So I read somewhere that Princeton ( need-blind) first reviews the applications and sends the list of admitted students to the FA office so that they can offer you FA. Does this mean that only the applications of admitted students will be reviewed by the FA office? I know this question is kinda stupid but I was just curious.
Thanks.
Admissions decisions are made without looking at FAFSA or CSS profile. Once accepted, they will offer the FA.
JasonLIE, my DD also received an e-mail from Princeton FA office that she needs to complete and submit the Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA). I hope it is a positive sign.
Hard to say what the exact procedures and sequence of events are at any given school. Some financial aid offices will start making sure the files are compete for all students who have compete applications in at admissions. At that time admissions gives fin aid the list of all students whose applications are complete and are being considered, not those who are accepted. Fin aid then reviews those students’ financial aid files and sends out a list of what is still needed, such as FAFSA and reminders of what will be needed for the awards to actually be turned over to the student. They cannot wait until the actual accept lists are out to start their end of the process since the aid packages are usually sent out at the same time as the accept letters. So they get all their ducks in a row so that they can move quickly when they get the actual accept lists. In fact, they may just put together awards as they have complete files while they are not as busy and pitch the packages that turn out to be for those who were not accepted. Think of the tight timing involved.
So it is normal to get notices of what is needed from fin aid without it being any sign of being accepted.
Thanks cptofthehouse for the clarification.
@cptofthehouse Thanks for the clarification!
@Ptryoon Wow I’m surprised that Pton already started contacting students. Would you mind sharing your stats just briefly?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1475284-email-from-fa-office-does-it-mean-anything-p1.html
Please check this thread out @ptryoon. All of the people who got an email from the the FA office have been accepted so I think it is certainly a positive sign for you! But, at the same time, I’m a bit confused since its only mid-February and I doubt that they have already finished reviewing applications.
That thread is a couple years old and since then there definitely HAVE been students who received the FA request who were not admitted. Princeton admissions may have recognized that it was being viewed as an early indicator of admission and since changed its practice to include a wider scope of potential students who they were considering for admission.
JasonLIE, my daughter applied as RD. We’ve been checking the application status online, which only indicates that the application is complete. Out of no where, my DD received the e-mail from Pton FA office today. It may not be the indicator, but at least not a negative sign. Anyhow, I would strongly doubt that Pton FA office would review all 30K plus applications and my assumption is that by now, the admissions office should have identified the most of potential candidates for acceptance. At least we hope that is the case.
I received a financial aid reminder this fall after applying EA and then was deferred. Take that as you will.
http://admission.princeton.edu/applyingforadmission/application-dates-deadlines
The deadline for RD was the 1st of February. Of course they have to send reminders if you have not submitted the application by that date. At least I find that to be the most logical explanation.
Thank you all for the clarification. At least we are glad that the FA office reminded us since we were not aware of the specific requirement.
@Ptryoon I got that email as well. I agree that the FA office will not have the time to review 30k applications but I’m trying not to get my hopes up. 
@JasonLie If you also got the email, do you mind sharing it with us? My email reads,
"You indicated you intend to apply for financial aid but have not yet submitted the Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA). This form is available on the Web at https://finaidapp.princeton.edu/app/loginFreshman.jsp.
If you do not intend to apply for financial aid, please email our office at pfaa@princeton.edu so we may update our records. If you previously informed our office you are no longer applying for aid, please disregard this email."
All of the ivies are need blind. You cannot be offered financial aid, unless all paperwork is completed. They are asking you to complete paperwork. You cannot go back and complete the paper work after an acceptance
@ricck1 - This is not true. Princeton will accept financial aid applications long after acceptances have been announced. Please don’t spread false information.
Additionally if your financial circumstances change after having submitted the FAA, you may resubmit and they will re-evaluate your situation.
@sherpa I am not sure you are correct. These are legal binding contracts. You cannot redo paper work after an acceptance. You may be able to for the following year, but not for the current year.
Binding contracts? They’re offers by the college to the student’s family. Barring any changes – they proceed if both parties agree. But certainly the college is aware that severe financial issues can arise at any time. A college like PTon would be pretty stupid to encumber a family whose financial situation unexpected fell off a cliff.
@ricck1 - You may be “not sure” I am correct, but I am absolutely sure that you are incorrect. Princeton’s policy is to accept and process financial aid applications well into the school year for all students, including freshmen who neglected to apply for FA when they applied. I remember this from when my son was a freshman but, just to be sure, I called the FA office today and was assured that the policy hasn’t changed.