Why would you not apply ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't applying ED vastly undermine potential merit awards? Why does the school offer merit when it knows the student must attend?

Not necessarily. Depends on the school. Some even offer guaranteed merit for ED students.

[Anonymous]

I think if you can afford it and there is a top choice that has an admissions bump for ED it is usually the right way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you can afford it and there is a top choice that has an admissions bump for ED it is usually the right way to go.

"A top choice"? I'd be more specific. What we asked our DC is, "Is this the one school to which you still would say an unequivocal, unqualified yes, even if you got admitted to every other school to which you applied?"

That's how my DC approached it. DC didn't want to ED unless that was the case: "If I got into every other school, would I still choose this one over all the others?" Fortunately that was how DC felt about the ED school, and DC got in. DC canceled the applications to all other colleges within 24 hours without our even reminding her and says she's never given a thought to the other schools (she's a college senior now). But she knew kids who got cold feet after an ED acceptance and stressed hard about whether one of the other schools, where they had to cancel their applications, might have been better for them after all. Some buyer's remorse is surely normal, though. I just think that focusing ED choice so much on "it gives an admissions bump" isn't necessarily good, unless the kid truly is sold on that school above all others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't applying ED vastly undermine potential merit awards? Why does the school offer merit when it knows the student must attend?

Not necessarily. Depends on the school. Some even offer guaranteed merit for ED students.

Interesting. Which schools do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you can afford it and there is a top choice that has an admissions bump for ED it is usually the right way to go.

"A top choice"? I'd be more specific. What we asked our DC is, "Is this the one school to which you still would say an unequivocal, unqualified yes, even if you got admitted to every other school to which you applied?"

That's how my DC approached it. DC didn't want to ED unless that was the case: "If I got into every other school, would I still choose this one over all the others?" Fortunately that was how DC felt about the ED school, and DC got in. DC canceled the applications to all other colleges within 24 hours without our even reminding her and says she's never given a thought to the other schools (she's a college senior now). But she knew kids who got cold feet after an ED acceptance and stressed hard about whether one of the other schools, where they had to cancel their applications, might have been better for them after all. Some buyer's remorse is surely normal, though. I just think that focusing ED choice so much on "it gives an admissions bump" isn't necessarily good, unless the kid truly is sold on that school above all others.

I am the PP. We actually had the same convo with our DS before he applied ED. It was just shorthand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't applying ED vastly undermine potential merit awards? Why does the school offer merit when it knows the student must attend?

Not necessarily. Depends on the school. Some even offer guaranteed merit for ED students.

Interesting. Which schools do that?

NP but Grinnell does. I think Oberlin does regardless of whether you apply early or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't applying ED vastly undermine potential merit awards? Why does the school offer merit when it knows the student must attend?

Not necessarily. Depends on the school. Some even offer guaranteed merit for ED students.

Interesting. Which schools do that?

NP but Grinnell does. I think Oberlin does regardless of whether you apply early or not.

My DS applied ED to Grinnell. We attended a virtual info session about ED beforehand. They were very clear that applicants in ED are treated the same (will not get less merit) than RD applicants. There is a 10k merit guarantee. My DS got additional merit that brought the total merit to around the average merit award, probably what he would’ve gotten RD.

[Anonymous]

How is it known that there is a bump for ED? Are the athletes pulled out of these numbers? How are the accounted for in determining the bump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't applying ED vastly undermine potential merit awards? Why does the school offer merit when it knows the student must attend?

Not necessarily. Depends on the school. Some even offer guaranteed merit for ED students.

Interesting. Which schools do that?

NP but Grinnell does. I think Oberlin does regardless of whether you apply early or not.

My DS applied ED to Grinnell. We attended a virtual info session about ED beforehand. They were very clear that applicants in ED are treated the same (will not get less merit) than RD applicants. There is a 10k merit guarantee. My DS got additional merit that brought the total merit to around the average merit award, probably what he would’ve gotten RD.

Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I know the financial aid package issue is one reason to not ED, but assuming you are prepared to be full pay my question is why not apply ED?

That's a big assumption. Most people put money front and center in making decisions about college.

ED is affirmative action for the rich.

Stop with the bs. The npc tells you if the school is affordable or not long before the ED decision needs to be made.

Affordable according to the school, which may or may not be what a family can actually afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not ED because DS’s top pick does not have that option.

+1
Our DD's first choice only offers EA. I wish they had ED - she would have done it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I know the financial aid package issue is one reason to not ED, but assuming you are prepared to be full pay my question is why not apply ED?

That's a big assumption. Most people put money front and center in making decisions about college.

ED is affirmative action for the rich.

Stop with the bs. The npc tells you if the school is affordable or not long before the ED decision needs to be made.

Affordable according to the school, which may or may not be what a family can actually afford.

Right - so then you don't apply if it's not going to be affordable.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I know the financial aid package issue is one reason to not ED, but assuming you are prepared to be full pay my question is why not apply ED?

That's a big assumption. Most people put money front and center in making decisions about college.

ED is affirmative action for the rich.

Stop with the bs. The npc tells you if the school is affordable or not long before the ED decision needs to be made.

Affordable according to the school, which may or may not be what a family can actually afford.

Right - so then you don't apply if it's not going to be affordable.
DP

Right.

Like I said, affirmative action for the rich.

[Anonymous]

$$$$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I know the financial aid package issue is one reason to not ED, but assuming you are prepared to be full pay my question is why not apply ED?

That's a big assumption. Most people put money front and center in making decisions about college.

ED is affirmative action for the rich.

Stop with the bs. The npc tells you if the school is affordable or not long before the ED decision needs to be made.

Affordable according to the school, which may or may not be what a family can actually afford.

Right - so then you don't apply if it's not going to be affordable.
DP

Right.

Like I said, affirmative action for the rich.

DP: But it's not like it's going to be any more affordable RD. And if you're so top-notch that you think you're going to get a merit award then it doesn't really matter whether you apply ED or RD, you'd be getting in because merit awards are not awarded differently between the groups (or if anything RD is favored at some schools to lure top candidates). SO I think you're not really understanding how the finances work.