<p>I got an e-mail from the fin aid office of a school I am applying to today. The opening paragraph reads like:</p>
<p>“We are currently reviewing the financial aid applications for all
candidates for the Class of 2011 at … College, so that a
financial aid award letter can be enclosed with the admission packet
for those students who will ultimately be admitted later this month.
The Admission decisions will be finalized in just a few weeks!”</p>
<p>The e-mail asked a lot of questions about the sources of my family’s income (e.g. alimonies, public child support, …) and the one question that kept coming up again and again was “How long will this continue?”.</p>
<p>Does that mean that they consider accepting me but have doubts about the reliability of my family’s income? How do you interpret this?</p>
<p>I will have to wait for the decision in April anyway, but that e-mail made me really nervous…</p>
<p>The e-mail basically listed every source of my family’s income (as indicated on my fin aid app) that is not work and then asked “How long will this continue?”
One example out of five: “Am I correct in understanding that your mother pays your father $… annually as part of the divorce settlement? If yes, how long will this continue?”</p>
<p>Considering that you are an international student and it sounds as if the school your are considering is not need blind, they will need a full picture of your financial situation in order to make a decision. </p>
<p>I would not read anything into it one way or the other, because while you may be an academically viable candidate at most schools, if they are not going to be able to give you the fa that you need then they are not going to admit you.</p>
<p>Now the ball is in your court. Give them the information and documentation that they need so they can move forward with the process.</p>