As far as I know, ED is only binding if the college provides sufficient aid. If I have to appeal the aid and it is still not enough, I am allowed to back out. (Please correct me if there is another condition I’m unaware of)
The projected aid from the NPC would not be enough to make it affordable, and I was kinda planning on hoping for a miracle and having to back out otherwise (assuming I get in at all).
This is mostly because Northwestern’s ED acceptance is much higher than RD, and it would be nice to have an acceptance from a top school, regardless of whether I attend.
That being said, this looks to be a very unpopular plan; if it is really that ill-advised, then I won’t do it.
As for the rest of the schools, I probably won’t apply to a lot of the ones I included; I know they’re not affordable but I was just throwing them on there for the chance me.
Plan A: A&M
Plan B: MIT(Please, O’ noble admission officer)