Anonymous wrote:My DC was SURE in October that they wanted to apply ED. This was a school they had visited several times by that point and were confident was their top choice. I asked many times before signing the agreement.

Then they changed their mind, but too late to withdraw the application. So they are now in the position of being disappointed that they got in to their (former) top choice school. It's a really unfortunate situation all around. I've posted about this before and I hope those who told me DC will come around in May are right!

In any case, that's why ED isn't always the best option for every kid. I know I will definitely not suggest ED for DC2.

Why did your DC change his or her mind?

Anonymous wrote:My DC was SURE in October that they wanted to apply ED. This was a school they had visited several times by that point and were confident was their top choice. I asked many times before signing the agreement.

Then they changed their mind, but too late to withdraw the application. So they are now in the position of being disappointed that they got in to their (former) top choice school. It's a really unfortunate situation all around. I've posted about this before and I hope those who told me DC will come around in May are right!

In any case, that's why ED isn't always the best option for every kid. I know I will definitely not suggest ED for DC2.

It is never to late to withdraw your apps ED status before the decision is rendered. Yes you can change your mind, but guess what - that can happen in May also. At some point, be it December or May, a choice must be made.

If you know a school is your first choice and the NPC results are affordable you have no reason to not apply ED.

Use ED if there is a clear top choice. Even better if the ED isn't a "top 20" or whatever school.

Definitely have some EA's and plenty of other RD schools in mind. It is all a lottery.

Anonymous wrote:My DC was SURE in October that they wanted to apply ED. This was a school they had visited several times by that point and were confident was their top choice. I asked many times before signing the agreement.

Then they changed their mind, but too late to withdraw the application. So they are now in the position of being disappointed that they got in to their (former) top choice school. It's a really unfortunate situation all around. I've posted about this before and I hope those who told me DC will come around in May are right!

In any case, that's why ED isn't always the best option for every kid. I know I will definitely not suggest ED for DC2.

But couldn't this happen after any acceptance? Or do you think an early decision is particularly prone to such changes?

Anonymous wrote:My DC was SURE in October that they wanted to apply ED. This was a school they had visited several times by that point and were confident was their top choice. I asked many times before signing the agreement.

Then they changed their mind, but too late to withdraw the application. So they are now in the position of being disappointed that they got in to their (former) top choice school. It's a really unfortunate situation all around. I've posted about this before and I hope those who told me DC will come around in May are right!

In any case, that's why ED isn't always the best option for every kid. I know I will definitely not suggest ED for DC2.

I’m sorry to hear this. ED is like enlisting in the military. You’re pretty much stuck with your decision.

My DC was SURE in October that they wanted to apply ED. This was a school they had visited several times by that point and were confident was their top choice. I asked many times before signing the agreement.

Then they changed their mind, but too late to withdraw the application. So they are now in the position of being disappointed that they got in to their (former) top choice school. It's a really unfortunate situation all around. I've posted about this before and I hope those who told me DC will come around in May are right!

In any case, that's why ED isn't always the best option for every kid. I know I will definitely not suggest ED for DC2.

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?

lol "one reason."

This is not a random afterthought for most people

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP and this is all very helpful. You can apply EA even if you apply to a school ED right? (DS isn’t going to apply to any of the SCEA/REA schools).

DS is in 10th grade but I think he may be in a position to narrow his list down enough to have an ED 1 and an ED 2. We are going to visit Pitt and plan is for him to see if he likes it well enough and plan on applying rolling early to have an acceptance in hand, then do the ED 1 application, maybe a few EA (?) and be ready with ED 2 if ED 1 is declined or deferred.

I think the trick will be as people have said not getting overly invested in the ED school (particularly depending on its acceptance rate) but I think DS will be good about that if we as a family keep that in mind.

This does mean I think we really need to get a lot of visits done jr year.

My interest in this strategy is not just to help him get in his preferred school but to make this whole crazy process as simple and low stress as possible.

Yes, get an early acceptance from a safety. It may help to lower the stress. Also, finish your RD supplements before ED decision date. ED advantage is far from huge. You will most likely get rejected if it is a reach school and not in the mood to write RD essays.

