<p>I’ve decided to apply to the Huntsman Program this fall but my economic situation is kind of in the way. I went to the Huntsman Program’s website and found this:</p>
<p>“Students are encouraged to apply early decision provided the Huntsman Program is their first choice and all required testing can be completed in time.”</p>
<p>My target language would be my native language, Spanish (I’m Puerto Rican). I know that by choosing Spanish my chances are significantly reduced because of the applicant pool’s size for the language. I also know that there are only 45 seats available (right?) in the Program and that’s why they encourage early decision. BUT…since you agree to matriculate if accepted in the Program when applying ED, it is kind of risky! What happens if you don’t get enough financial aid?!</p>
<p>I just dont know what to do. I don’t know if I should trust the financial services and apply ED (riskyyyyyy) or if I should apply RD being my target language Spanish (also…riskyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!) </p>
<p>SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OR ANYONE, PLEASE, ENLIGHTEN ME!</p>
<p>First of all, you can always bow out of ED if you do not receive enough financial aid. Secondly, you are a much stronger Huntsman applicant if you apply with a target language that is not a native language for you.
In the last few years, anywhere from 25-30 of the students were accepted ED. The classes have ended up from 45-48 but typically 3-5 are accepted that chose to go elsewhere, so around 50 are accepted.</p>
<p>I really hope that if I get accepted and, unfortunately, don’t receive enough financial aid I can “bow out” without a problem!</p>
<p>Also, I said Spanish but that’s not written in stone. I’m really considering choosing Portuguese, even though I have never studied it, since it’s possible for “native or highly advanced Spanish speakers” (as their website says).</p>
<p>From what I can see from the Huntsman 2016 list, the students that target their native language and get accepted are Arabic, Hindi and Japanese targets. Among the four Arabic targets, two are native speakers. Of the three Hindi targets, two are from India, and the third seems to be Indian-American. Finally, one of the four Japanese targets is Japanese. For all other languages, I don’t see any native speakers (I could be wrong). On a related note, there’s one Mexican who targeted Portuguese. Draw whatever conclusions you want from this info. </p>
<p>Here’s the language breakdown and some additional info for anyone who’s interested:</p>
<p>This is completely false.
You are OBLIGATED to enroll once accepted by ED. As a matter of fact, you are required to sign your name to a contract when you apply ED.
If you can’t afford to attend without knowing the aid amount, DO NOT apply ED.</p>
<p>"You are OBLIGATED to enroll once accepted by ED . "</p>
<p>False. NO College can MAKE a student enroll! What are they going to do, kidnap them and drag them to Penn? Penn says this about ED: </p>
<p>"Those admitted must respond to us by December 20, since there is a commitment involved. "</p>
<p>They require accepted ED applicants to let them know IF they WILL in fact be enrolling. </p>
<p>It is well known fact that you can back out of a ED agreement if you cant afford it . That said, it is NOT a good idea AT ALL to apply ED IF the net price calculator indicates that you will be expected to pay more than you or your parents can actually afford. So dont kid yourself, or apply based on false hope. Penn is noted for being generous, but its endowment is NOT as large as HYPS , and cant afford to offer as much FA per student. It is best to believe their calculator and not apply ED if you cant afford it. </p>
<p>Do the math first. Applying ED will PREVENT you from seeing FA offers from other colleges. That is why applying ED is generally best for those who aren’t dependent on receiving FA in order to be able to afford an education there.</p>
<p>Penn’s ED admissions page also says this"
As noted above, a student may apply Early Decision to only one institution. Accordingly, if an applicant for Early Decision to the University of Pennsylvania also applies for Early Decision to another school, the Early Decision application to the University of Pennsylvania will be withdrawn. Further, if any Regular Decision applicant to the University of Pennsylvania is accepted Early Decision under a College Board approved Early Decision plan by any other school, the application to the University of Pennsylvania will be withdrawn. </p>
<p>What that does NOT say is a student cannot apply Early ACTION to another college, say Chicago as well as ED to Penn. A student accepted early both at Penn and at Chicago may very well decide to choose UC, and there is nothing Penn can do about it. That is another reason why this statement: “You are OBLIGATED to enroll once accepted by ED” is false.</p>
<p>This is what is said of Penn’s ED and Menloparkmom conveniently omitted this.</p>
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</p>
<p>This is a commitment and the student will sign her/his name on the application form.
