<p>We are going through the college application process for the first and only time (our only child) and need some advice/guidance about the acceptance process. Do they receive their acceptance letter then any type of financial package or does it all come at once? I realize schools might all be different but the majority of them - what is a typical process? THANKS in advance for any guidance. </p>
<p>In nearly all cases (son applied to 15 colleges) the FA package was either included with the paper letter or available online on some sort of FA portal on the same day. I remember waiting for quite a while for FA from Lehigh…but I think that was because they accidentally sent us FA for the wrong person…and I <em>think</em> (honestly, even tho it was only a year ago I seemed to have blocked alot of this information! 
a couple of the SUNY schools sent the info out under separate cover. Good luck!</p>
<p>We have NONE of the need-based financial aid information for the 6 college acceptances for my daughter. Two of the acceptances came with merit scholarship amounts. Two others sent separate letters regarding merit. The full packages will be coming, so we hear, sometime around April 1.</p>
<p>When I went through the cycle a few years ago, the aid packages came well after the acceptance letter. </p>
<p>Luckily, you have until May 1 (universally? Almost universally? I’m not sure) to make a decision. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Good point, I was about to say that we heard at about the same time, but that was merit $, and still haven’t heard about FA from any. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. He has 3 EA acceptances and we are waiting until the end of this month for the 3 RD. He did receive a scholarship from 2 of the 3 schools. The 3rd school is our so called state school ( we live in PA) and others have said they don’t do much in that department. So now I guess it is now a waiting game. Thanks again.</p>
<p>We have heard from 4 out of the 5 regarding acceptance. 1 came with merit aid in the letter with acceptance. </p>
<h1>2 acceptance by letter and on portal the same day. A few days later a letter followed with merit aid.</h1>
<h1>3 so far we have acceptance. Anything else if offered comes out soon.</h1>
<p>Our child’s #1 choice (Pa state school) is not known to give out merit aid. A very small percentage of applicants get something. Crossing our fingers, but not holding our breaths.
The last university we have not heard from, is not going to be an option for us unless we get a huge miraculous merit aid that beats #1 choice.
We do not qualify for FA. </p>
<p>Looks like a few PA folks on here - we’re in PA too :). It’s good to know!</p>
<p>Yep, I know people say Penn State good school but so pricey for a state school. And with zero aid it opens the door for some of the other schools. Who knows, time will tell. Good luck to all during this process.</p>
<p>D has gotten 5 acceptances and 4 came with the Merit award in the letter. One OOS state school sent an offer two weeks later. Not expecting need based award. </p>
<p>Thanks Evergreen - we too are not expecting need based but boy wouldn’t that be nice if we were surprised - LOL! Good luck to your D. I guess this will all be decided within weeks now - yikes! (-:</p>
<p>Spygirl has only one acceptance so far ( an in-state) and we have yet to receive any financial information. There have been many Deposit Now! emails but not a word regarding finances.</p>
<p>Thanks Agentninetynine - this process is mind boggling sometimes! We too get emails and actual postcards to send in the deposit for 2 of the 3 acceptances so far - I guess Penn State doesn’t care - lol! (-:</p>
<p>It really depends. If you apply ED, you are likely to receive a FA package early as you need to withdraw the other applications soon. If you apply EA, you may get the admission notice in November or December while the merit aid may take another month or two while the rest of FA package may still not be available until March as it may require your FAFSA and CSS profile. If you apply RD, the FA package is usually available around the time of admission notice as you don’t have much time to make the decision by May1.
For my D who has been admitted by 5 EA schools, one school send her a scholarship notice a couple days before the admission notice in October. Two school admitted her in December that sent her the scholarship notices in January and February respectively. Another school requires a separated application for merit aid which was due in Feb. They sent her the invitation for application after the admission notice. Another school still has not announced any merit aid, if any, to her. In most cases, the admission notices were first received by e-mail while scholarship notices were by snail mail.</p>
<p>Thanks billcsho! Good luck to your D and her college choice. So I think it just comes down to each individual school and how they handle the process. We were excited he made 3 EA out of the 4; one deferral to RD; that was a blow to him but we will hear this weekend about that one. Again GOOD LUCK and thanks for the information!</p>