<p>Thanks, Marite!</p>
<p>Teachva, since you mentioned the ED you received came from among “the top 8 Liberal Arts Colleges,” take a quick glance at this link from USNWR. Click through them quickly and you’ll see around 1/3 of their top 10 colleges have deadlines of Jan 15 for Regular Decision.
For Regular Decision, 10 top LAC’s:
[U.S</a>. News & World Report: Best Liberal Arts Colleges 2010](<a href=“http://www.nydailynews.com/money/toplists/us_news_and_world_report_best_liberal_arts_colleges_2010/us_news_and_world_report_best_liberal_arts_colleges_2010.html]U.S”>http://www.nydailynews.com/money/toplists/us_news_and_world_report_best_liberal_arts_colleges_2010/us_news_and_world_report_best_liberal_arts_colleges_2010.html)</p>
<p>You might also take good advantage of the ED-II option at some very fine schools; Oberlin and Brandeis come to mind but others have an ED-II round. Those deadlines hit around mid-Jan or Feb 1, but have the same “Early Decision” lock. It’s a binding decision, however, so be sure it’s a first choice. </p>
<p>Knowing this might help you have a better conversation tomorrow with your ED school. Perhaps it will help reduce the stress, knowing there are options. Also, have the best possible talk with the Financial Aid office to determine whether loans or work/study options are still possible. If you were expecting a scholarship and were disappointed, maybe there are other ways to finance this ED school. See if Parent Plus Loans are appropriate for you. I’m sorry you are going through this tonight.</p>