Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But once you’re accepted, you’re supposed to withdraw the other applications. And you may not have the full financial aid picture at that point. I’ve seen various experts raise this as a concern. Once you figure out that the aid is not available (which can include loans, by the way) and you get out from rather ED, it may be too late to reapply to the others (and, in any case, they now know they’re not your first choice). It’s not as simple as you’re making it sound.

DP here. Yes, it is exactly as simple as the PP says. You do not have to withdraw other applications until you receive the financial aid offer, which usually comes with or near the acceptance. Don't withdraw until you have it and confirm it is at least as good as the NPC.

DP is correct and the bolder poster above is incorrect. You DO NOT have to withdraw any other pending applications until you receive and fully understand your ED school's financial aid award and you have decided whether it at least meets what the NPC predicted.

Our kids go/went to need-blind, no gap, no loan colleges. We were full pay for the first two years of college for DC1. We don't earn enough to pay two full COAs, so we applied for financial aid when DC2 came up. DC2 was admitted EA to his reach school and the NPC was spot on. DC1 received a similar aid package, though we assumed they had no incentive to be as generous for a student already on campus. As a result, our expense for the last two years when both DCs were in college was actually a little less than for just DC1. With DC1 done, we are will be paying full COA for DC2 in September.

Anonymous wrote:But once you’re accepted, you’re supposed to withdraw the other applications. And you may not have the full financial aid picture at that point. I’ve seen various experts raise this as a concern. Once you figure out that the aid is not available (which can include loans, by the way) and you get out from rather ED, it may be too late to reapply to the others (and, in any case, they now know they’re not your first choice). It’s not as simple as you’re making it sound.

(NP) I just want to point out that families should be using the Net Price Calculator for every school on the list before the student submits the ED app. And then compare all the estimates. Whether the NPC is accurate is a separate issue, though most of them should be close unless there are more complicated finances, such as owning a business or property. The estimate will detail grants and loans.