Of course, nobody is going to drag you to the school. Those who have agreed to go the ED should know that financial aid is not known until admission and they have agreed to attend simply by applying ED.</p>
<p>But you do have an ethical duty to attend.</p>
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</p>
<p>Yes, because universities have not pursued this course legally but I would not encourage any kids to do it because it is NOT ethical.</p>
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<p>This is a complete misrepresentation of the statement.
Penn is saying you already have a commitment and need to respond by a certain date.</p>
<p>I suggest you call Penn’s admissions office and ask specifically about their ED policy.</p>
<p>Penn does not have to address any early actions issues because early decisions are binding and supersedes any early actions decisions. Of course, there are those who wouldn’t care one way or another because they know they can get away with it because it is too much trouble for the particular university to pursue legal action.</p>
<p>Sometimes kids are blindsided by aid - my friend’s Cornell ED package was ~15k less then what they had promised her (via the net price calculator and contact with the school’s FA office). This made it simply unaffordable for her and her family, and was in my opinion a valid reason to withdraw.</p>
<p>No one can force you to go if they won’t give you a full package. </p>
<p>I know of someone admitted to a top Ivy under questbridge ED which requires zero financial commitment from the student family and the parents said sorry, we are not willing to send our kid so far away from home in Texas.</p>
<p>Also, no one forces you to apply ED.
Everyone reading these columns knows that financial aid will not be known when applying ED.
Many people are ethically challenged.</p>
<p>“Early decision (ED) programs are usually binding”</p>
<p>cbreeze, what part of the phrase “USUALLY binding”, do you not understand?
It does not say ALWAYS binding . It says usually. They mean two entirely different things. In addition, a second quote from your post says:</p>
<p>“Students can seek release from an early decision obligation on the grounds of financial hardship, if the financial aid package they are offered is genuinely inadequate.” ’
does NOT say CANNOT seek release, it says they CAN. </p>
<p>As I stated earlier, which you evidently missed, and I quote"
“That said, it is NOT a good idea AT ALL to apply ED IF the net price calculator indicates that you will be expected to pay more than you or your parents can actually afford. So dont kid yourself, or apply based on false hope. Penn is noted for being generous, but its endowment is NOT as large as HYPS , and cant afford to offer as much FA per student. It is best to believe their calculator and not apply ED if you cant afford it. Applying ED will PREVENT you from seeing FA offers from other colleges. That is why applying ED is generally best for those who aren’t dependent on receiving FA in order to be able to afford an education there.”</p>
<p>I dont know why you are fixated on the idea that ED cannot be broken, but that is simply not true. There are consequences for anyone doing so, which is why NO ONE on this thread is recommending that anyone apply ED without being sure they can afford to do so.</p>
<p>“Everyone reading these columns knows that financial aid will not be known when applying ED”
That USED to be the case, which is why Federal Law now requires colleges to have FA calculators that give accurate estimates of how much a family can actually expect to receive in FA.
NO more peering though a mist or consulting a ouija board to try and figure out how much college will actually cost…</p>
<p>"… NO ONE on this thread is recommending that anyone apply ED without being sure they can afford to do so."</p>
<p>The calculators will help, and there’s little point in applying ED or EA or RD if you are convinced you cannot afford it, but there is no way to be sure you can afford it until you get the actual FA offer. That’s why you can decline an ED FA offer if it’s insufficient, such that you don’t need to be sure you can afford it. If the calculator says you’re close, you can give ED a shot without being sure.</p>