Does applying early decision completely remove you from consideration for merit aid?

[Anonymous]

The lure of the possibility of having the decision over and done with is strong, but I worry that then the college has no reason to offer merit aid.

[Anonymous]

At many colleges you're ruling out aid from the college, but at a few you are not. Some even give more to ED applicants. Ask them. They should be willing to give a full, honest answer.

Also, not being able to afford a college b/c their financial aid package isn't strong enough is considered a legitimate reason for backing out on an ED acceptance. If they disagree, though, you may have problems with any apps to colleges with whom they have a lot of overlap in apps.

Applying ED will have zero effect on money from the state or Federal government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The lure of the possibility of having the decision over and done with is strong, but I worry that then the college has no reason to offer merit aid.

Early apps are in the best position to get merit scholarship money. Applying ED does not remove an applicant from consideration for merit scholarship awards.

[Anonymous]

Why would a college give you merit aid if you are applying ED? What incentive do they have to lure with aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would a college give you merit aid if you are applying ED? What incentive do they have to lure with aid?

+1

Exactly. I'm confused why posters are saying they would still give generous merit. Unless it's a school like UVM where they tell you up front what your merit will likely be, they don't need to give a discount to get you to attend.

[Anonymous]

NP. I'm wondering about a school that gives some - but not automatic - NM scholarships, but may involve ED to get admitted, like BU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The lure of the possibility of having the decision over and done with is strong, but I worry that then the college has no reason to offer merit aid.

They don't. Correct.

They might offer it, but probably won't, and then you have committed to the school at full price.

[Anonymous]

UChicago, Vanderbilt and a few others (at least in the past) did not offer merit aid for ED1 or ED2 applicants. Only financial aid for need based.

More generous during RA, but harder to get in. It’s just part of the ED/RA gamble and it should be obvious to most parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would a college give you merit aid if you are applying ED? What incentive do they have to lure with aid?

So you're talking about schools where merit aid is handed out to students they like, not based on merit in any verifiable way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would a college give you merit aid if you are applying ED? What incentive do they have to lure with aid?

So you're talking about schools where merit aid is handed out to students they like, not based on merit in any verifiable way?

That's what "merit" is. It's "market" price for a student who adds value to the school and is letting schools compete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The lure of the possibility of having the decision over and done with is strong, but I worry that then the college has no reason to offer merit aid.

They don't. Correct.

They might offer it, but probably won't, and then you have committed to the school at full price.

Agree 100%

[Anonymous]

that's not true. tulane does for sure

[Anonymous]

NP. I worry about this, too, as DS has started talking about applying to a reach school ED. I asked about merit aid and ED on a recent visit to U of Chicago and the admissions counselor claimed to have no idea/no information about how merit aid varied by decision pool, or averages across ED/RD. Also, she said she had never heard of anyone having to turn down an ED offer because of cost. I think my eyes about rolled out of my head when she said that.
I feel like ED is something of a scam by schools to get as many kids in full pay as possible, making it easier to meet their lofty goals of meeting 100% of financial need. Anyway, no good answer for you, OP, but the very same question keeps me up at night.

[Anonymous]

Some colleges will provide a merit ‘pre read’ to let you the amount of merit you’d receive if you apply ED. My DC did this but decided to apply RD instead of ED. They got the same quoted $ amount during RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I worry about this, too, as DS has started talking about applying to a reach school ED. I asked about merit aid and ED on a recent visit to U of Chicago and the admissions counselor claimed to have no idea/no information about how merit aid varied by decision pool, or averages across ED/RD. Also, she said she had never heard of anyone having to turn down an ED offer because of cost. I think my eyes about rolled out of my head when she said that.
I feel like ED is something of a scam by schools to get as many kids in full pay as possible, making it easier to meet their lofty goals of meeting 100% of financial need. Anyway, no good answer for you, OP, but the very same question keeps me up at night.

Im not sure Chicago gives out merit to anyone, no matter when you apply.