply for the merit aid or not - that way we could wait until Jan and apply without changing the status.

My DD is in the same boat. I saw on the Vandy website that you can apply RD, then apply for merit, then change to ED2 once your DD gears back from her ED1 school.

I also would do this

[Anonymous]

I thought merit at Vandy was less about giving kids money who meet stats and more about attracting top students away from other schools? If that is the case, why would they give an ED applicant merit?

[Anonymous]

Vanderbilt offered 15K to my NMS DS who wanted to do CS if he applied. Hah! He spat on them and went to UMD.

Thooo! 呸!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vanderbilt offered 15K to my NMS DS who wanted to do CS if he applied. Hah! He spat on them and went to UMD.

Thooo! 呸!!

I am unsure how this is helpful.

I have the same question as OP. Does anyone know anyone who actually got merit from Vanderbilt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vanderbilt offered 15K to my NMS DS who wanted to do CS if he applied. Hah! He spat on them and went to UMD.

Thooo! 呸!!

mature response

Op asked about merit aid - no one is "entitled" to merit aid. Presumably if your family had greater financial need, your kid would have been awarded some need based aid, too.

OP, I would have my child apply regular decision and put in the merit app - you never know and why pass up "free" money. They can convert to ED2 if their first ED does not work out.