Omg good catch - at public universities, applying EA is capital.
Many apply as soon as the app goes live, in July or August, and the later rounds are ten times more competitive than the EA round.
Btw @iinertiia
ED doesn’t mean you can’t apply EA - it only means that if your FA package makes the school affordable you promise to attend the ED school and drop all other applications.
Lafayette has ED2 so if you’re not admitted to Fu it’s a solid pivot to prepare for.
More colleges to consider for their potentially topnotch FA package:
Union
Bucknell
Trinity CT
All tend to have relatively to quite well-off students so look into what support they offer first gen students (find the office on their website and reach out).
These colleges may be smaller (including Lehigh and Lafayette) but it means no falling through the cracks, professors who know you, a very tight knit community and alumni network.