@bigred93: What you said is not true for CWRU. I spoke directly to the alumni ambassador for CWRU and she said
Q: Do ED applicants get the same consideration for merit aid as any other applicant?
A: Yes - decision plan has no bearing on merit money awarded.
I could see what you are all saying makes sense in the short run…if you really want to go to college X, why shoudl they use merit money to incentivize you…but if people find out that ED people at college X don’t get merit money, they will look elsewhere.
If you are eligible for merit money at CWRU, you will get it if your are ED, EA or RD.