Rolling Schools/Safeties

robinsuesanders
Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:40:01 +0000

fallenchemist asks:



Do they always give you the FA package at the time they give you the decision? If yes, they I agree with everyting she said, you can only turn the ED school down if you find the FA package inadequate



It may vary a bit from school to school. But I believe that ED schools run preliminary numbers for all ED applicants who apply for need-based aid. The FA numbers are based on CSS Profile and/or their own forms, which may be based on some version of the FAFSA, but can be filled out before the FAFSA becomes available. Many send the tentative FA award with the letter offering admission. Others send it a bit later (maybe a week or two). But I think * all * of them send it out well before April 1 since they all require applicants admitted ED to send in the nonrefundable deposit very, very early—usually about two weeks after notification.

And I do think that the ED school requires you to make a * final * decision about whether the FA is generous enough based on the preliminary numbers.

And I think it’s done this way because the schools want the ED kids fully committed, with paid deposits as early as possible for enrollment management purposes when they start to more carefully evaluate the RD applicants.