<p>now i know admissions offices always says that they are not really associated with the finanicial aid office in the admissions office but do you :1. think that all colleges and university go thorugh every applicatants financial aid file 2. Do you think that a college would ask you for additional financial aid documents (even if you have provided them with everything they need) in order to "consider" you for a grant even if they were not grant you admission (or does this constant correspondance with the financial aid office mean that good news could be on the way)</p>
<p>im soo confused....please post your opinions</p>
<p>We've talked about this and you know my (very optimistic) take on this. To reinforce that, I know of a friend who applied to the same school...and for financial aid (but KNOWS she has not sent in all necessary docs) and has heard nothing from the school....</p>
<p>There are some schools where the financial aid and admissions are done at the same time and the facilities and people are shared. I believe St Mary's of MD operates that way to the point where the admissions and financial aid offices are the same. But many schools do not operate that way. The adcoms assess your application, make a decision, and then a note is sent to the financial aid department if you are accepted. There may be a grading system in place where financial aid is told how desirable you are as a student, but admissions does not try to figure out how much you are going to cost the school, how much aid you can get or any of those things. I worked in the admissions office of a need aware school, and I did not see any collusion between the two departments. They were each busy enough in their jobs and to try to mix them would make it extremely difficult. Most schools are need blind in admissions, and if you are not eligible for aid, that is your problem. It is only in the more selective schools that this becomes an issue where you have need aware schools and schools that do parcel out aid packages according to desireability.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, Jamimom. I think the primary question that the original poster was asking was whether communication from the fin aid office of a need-blind school is a good indicator that you are under serious consideration for acceptance to that school. The assumption is that the fin aid office would not review all the applications for aid....especially as this school only accepts about 26% of their applicants. We are looking for a "sign", here, and this seems somewhat better than tea-leaves and dreams....?????</p>
<p>Usually, it is good news. I say that because financial aid does not go through all of the applicants' files; just the ones who are accepted. I say "usually", because of the time lag between getting the FAFSA info and the accepted files. Financial Aid has a very small time window to make these very important decisions, particularly if this is a school that uses Profile and some of their own judgement in parceling out aid. If you get a call later in the process, like now, it is certainly a good sign. You had better believe they are not wasting their time during this crucial period reviewing unaccepted applicants. But sometimes, the financial aid workers will peruse files for completeness and just getting ready for the made rush, and call with questions if something looks askance. I have known of kids who have gotten excited by such a call, and it has turned out to be nothing. </p>
<p>I think we have to be careful in trying to interprete any overtures from the colleges as any "signs" as there are too often other reasons for the contact, and can result in terrible disappointment. That's why these things like likely letters frustrate me. Where exactly does the gray area end when you have schools calling students, sending info, scheduling interviews, and it all means nothing, or something? The fairest way to do all of this is to send all notifications out at once and let the US mail be the determinant as to who gets the infor first.</p>