Low Income Student Applying ED?

Latin4Life
Sat, 07 Sep 2013 21:35:35 +0000

Something you should consider…
Applying ED to UPenn shows them that UPenn is your number one choice and you would love to go there. In fact you have to go as long as you can afford it. This means that the school is guaranteed whatever money they do not give you in aid. So they will make you pay the most you possibly can without that number going over what you can afford (if you get accepted).

By applying Regular Decision, the school does not know whether it is your first choice or not, and they are not guaranteed any money from you because it is not a binding application. Therefore, the school might give you more (I do not know how much more, but I know it is more) in aid because it wants you to attend (if you get accepted, of course). By giving you more money, you are more likely to attend, and your attendance will make the college money.

So here is the tradeoff. Applying ED will give you better chances of getting in because it shows the school you are very interested and you have to pay them something no matter what. But you probably will not get as much in aid.

Applying RD will give you more financial aid, but you will be less likely to be admitted. Like I said the difference in aid between an accepted ED and an accepted RD UPenn applicant is unknown to me. But I do know that it is rather significant at other schools.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

P.S. The previous posters are correct. It is illegal for you to be forced to attend a college that you cannot afford. But, as mentioned above, the school’s numbers have to show that, not yours. Also… schools like UPenn have lots of money to give out, so make sure you fill out the FAFSA on time!