<p>I will not comment on the OP’s level of FA knowledge or lack thereof, except that I know people who make 180k a year who still “expect” financial aid. Do I think they’re crazy? Yes. But it’s not fair to insult someone for being upper-middle class and expecting some financial aid. Pointing out an unfortunate ignorance of policy is not an appropriate use of “slither” or “weasel,” IMO.</p>
<p>You say that “there is no doubt that this guy was gaming the system.” Given how MANY upper-middle class families I know who expect FA, whether RD or ED, I very much doubt that any gaming was intended. Thus I assert that the OP did apply in full good faith, and I say that with no more knowledge of the OP’s individual circumstances than you do.</p>
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If your belief were policy, THAT would make ED entirely elitist. Because this was the de facto general belief in the past is why it has historically been elitist, and I commend the schools that practice ED for their concerted effort to change this de facto (and now false) belief. There is no reason why an applicant needing FA should hesitate to apply ED to Swarthmore, given its historical generosity and no-loans policy. If the aid offered is insufficient, said applicant would have had to turn down Swarthmore in the RD round anyway.</p>
<p>The scenario I presented does NOT turn ED into “a variation of early regular decision.” Early Action does exactly that. The big difference is that ED requires a deposit from the applicant before s/he finds out admission decisions from most other schools (certainly from peer schools). Once the deposit is made, the applicant has indicated that the FA package is satisfactory and s/he will indeed be attending–THAT commitment can only be ethically broken under a true emergency (e.g. parent dies and student doesn’t want to go to school across the country).</p>
<p>Incidentally, perhaps I shall meet you (and the OP) at Swarthmore next school year?</p>