Yes, a meets 100% need school should meet need. But they don’t base that need on the FAFSA EFC necessarily, especially if they also require CSS profile. They have their own calculation of your need, they might include home equity, and might assess your assets more harshly than FAFSA.
Some meet need without loans, some with.
yes, you are right, @mommdc
@Kayak24 My question exactly. as @Winky1 says Contract states nothing specific and unacceptable is in the ey of the family.
My son toured NYU for Clive Davis Recording Arts program. Very selective, very cool. Very expensive
I’m a very honest guy but if it was still a top choice of his, we certainly would have considered ED knowing full well we would declined if the offer was too large a stretch for our budget.
It goes both ways - You can’t have a school short change your award just because they think they have you locked in.
@Kayak24 every family makes their own decision, but I was unwilling to let my kids apply ED because I did not expect the schools and our family to be in agreement on financial aid. Non-binding EA I love though! I am letting this kid apply REA even though it limits his other EA options. Luckily he can still apply early for scholarship purposes.
DD’18 had a college interview. She was so stressed before it - changed her clothes twice. She came home so happy and confident. The emotional roller coaster of college admissions season! 
My son just called me up in tears - " Dad, I’m IN "
Songwriting program at Belmont - had to send in a video audition and wait a month after being accepted to the college
@Kayak24 I wonder whether this is, yet again, dependent on the individual school. When my D went to a Rice event, the AO talked about ED, and he made it clear that if you don’t know whether you can afford to go, do NOT apply ED. My D said he was very emphatic about it. Shifting thoughts slightly, I wonder whether ED would create a FA disadvantage for you? I wonder if you would be able to negotiate a better deal with multiple FA offers on the table, rather than negotiating before you even know if your D has been admitted to any other schools, let alone FA? I know you’ve emailed the FA office before, but I wonder whether they would disclose their formula a little more so that you could try to figure this out yourself. I know you said your situation is complicated.
@JerseyParents - Love it! Congrats!!
@MACmiracle - congrats on the speedy recovery - whew!
@Booajo - completely agree! It’s scary to agree to a number before you know what it is. I guess I lack faith in the FA office being on the same page with us.
@glido - I think these interviews end up being a mutual love fest. The schools want to impress the kids just as much as the other way around. I’ve never heard of one going poorly 
Congrats @JerseyParents <:-P <:-P What a great memory you’ll have of this moment!!
So glad your D is bouncing back quickly @MACmiracle !
Congrats to everyone who got submissions in in the last 24hrs and best wishes to those who are pushing them out in the next 24!!! >:D<
I am not sure what is up in our little corner of the world, but for some reason there seems to be little enthusiasm for school this year. Even the teachers have been sort of meh. Granted DD has a somewhat light load (Reel America Film Study, Forensic Science, AP Calc AB, AP Euro and AP Eng Lit). But she has had very little homework, teachers have cancelled some of their standard after school tutorials, even the cheer coach cancelled practice for 2 of the last 3 weeks. It is weird.
DD was accepted at Loyola Chicago today. I am excited about that one, it is 1.5 hours from DD2016 at Marquette, it would be so nice to have them close together. It is one of her top 5, so there is hope!
Congrats @JerseyParents the ones where they tear up are the best!
@JerseyParents – huge congrats to your son & thanks for sharing the good news that gave him tears of joy!
@JerseyParents Your son’s words made ME teary. So great!
@JerseyParents , Tremendous news and I love that you shared that he was teared up. Makes it all the more special. (I, too, teared up envisioning it). Congratulations!
Add me to the list of criers! Congratulations to your son, @JerseyParents!
Oh lawdy, just saw this: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/common-application/2029050-common-app-submission-processing-for-almost-two-hours-is-this-normal.html#latest
@suzy100 Sigh - really not looking forward to that Common App spinning blue dot or 504 message again tonight.
@suzy100 , oh no! I feel really bad for those people. For what it’s worth, we had zero problems with the Coalition App about an hour ago. Good luck to those trying to submit.
In related news, I am thinking I may wait for FAFSA and CSS Profile until this weekend (after the people who think they need to send before Nov. 1st). But it may just be more justification for my procrastination. Anyone else dreading this? :((
@Kayak24 I finished both, and they really weren’t that bad 
I actually had more trouble with the FAFSA (creating the two IDs completely threw me for a loop, lol) Grab your 1040, put on your fav music and a glass of wine, and it’ll be over before you know it.
My family was one where the FA package didn’t take into account a sworn/notarized letter from one parent indicating they would not be supporting my college payments with their money. They took both parents (divorced) into account and it doubled our family contribution. I worked full-time in the breaks, had a work study job, and two full-time jobs in the summer to make up the difference.
Also, I have been interviewing for my alma mater for many many years and I have had some absolutely terrible interviews. My favorite was the guy that couldn’t answer a question about his favorite book he had read junior year because he “doesn’t usually read the books for English.” When given an out of a personal favorite of any book he had ever read, he said he couldn’t remember the last time he finished a book.
@MDSparkle Me neither. I hope the CA portal is up tonight. D has one EA app to finish. Unfortunately, she may not be able to spend Halloween with her friends. D has one of those “Why This University?” essays to finish. Good school and it’s probably a match/target, but it’s not one of her top choices. I’m trying to motivate her with facts and figures about the school. :-??