ED Decisions Timing?

[vonlost]

<p>"You really are committing regardless of financial support.</p>

<p>Not true. From the Common App ED agreement:

Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.

<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/ED_Agreement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Imagine a student being forced to show up, and then being expelled when the bill couldn’t be paid. It doesn’t happen.</p>

<p>Nonetheless, ED should be used only at the one dream school above all others, where the only decision is: can I afford it? You do lose the ability to compare FA packages. ED can work well at schools that meet full need (many success stories have been posted here on CC). But if a school says it’s a bad idea, it probably is a bad idea to apply ED needing FA to that school. ;)</p>

<p>This may also be of interest: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/strategy.html?_r=1[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/strategy.html?_r=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;