So, Why Do I Hate ED?

[bluebayou]

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The opposite is pushed by GCs themeselves–“That ED offer is likely to be the best you get”, “colleges tend to give their best offers during ED”. All true statements IN GENERAL, but without the caveats I am bringing up. Heck, I’ve made the statements too.

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<p>Perhaps your beef is with the HS GC’s? While I haven’t read them all, every college that I have searched for ED clearly states on their website to NOT apply ED if you want to compare financial aid offers. How can you holding the colleges’ responsible for ignorant GCs? (They’ll be ignorant, regardless of whatever admissions policy that exists.)</p>

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But two members on this board who have gone through this process at generous schools can attest to you, that their kids got offers…

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<p>Actually, there are a lot more than two. So what? As stated upthread, one can only negotiate if one gets into tippy top ED school in the RD round. If ED is the tip that gets the student in, there is no guarantee that s/he woulda got in RD. Indeed, by definition, the tip was needed, so therefore RD would likely end up in a WL. In such case, there is no comparing financial aid offers.</p>

<p>Sure, ED is a deal with the unknown. For those going in eyes-wide-open…</p>

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For those who need financial aid for their kids and are contemplating ED, don’t take it off the possibilities, but just be aware that it is not so simple as “if it’s not enough aid, just say no”.

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<p>Actually, it IS just that simple. Colleges state that on their website, too.</p>

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So yes, I hate ED. It puts families who don’t have as much money on the spot, and they are forced to make that decision in a vacuum. I don’t like programs that make it more difficult to those who have less, and give them extra pressure to make decisions that are not financially sound. Enough opportunities to do that. I feel that those families whose EFC is below a certain point should be allowed to enter the ED pool without baiing out on their other schools.

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For those who are happy with their students ED outcomes including financial aid packages, it’s a wonderful thing. I am not taking anything away from you.

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<p>Taken together, it appears that what you are suggesting is that ED is only for the wealthy, and the poor have to be relegated to the back of the (admissions) line for RD?</p>