<p>As I was browsing colleges' websites, such as Brown and MIT, I noticed that the deadlines for early decision/action and financial aid applications are different. The deadline for ED and EA is in November whereas the deadline to submit FAFSA is in either February or March. </p>
<p>I'm confused. If I get accepted to Brown ED in December, how will I know what financial aid package I get if the deadline for that isn't until March? </p>
<p>Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not very knowledgeable about the college application/document submission process in general. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Most schools with binding ED do request an estimated PROFILE to be submitted along with or shortly after the application is filed, so that an estimated financial aid package can be put together for any ED acceptances. The accuracy of the package is going to be totally dependent on how accurate the estimates are on that estimated PROFILE, and final awards will be based upon the FAFSA and verification of the numbers as they actually turn out to be for the calendar year that counts. </p>
<p>For EA, though it can differ the packages come out with those who are applying RD, since the decisions are not binding and a student can and usually does hold off on making this decision until the other acceptances and awards are on the talbe. That is the big difference between EA and ED. ED is binding upon acceptance if the aid package is one that the student and family can accept, and all other applications are to be withdrawn when the ED offer is accepted. </p>
<p>However, for EA, I’ve noticed that a lot of schools do jump the gun with merit awards. You can get merit packages for EA and the fin aid package is not given until the FAFSA and other fin aid paperwork is processed. Or you can get it all with the RD acceptees. Differs from college to college.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, so for ED, the schools give you an estimated financial aid package based on the estimated profile you submit when(if) they accept you?</p>