CrewDad
September 9, 2013, 10:42am
9
<p>It’s not a surprise that the NYT doesn’t have the facts correct
<p>The STRIDE was designed to increase the yield of high-achieving RD applicants. If I’m not mistaken, Mount Holyoke’s merit awards are used for the same purpose.</p>
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The STRIDE program is an admission incentive program," said Dean of Enrollment Audrey Smith. The program is offered to a small percentage of incoming first-years, and pairs students with faculty members working on a variety of research projects. STRIDE is designed to increase the yield of high-achieving students, or the percentage of these students accepted to Smith that choose to enroll , Smith said.
It’s only possible to double acceptance rates (i.e., yield) for RD admits.</p>
<p>Wake Forest discourages students from applying ED if they require a merit award to enroll.</p>
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For those planning to apply for financial aid or whose enrollment is contingent on merit based aid , or for those who have misunderstood the binding nature of our early decision policy, we strongly encourage you to move your application from Early Decision to Regular Decision
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<p>[Frequently</a> Asked Questions: Early Decision](<a href=“Student Financial Aid | Wake Forest University ”>Student Financial Aid | Wake Forest University )</p>
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As for merit aid, some colleges are very clear about their merit-aid policies. You’ll even find specific information posted on their Web sites that explains merit-aid amounts and criteria. When the policies are that clear-cut, then merit aid will be the same for early and regular candidates.
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More commonly , however, the best merit aid awards may be saved for uncommitted students. Rarely is there ever a financial “reward” for students who apply early, though even here there is no consistency.
[Financial</a> Aid and Early Decision - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000198.htm]Financial ”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000198.htm )</p>
<p>Another twist:
If you do choose to apply to Vanderbilt under the Early Decision I or II deadline, however, be aware that merit scholarship recipients are not notified of their selection until late March of their senior year. If you are admitted under the Early Decision I or II decision plan, you will have to commit to attend Vanderbilt without knowing if you will be offered a merit scholarship. You will receive a tentative need-based financial aid award if you complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application for financial aid online and submit it simultaneously with your Early Decision application for admission, but you will not receive notification of merit scholarship awards prior to either of the Early Decision deadlines to commit to Vanderbilt. So you may want to ask Vanderbilt to move you into the Regular Decision pool if you know for sure you cannot attend without merit aid.
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