<p>Does anyone know if financial aid offices get a list of all admitted students so they can put together packages, or do they put together a package on all students who apply for fin aid, regardless of acceptance. At what point do these 2 offices merge?</p>
<p>I believe that finaid offices only put together packages for accepted students. Whether the admissions office presents the files to them on a rolling basis, I don't know.</p>
<p>bump ... anyone else have any idea? Does the policy vary among schools?</p>
<p>woo.designs response seems correct. It would be a total waste of time to write offers for students that were not accepted.</p>
<p>Example - 10,000 applicants and 50% eligible for financial aid
4, 000 accepted
6,000 not accepted</p>
<pre><code> 2000 financial aid offers - aid eligible accepted students only
5000 financial aid offers - all applicants eligible for aid
</code></pre>
<p>I thought I had read different opinions about this on CC but I guess I was wrong because I can't seem to find the thread.</p>
<p>I did find this on the web though, so it does seem that FA packages are put together after an admission decision has been made. At least that's what I interpret from point #4:</p>
<p>NACAC</a> Focus on Financial Aid: How to Apply</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Steps of the Financial Aid Application Process</p>
<p>Step 1.
A student applies for admission before the admission application deadline.</p>
<p>Step 2.
A student applies for financial aid in accordance with stated deadlines, but as soon as possible. Students should try to file their financial aid form(s) as soon as possible after January 1 in their senior year. Although the FAFSA is made available before January 1, students cannot file the application before the first of January. Keep in mind that it is to each student's advantage to get his or her application in early, because:</p>
<pre><code>* most colleges have limited aid to award;
* the aid package is determined soon after the candidate is accepted; and
* late applicants run the risk of finding that aid funds are gone!
</code></pre>
<p>Step 3.
The admission committee meets and grants admission.</p>
<p>Step 4.
Once notice has been given that an applicant has been accepted for admission, the college or university financial aid office reviews the application carefully, first to judge whether need does, in fact, exist, and second to determine how much aid should be offered.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I was wondering because of an answer I saw on here</p>
<p>
[quote]
Financial aid departments generally need to have packages ready to include when admissions decisions are made and since they don't know which applicants will be admitted, financial aid departments generally prepare packages for all applicants.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It does make more sense that financial aid packages would be prepared only for accepted applicants.</p>