<p>I'm a rising senior who plans to apply to several schools EA. What's the process for getting aid estimates from schools when applying early? Basically I am clueless at this point, and am looking for some sort of timetable for when my parents and I should do things and what things we should do.</p>
<p>Any help, and any other general advice about early action and financial aid is appreciated, especially from those who've been through it.</p>
<p>P.S. the schools are Tulane, Fordham, Lewis and Clark, Northeastern, and Umass, and, if it matters, I'm hoping to get merit aid (they are my safeties).</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Also, if this has been discussed before, which I'm sure it has, a link would be appreciated too. I tried searching but failed.</p>
<p>I don't know about these particular schools, but in my admittedly limited experience, one doesn't get estimated FA when you are applying. You need to read the FA policies on the schools' web sites, use the financial aid calculators that are found in various places (College Board, Finaid.org, etc.) and when you fill out your FAFSA and the CSS Profile through the College Board site, you will get your estimates that way. But be aware that these are estimates and the actual FA packages could be very different. Applying EA is a good idea; better than ED, because you will be able to see the FA the schools will offer you when you get accepted, and you will be able to compare them and still wait until May 1 to decide what you want to do. There are many, many threads on this forum with advice, guidance, and counsel about FA. Read the forum that you posted this to, and you will learn a lot!</p>
<p>You can contact the financial aid offices and ask for an "early read". This is sometimes done for ED schools, due to its binding nature. It may be more problematic to get the read at EA schools, since you don't need to commit to attend until May. Many EA schools do give you an estimated FA package upon acceptance.</p>