<p>I’m one of those people who are looking to get as much financial aid as possible from private colleges (because they are so expensive!). I have a 3.5 weighted GPA, an 1860 SAT, and plenty of extracurricular involving being a top-tier cross/country and track and field athlete for 3 seasons since freshman year, plus over 100 hours of community service and some school clubs.</p>
<p>My EFC is around $20,000, so I am needing financial aid if a go to a school that is around $40,000 tuition.</p>
<p>My question is related to early decision - if you apply early decision to a school, does this allow you to get a much higher amount of financial aid than if you apply regular decision?
Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>Are you saying that your FAFSA EFC is $20k per year? What is your likely CSS Profile expected family contribution? It could be higher.</p>
<p>Applying ED doesn’t typically mean that you get more FA. </p>
<p>What school are you applying ED? Some do NOT meet need. Since your stats are not very high, a school that doesn’t meet need might not give you much.</p>
<p>You don’t get additional aid for applying ED, however if you are looking at a school that will award you aid based on running, you need to talk in detail to the coach and the school’s admission and FA offices. Very often athletes need to apply early to get the best offer from a school, on the other hand, it does put you in a position to have to commit early and without comparing other offers.</p>
<p>Every year it happens where a college coach comes on with big promises, but they all evaporate if the student doesn’t apply ED.</p>
<p>How much does running figure into your college choice?</p>
<p>Are you going to play your sport for your college?</p>