<p>To clarify, do the financial aid offices only get the applications that have been accepted? That makes the most sense to me; why bother reviewing someone's finances if their admission decision is uncertain? Or is there another way they sort through the applications? </p>
<p>I was just curious. :) Admissions offices are a mystery haha.</p>
<p>At most institutions, while admissions is reading applications, the financial aid staff is drawing up aid packages. This means that the money issue is more or less sorted out at about the same time admissions says yes or no. If Fin Aid waited for admissions, no one would have their aid packages in time to decide before May 1.</p>
<p>At our school, Financial Aid begins processing when they receive the FAFSA . However, if the student hasn’t applied for admission yet, they won’t complete any award offers.</p>
<p>But processing occurs in parallel with admission. So if Financial Aid requests additional data/info, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be admitted.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks. So Financial Aid drafts up packages for everyone, regardless of decision, theoretically?</p>