DS is doing ED simply because most of the top 30 schools admit most of their class ED and he wants to be at a top 30 school. It’s a game theory thing.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you really need to back down. Your senior should be making the decisions at this point, subject to your budget.
Seriously, go smoke a joint or something.

Come on…for full pay this process is like buying a house. You don’t put it in the hands of a 17 year old & just disappear.

Anonymous wrote:Op, what is the ED and RD acceptance rate for the school? If TD is below 20 percent, it is worth considering ED if this is your child’s first choice and if the ED rate is a good bit higher.

RD not TD

Op, what is the ED and RD acceptance rate for the school? If TD is below 20 percent, it is worth considering ED if this is your child’s first choice and if the ED rate is a good bit higher.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is the first choice or we wouldn’t be doing it! 😂

But it’s not soooo competitive that DC might not get in RD. DC probably would with high gpa and sat scores at 75th percent. I thought there would be a good chance of some merit. But I’m not sure and I don’t know if I can take waiting until spring.

If DC did RD would probably get in and probably get some merit based on all comparisons. This is an SLAC. But who knows anymore? I hate the idea of leaving money on the table because it’s so freaking expensive, but I literally obsess over the cost vs. admission rate. We can afford full pay but we don’t feel good about it.

Many schools give equal consideration for merit to ED and RD students. Find out if the one she wants is one. Our DC got the same merit awards we thought were fairly likely RD even though she went ED at her SLAC. Schools don't want to discourage students from ED by limiting merit.

As someone who also contends with anxiety, I would simply say that your anxiety is a terrible reason for your kid to do ED.

Your kid should do ED only if she has a first choice AND you are comfortable paying for it in full. If you think your anxiety is bad now, imagine how it’s going to be if she gets in ED with no merit….

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you really need to get a grip. It’s not your life.

It’s my money! This is such a weird response. I’m not talking about choosing a school for my kid. I’m talking about the financial risk of ED vs. waiting it and seeing what happens.

Don’t do it unless you’re happy to pay full price. If you want financial options, do EA and weigh the offers.

Is this a school that like less than 10% get merit money or is it more like 50%? My son EA University of Miami and got huge merit. It wasn’t his first choice so never considered ED and he got into first but the merit definitely made it doable if things worked out differently. He knows two kids that ED, got in but zero merit. But they are very happy there and parents are rich. I would definitely not consider your stress in the equation because that will pass but really look at numbers of acceptance between ED and RD and the % who get merit. Don’t play the what if game. Just make the decision and move on. You cannot know what “could have happened if”. Good Luck. It will be over before you know it.

No clear number 1 nor willingness to full pay, so no ED. 12 applications with a nice mix of reaches, hard targets, matches and safeties.

Anonymous wrote:ED to a reach school that gives no merit but you’d be so excited your kid got in that you’d be happy to pay full freight if they get in, and kick the can down the road to ED 2.

Her kid’s first choice is the only reason to apply ED.

OP. What school? For example, BU or Tulane…not getting in RD most likely. Syracuse or GW a chance depending on grades/scores/major. That said, you are fully pay so accept you may get zero merit at top schools. I wouldn’t gamble my kid’s admission for 10k a year merit perhaps

ED to a reach school that gives no merit but you’d be so excited your kid got in that you’d be happy to pay full freight if they get in, and kick the can down the road to ED 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you really need to get a grip. It’s not your life.

Sure it is. It's her savings that she could be using on her life. Parents should absolutely be a part of financial considerations and hopefully offering insights and wisdom on other college considerations.

Go to bed. You sound like a cranky biddy or a teen who needs to get up early for school.

OPs “anxiety” is way out of control

It's a big life decision that affects OP. Of course she's anxious!

To suggest "out of control" is pretty judgy, but I'll be your friend if you're so blasé about your money, that you won't stress over spending extra cash. Let's go to lunch!

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It is the first choice or we wouldn’t be doing it! 😂

But it’s not soooo competitive that DC might not get in RD. DC probably would with high gpa and sat scores at 75th percent. I thought there would be a good chance of some merit. But I’m not sure and I don’t know if I can take waiting until spring.

If DC did RD would probably get in and probably get some merit based on all comparisons. This is an SLAC. But who knows anymore? I hate the idea of leaving money on the table because it’s so freaking expensive, but I literally obsess over the cost vs. admission rate. We can afford full pay but we don’t feel good about it.

My two pretty worthless cents. We had the same situation last year - DC applied ED and got in. Other equally qualified kids from his school applied RD and did not get in.

But, once all the dust settled from RD acceptances, and wait lists!, and I heard the great acceptances and offers other students who waited to RD round were receiving, I had a lot of pains over it. DC is happy at his first choice school but I think would have been happy many other places, too, so I regret pushing ED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you really need to get a grip. It’s not your life.

Sure it is. It's her savings that she could be using on her life. Parents should absolutely be a part of financial considerations and hopefully offering insights and wisdom on other college considerations.

Go to bed. You sound like a cranky biddy or a teen who needs to get up early for school.

OPs “anxiety” is way out of control

OP here. It IS! That’s what I said in the title. I’m not asking for judgement. I’m asking if anyone else is feeling the same thing? If you’re not. That’s great. No need to respond.