<p>I think getting on board the waitlist for FA is a game worth playing – provided you’re not boxed into choices and possibly flushing away huge non-refundable deposits as one recent poster here described.</p>
<p>Also, it’s possible that the money will come up quickly. With admissions, they’re playing a yield game. They are counting on a certain percent coming back as rejections of the school’s offer of admission. So as applicants send in postcards declining those offers, they can’t open up additional seats. But as cards come in from students who were offered aid, they have a clearer picture of how much aid just opened up and can decide, on the fly, what to do with those funds. I’d stay in close contact with the financial aid office. If you can get by with less (for all four years) let them know that. But, for now, as Learnermom pointed out, you have your first reason to touch base with them. Find out what the story is, what you need to do, what they’re waiting for, is there a certain order that they’re working off of, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>