Just wondering. Do all applicants during the admission process will have a prepared financial package? Or the committee will only put it together for admitted applicants? In other words, during the initial screening, do they even bother to look if they need financial aid or that only occurs for highly possible or likely admitted applicants?
In many schools the Financial Aid department operates independently from the Admissions department and they package all applicants. That’s how the university where I worked operated. They don’t award aid until there is an admissions acceptance, but the process is fairly lengthy and they don’t wait on the deliberation of admissions before they start the financial aid process.
That’s why there are Financial Aid portals with checklists and notices of outstanding requirements. In order to promptly give admitted students a financial aid package, they can’t wait for a decision.
At need-blind schools, they prepare packages for all applicants, but will only send out aid notification to those admitted.
However, at need aware schools, the Financial Aid department and Admissions will have to coordinate because the amount of aid you are asking for can impact your decision.