<p>I am graduating in 2011 and have a 3.9 GPA but hope to have a 4.0 by next year. I am secretary of MSA and am starting a new chapter of a nation-wide club at my school next year as well as being a member of 3 other honor societies and am in a couple other clubs. I have taken 3 AP classes and passed with 4's and 5's but am taking 5 more next year. My familiy's annual salary is $20,000 and am deciding whether to do early decision at W&M or GWU. I would be equally happy getting into either because those are my top two. I have an undecided major and am looking to see which of the two I have more chances of being accepted early decision, as well as which school will give me enough financial aid and grants so my family can afford it.</p>
<p>What if you apply ED and the college gives you disappointing financial aid, what will you do then? Spend some time reading this forum, and you’ll learn that those who need substantial financial aid should never apply ED. Apply to a range of schools RD so you can compare financial aid packages and come up with the most sensible choice. Good luck.</p>
<p>Agree with MommaJ - If these are BOTH schools you’re interested, apply RD then compare the FA awards. Of course, if you are “in-state” for W&M your costs are significantly less than GW - which is very costly.</p>
<p>My “S” attends GW - even though 56K/yr - with FA (Merit/Needs-based) we pay about 25K/yr - essential 1/2. The reason we allowed him to go there.</p>
<p>If you apply ED - you’ll not be able to compare FA awards and you’re kind of obligated o attend the ED school if accepted and the FA offer is “reasonable”.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>CJ</p>
<p>Do not apply to either school ED due to advice given above. It is good advice, please heed it. Every year in the spring students post with major problems because they did not follow this advice.</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses! That was actually one of my biggest concerns, but I have talked to the dean of the admission office of W&M and she said that if I apply early decision and get in but cannot afford to come to William & Mary, I can be released from the agreement. I have e-mailed the financial aid department at GWU as well asking the same question.</p>
<p>I did more research on both schools last night and am definitely leaning more towards GWU because after visiting both schools, I was more excited about GWU and thought it would be a better fit for me. </p>
<p>The only reason I wanted to apply ED was because I would have more chances of getting in. Although I have pretty good grades and am in clubs, my SAT scores were not that impressive. I took it once last June and did not do all that great. I am studying like crazy to raise it up though, and even got a tutor. But I am pretty confident that I will do much better when I take it in October because of how much I’ve been studying and the improvement I’ve seen from the practice tests I am taking. I read somewhere that 60 something % that apply to GW get accepted where as only 30 something % get accepted RD. As of now I am confident that I’d choose GWU over any school, but the only thing that is stopping me from applying ED is my family’s financial status.</p>
<p>I understand GWU is extremely expensive, but does anyone know if I’d get enough FA or grants to be able to afford going to this school? It is definitely where I’d want to spend my 4 years!</p>
<p>Zehra</p>
<p>My “S” is an incoming Freshman (Class of 2014) in the Elliott School of International Affairs@ GW. He recieved a Presidential Scholarship (25K/yr) and various other grants/loans to meet our EFC. GW “costs” about 56K/yr, but rarely anyone pays that “sticker” price unless you parents are wealthy. It’s costing us about 30K/yr - this excludes any loans. A very “reasonable amount” for a private university in DC. Overall, GW is very generous with FA - both need-based and merit.</p>
<p>ED vs. RD - I understand your angst about the acceptance rate of ED vs. RD. However, make sure you get sometthing in writing if you can about GW “releasing you” if the FA aid is unsasitfactory if you apply ED. GW is a CommonApp school and thereby agrees to the exclusion clause that allows you to not attend IF your FA aid is not satisfactory. Knowing GW - I doubt this will be a problem as I said above.</p>
<p>I don’t know the acceptance rate for 2014 for ED vs RD, but I can tell you the following:</p>
<p>Overall 31% (2013 was 37%)
Elliott School of International Affairs 14% (Much more selective).</p>
<p>Let me know if I can give you more info. Check out the posts on GW (Go to alphabetical colleges and select GW).</p>
<p>CJ</p>