You're getting some good feedback above, OP, about why ED is not an automatic slam dunk of an option. There is more to it than just increasing the chances of admission. You already understand, as you noted, that financial aid is part of the equation, but remember too that so is "fit." That's basically what a lot of parents above are saying in a nutshell.

I also agree that ED can create a problem of "I HAVE to get in, this is my dream school." The pressure that can create is immense and could be a problem for some kids who don't get in ED, or who do, and then start to stress over whether they've done the right thing.

Consider if schools of interest offer ED2 deadlines. My DD did not even visit her college until October of her senior year of HS. She adored it (it had not been on our radar at ALL until we visited while on a larger college visit tour) but was leery of doing ED for December because she worried she couldn't do a good application in time, she was still looking at other schools, she had only just discovered this college, etc. The college had an ED2 deadline which was a little later--can't recall exactly. The college assured her that a ED2 application was looked on the same way as ED1. She did ED2 and got in. If your student needs a little more time to be sure, look at ED2 (and EA etc.).

Anonymous wrote:When you get to the day where you, your kid, and the counselor have to sign the ED contract, you will probably then understand why many kids don't.

If your kid has a nearly perfect record, then yes, you should pick your favorite and go for it. If your kid has a clear favorite in a less competitive school and is well qualified for it, yes, give it a go.

But for most kids, there is a level of uncertainty that makes ED to the dream school foolish, but hope still alive for RD to that school. When faced with giving up the dream school to ED to a more sure thing, that is a tough call to make.

Why would ED to the dream school be foolish though if you can still apply to other schools EA and do an ED 2? Is it just the idea that the kid is getting their hopes up on a longshot? If the kid recognizes that, what’s the downside?

Some kids need the full first semester grades to make their best case, so ED is not an option.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP and this is all very helpful. You can apply EA even if you apply to a school ED right? (DS isn’t going to apply to any of the SCEA/REA schools).

DS is in 10th grade but I think he may be in a position to narrow his list down enough to have an ED 1 and an ED 2. We are going to visit Pitt and plan is for him to see if he likes it well enough and plan on applying rolling early to have an acceptance in hand, then do the ED 1 application, maybe a few EA (?) and be ready with ED 2 if ED 1 is declined or deferred.

I think the trick will be as people have said not getting overly invested in the ED school (particularly depending on its acceptance rate) but I think DS will be good about that if we as a family keep that in mind.

This does mean I think we really need to get a lot of visits done jr year.

My interest in this strategy is not just to help him get in his preferred school but to make this whole crazy process as simple and low stress as possible.

You should look at an individual college's ED and EA rules. I remember being surprised by restricted EA, so I was glad I checked each website for each college.

When you get to the day where you, your kid, and the counselor have to sign the ED contract, you will probably then understand why many kids don't.

If your kid has a nearly perfect record, then yes, you should pick your favorite and go for it. If your kid has a clear favorite in a less competitive school and is well qualified for it, yes, give it a go.

But for most kids, there is a level of uncertainty that makes ED to the dream school foolish, but hope still alive for RD to that school. When faced with giving up the dream school to ED to a more sure thing, that is a tough call to make.

^ Yes, apply to ED, but also other EA in case denied.

I’m the OP and this is all very helpful. You can apply EA even if you apply to a school ED right? (DS isn’t going to apply to any of the SCEA/REA schools).

DS is in 10th grade but I think he may be in a position to narrow his list down enough to have an ED 1 and an ED 2. We are going to visit Pitt and plan is for him to see if he likes it well enough and plan on applying rolling early to have an acceptance in hand, then do the ED 1 application, maybe a few EA (?) and be ready with ED 2 if ED 1 is declined or deferred.

I think the trick will be as people have said not getting overly invested in the ED school (particularly depending on its acceptance rate) but I think DS will be good about that if we as a family keep that in mind.

This does mean I think we really need to get a lot of visits done jr year.

My interest in this strategy is not just to help him get in his preferred school but to make this whole crazy process as simple and low stress as possible.