FYI my D (current Elon student) applied ED and is a Comm Fellow. I don’t believe ED is a factor in choosing Fellows. While most (but not all) fellows come with some degree of scholarship, the position is not rewarded to applicants as a means for delivering financial assistance. The point of the fellows programs is to give students who are passionate about their field of study additional experiences and opportunities to excel. The respective departments do the interviewing, and they are looking to fill a cohort of interesting students who are dedicated to their field and have a background that shows passion towards it. The fellows positions are VERY competitive and no slam-dunk for any applicant. Every year there are folks here who are counting on being accepted as a Fellow as a means of bringing tuition in line with their budget, and then are disappointed when they don’t receive it and have to take Elon off their list. I have 2 children who interviewed for Fellows, one was successful and one was not. I can tell you from our experience that the department reception during Fellows week-end is very important to the decision process, as is their resume of related experiences. These things help them sort out who will really invest themselves into the respective program. Good luck to all who are waiting to hear!
Also - yes many ED applicants are given the Presidential Scholarship. Both my kids applied ED and received it.