<p>I know that my views have changed a bit since the first post, but here is the basic breakdown of my situation now:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Decent SAT, ECs, GPA. Without disclosing any specific stats, I’ll just define ‘decent’ as being in the top 1% of my graduating class. Essays and recommendations projected to be fairly well written. Nothing terrible that’s holding me back there, but nothing outstanding, either. I highly doubt Rice would want to lure me away from Ivies with generous merit scholarships, as I’m nothing special…</p></li>
<li><p>Rice is THE school I want to be at. It is my top choice. I love every aspect of it.</p></li>
<li><p>My financial situation isn’t too terribly complicated:</p>
<ul>
<li>married parents, but only one parent working. Gross income around 80,000 (closer to 90,000 if interest is factored in)</li>
<li>we try to save a bit, but we don’t have hoards of cash… Just a reasonable amount in case the working parent’s job is lost. However, since the working parent is 56 now, we are starting to save even more as retirement approaches in the next decade.</li>
<li>I have a college fund, but it is for if I attend a public institution. If I choose not to (like for Rice), the money will be refunded in full.</li>
<li>No major assets other than the house we live in, which has been paid off for. </li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>I don’t care so much as to the ‘best financial package’… I just want to attend Rice with minimal concern for any loans/debts, not have to watch every penny I spend, and not make my parents survive on cans of beans at home. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>(5. I’m a Texas resident, which can be a bad thing… So I don’t even know at this point if Rice would want me… I’m just assuming at this point that by some miracle, they do! AHHHHH!!!)</p>
<p>So… Given the updated process of thought that I’m having, would ED be a good choice? The predicted EFC can be met, I’m just wondering if there is anything major that could potentially spike the EFC… or perhaps something that could raise the FAFSA predicted… ;)</p>