UNC, Duke, or Northwestern

beyphy
Sun, 15 Jul 2012 11:33:36 +0000

Here’s what i found on northwestern’s application deadlines and options page about early decision:



If you are certain that Northwestern is where you want to enroll, we encourage you to apply under our Early Decision plan. As with all traditional Early Decision plans, you agree to withdraw all applications at other colleges and enroll at Northwestern if admitted. Students interested in the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) must apply under the Regular Decision plan.

Applicants who choose Early Decision send a strong, positive message to Northwestern. Given their high level of interest and overall academic and personal strength, Early Decision applicants enjoy a higher rate of admission.

If you are admitted under Early Decision and apply for financial aid, you will be notified of your aid decision around the time of your acceptance, provided your family has filed the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile (CSS Profile) by December 1. Students admitted under Early Decision may be released from the commitment to enroll at Northwestern only for demonstrated financial hardship.



http://ugadm.northwestern.edu/apply/application-deadlines-and-options.html

If the OP was admitted to NW, he’d have to withdraw all applications at other colleges. And it’s not certain that the OP would be able to demonstrate ‘financial hardship’ given his parents circumstances, and the amount he’d have to pay. And even if he could, since he’d have withdrawn the Duke/UNC applications, he’d be left with no college to go to for at least a year.

It seems like the NW-ED is too risky. Personally, i’d apply to all of them regular decision. You should also apply to some instate colleges like UFlorida as backups just in case. Don’t assume that any of them will give you anything.

Also, you need to decide for yourself how you feel about loans. Talk to your parents about how they feel about a PLUS loan too.