@payn4ward I think Upenn is in similar boat :(( :((
@2muchquan we will have to decide after D comes back from Columbia summer program to see how much she really liked the school. So we can decide on the Ed/RD and the rest of the list. She needs to jump start her CA essay so that there is time for those other supplements.
@whataboutcollege that really comes down to you and your budget. If you know that zero merit will be offered ED or otherwise then it really is a simple budget question. Is the school worth full pay if admitted, top choice regardless.
If not, or there is the chance of merit then you have to decide whether it is worth the risk and stress. ED can be declined if it is unaffordable. However, to me if you know up front that nothing will be offered it seems disingenuous to apply ED and then decline based on cost when the information is out there now.
We are in a similar boat. We have one school that at present does not offer EA (though it has been hinted that it may be this year which would help us a ton). Our ability to afford will be very much based on merit as well as how they interpret our situation, which is not straightforward. It may be affordable, it may not. If it turns out that they do not offer EA this year we may see if we can get an early financial read. I am not sure if that is an option at Columbia but several ED schools do offer that if requested.
@eandesmom wrote…
“ED can be declined if it is unaffordable.”
Is this the case with most ED programs?
@eandesmom I agree. That is why we can’t take the ED decision lightly. If D is admitted ED we can’t/won’t back out. I’d like to think this the same way as investment, what do you get in return for your money. But when factor in future " what would have been if …" It becomes more difficult to pick one or the other. So if D still really likes it after summer, we plan to bite the bullet. Of course if she didn’t get in via ED, all the what if won’t be there.
^^^^
Yes, they can’t make you pay 
They will be mad. You will have to prove that it is totally unaffordable for you. Then they’ll let you out of it, or maybe up their offer to you to make ends meet. But, you must really not be able to afford it all.
We are going to ED one school so I’ve looked into this matter quite a bit. We’re full pay, so it doesn’t matter to us really. I think that’s the best scenario for ED. Just be prepared to blow all of your cash :((
I’m glad to hear there are others on this board with not much of a list yet! D has been so slammed with SAT, SAT subject tests, ACT, AP exams and now finals that I haven’t even tried to get her to start considering specific schools. I know that we will likely apply to Smith and to Stanford EA (I’m an alumnus (grad school) and a staff member, so we have to at least try :)). Other possibles: Whitman, Grinnell, Macalester, Reed, Willamette, other women’s colleges to the east, etc, etc, blah blah. Obviously we have a lot of narrowing down to do. We live in a small town in MT, so she’s kind of aiming for a more suburban setting, which could knock several of those off that list. Lots of work still to do as we are hoping for merit (who isn’t?) and angling to figure out how best to benefit from my tuition reimbursement situation with my employer. The NPCs indicate we will qualify for a good chunk of need-based aid, which of course would be reduced by the tuition reimbursement. But hopefully it will first be used to reduce student loans, etc. We shall see.
^^ Hmmm. I thought I was inserting a nice, calm smiley face, not a maniacally laughing head. But maybe that is more appropriate to the situation at hand. This does seem like a wild carnival ride.
Ah, @picklesarenice, you are under the false assumption that our (or is it just ‘my’) kids were involved with making ‘the list’?! :))
I think I need to back off a little bit. D told her friends I am obsessed! 
:))
^Welcome to the club!
^^ ditto!
@whataboutcollege You’ll find that besides me, most everyone else on this thread is a little bit whacko. No offense to the rest of you, ha. Seriously though, just don’t bring up spreadshhets/graphs/binders and all wiil be good.
Diid I mention how much I like this group?
^Ha! @RightCoaster Too true. You’re OK too…for a non-sheeter.
:)) :x
We are going to visit the University of Alabama tomorrow. I’m really hoping he will like it, and that they will keep the ACT requirement for free tuition at 32…
As far as sending SAT scores he took subject tests in June so we used those 4 free reports to send his subject tests plus the regular SAT he had already taken to some possible colleges. I figure it’s a win/win I already know his SAT score on the old SAT and the odds a college would reject him because of a not so great Latin or Physics subject test is really low. He think he did well on the Physic’s while the Latin he isn’t sure…
I hope the visit goes well tomorrow @MichiganGeorgia
Time for a little bragging.
My D who is the queen of B+s, usually 89%, got all A’s for the second semester, including the coveted A in APUSH.
She was also named Section Leader in band where she will be in charge of around 40 flutes. This is really big for her since she is not the best player and not one of the Type As that usually get leadership. She said in her interview her goal was to build section unity (flutes can be catty) and make the incoming freshman feel welcome, I guess that played well with the band director whose D will be freshman flute next year.
^^^^ Nice job to @CaucAsianDad 's daughter !