I agree with all the thoughtful posters here (and I am so sorry for the uncertainty in your positions right now).
It sounds like you are in CA, and are considering LACs and merit aid. Have you looked at Whitman? They offer the early financial aid guarantee, in which the admissions and finical aid office will provide you with the minimum guaranteed amount of aid your student will receive if they are admitted. For looking at merit aid alone, the student only need provide:
- An unofficial copy of their high school transcript
- Their senior year academic schedule
- SAT/ACT scores (optional)
(For those requiring need based aid who would like an early reply, prior to the ED deadlines, families submit the CSS Profile on October 1.)
For merit awards alone, students can self report their SAT or ACT scores, and ask their high school registrar for a copy of their transcript (typically they will just email you a PDF, or your student has a copy of it from the end of the junior year). They also may self report (or have the registrar forward them a copy of) their expected senior classes. The senior classes don’t need to be a school day schedule, but simply a list of what they will be taking in 12th grade.
For merit aid alone, the admissions officer makes the decision and no other materials are needed.
Your student can submit these materials beginning June 30th if they are a rising senior, and they’ll receive a guaranteed minimum amount (which will be awarded all four years) within a few weeks.
My S23 submitted his materials the summer before his senior year, and when he received his reply, the number was such that I said the budget worked if he wanted to apply Early Decision—which is precisely why they offer this early financial aid guarantee—so that those that require a certain amount of merit or need based aid are on the same footing as those who do not when it comes to deciding to apply.
p.s
He applied ED, and had his acceptance that December. He happily just finished his sophomore year there. 