<p>What happens if a student is accepted to a school on Early Decision (binding) and has not heard yet what ( if any) financial aid will be given?</p>
<p>Wow, have you called the financial aid office yet to ask about this? I cannot imagine that your situation is happening in a vacuum! Typically an estimation of aid comes with the acceptance and a final aid letter comes in the spring…Did you get all the required forms in on time? Did you indicate you would be applying for aid if you asked on your application? Have they asked you for any information that hasn’t been supplied? Have you talked or corresponded with the admissions or financial aid anywhere along the process?</p>
<p>You have to call the financial aid office immediately. I’m assuming you filed an application for financial aid when you first applied to the college. </p>
<p>If you didn’t that’s another story, and I think it’s unlikely the school would supply any aid for you from its own FA budget at this point, however, if you’re eligible for certain federal aid programs like the Pell Grant or a subsidized loan, you can still secure those.</p>
<p>But call the aid office now – well, as soon as they’re open for business, probably Monday morning. Something went wrong. If it went wrong on their end, then they may be able to accomodate you somehow. If you failed to file, meet a deadline, get in some necessary paperwork, etc., then you may be in a tough spot.</p>
<p>And, yeah, like momofthreeboys said, you should have received a preliminary award letter when you received your ED acceptance. (For EA programs sometimes they don’t make those available until March/April, same as for RD applicants.)</p>
<p>But in NO case should you have heard nothing at this point.</p>
<p>I will add, though, that in my experience with my two kids, that FA offices are often not very helpful in helping you apply. I mean, they’re good working with the necessary applications, forms, etc. when it all comes to them by posted deadlines. But I have found that you really need to do your own research on what is required to apply, to re-apply, to fulfill paperwork requirements, and learn for yourself what the deadlines are.</p>
<p>None of the three schools I have dealt with even send an award letter anymore, or any paper mail about anything. You need to monitor online the receipt of all documents, and what your financial aid award will be. Everything is online and you have to go to it… it doesn’t come to you.</p>
<p>Not saying that’s the case everywhere, but I have been a little surprised how in the case of my own kids, there is absolutely no guidance volunteered. You have to find it all out for yourself. That’s just fine with me, but I think it can be a bit problematic for young people who haven’t had to do this kind of thing before.</p>
<p>Agreed with others…did you complete all of the financial aid application forms required by your college by the deadlines they requested? When you applied…did you check the box that said you didn’t need financial aid? </p>
<p>Call the financial aid office immediately.</p>
<p>When you got your ED letter of acceptance and agreed to attend, did you inquire about your financial aid status at that time? Was there a priority deadline for financial aid forms for your school?</p>
<p>In any event…you need to call the school. If you need financial aid and didn’t get any, you will either need to figure out another way to pay for the school OR you will need to figure out another school to attend where you can pay the bills.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Rentof2 brings up a good point that I almost mentioned. If you have an on-line sign-in now with the college, go and look at see what everything says on your account, you can do that today/tomorrow before the finaid office is open…these days most colleges and unis have that info and all the cashiering information on-line. Also if you used a particular e-mail address when you did your college applications, etc., make sure you are continuing to monitor that e-mail address.</p>
<p>I think this is a hypothetical question, because it would be very unusual for a student to be getting an ED acceptance in July.</p>
<p>In most cases, you will receive your financial aid award along with your acceptance or a few days later because there is a deadline for you to either make a decision to attend or go through the process of being released from your ED agreement.</p>
<p>If you have filed your application correctly and on time and you do not recieve your FA award letter either with your acceptance (or able to access it on-line), then you shoudl immediately contact the FA office.</p>
<p>Agreed with Sybbie. In addition, there are deadlines for ACCEPTING financial aid offers and those have LONG SINCE PAST for students who were accepted ED. </p>
<p>I certainly HOPE this is a hypothetical question…and I agree…ED acceptances are usually in hand by the end of January…not July…with an estimated finaid award.</p>
<p>And for the record…to any student…if you NEED financial aid, you should NOT be accepting an offer of admittance unless and until you receive your finaid info (assuming you completed the forms etc. on time).</p>