<p>We filled out the PFA. In the PFS, it has a list of all the schools that we are applying to on it. Will the schools receive the info about all the other schools that we are applying to (ie the whole copy of the PFS) or will each school just get the financial data only with only that particular school listed? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I don’t know, but I would think it is the later. On the other hand, I don’t see how it is going to hurt even if the school gets to see all the other schools you are applying. Besides, this is PFS, so not likely admission side folks going to see it.</p>
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<p>You do realize that at many schools, the director of FA and director of admissions is the same person? If they aren’t the same person, the director of FA is very likely to also be a part of the admissions committee. Just off the top of my head, I can think of three instances where one of my children was interviewed by the director of FA.</p>
<p>They WILL have more qualified FA kids than they have money for, and at some point decisions will be made about who will get the funds and who won’t.</p>
<p>I would say that it is almost certain that the admissions folks will see it.</p>
<p>I spoke to the SSS office and the lady said that they will send the whole PFS to all schools. When match schools see that we are applying to some reach schools, we may see some wait lists/rejections from match schools due to yield reasons. FP applicants will have an advantage as the schools won’t know the other schools they are applying to. I guess it’s not a level playing field when it comes to FA. Why can’t SSS just send the financial data with a list of the schools omitted?</p>
<p>Being quite close to a Director of Financial Aid, I know that all of the schools have access to the same information on the PFS, including which schools will receive the reports. That said, no one knows whether or not you’ve actually completed an application at each school and they certainly don’t know whether or not your child will get an offer of admission or financial aid. The reputable schools want qualified (admission-wise) applicants and aren’t making yield decisions on where an applicant is likely to go - they make their decisions on who they want at their schools.<br>
Even if they did, the match schools should choose to go out on a limb with a “reach” applicant even if they sense he/she will choose a higher tier school. Here’s the logic: if that applicant is so strong that he/she is likely to get snapped up by a reach school, what harm is there in making an offer? My friend’s position is that it’s more self-sabotaging to pass on a strong applicant who’s likely to choose to go elsewhere than it is to have an offer declined. If the school doesn’t make an offer, it’s guaranteed that applicant will go elsewhere. If they do make an offer, they still might not yield the student, but they also might unexpectedly yield him/her and it would be worth it if they slightly overspent the budget to have the student at their school. If the “safety” school isn’t in a position to do that, then you might be applying to the wrong schools. DO tell your favorite school that it is your first choice. (and don’t tell more than one school that - the prepschool world is a small enough community)</p>
<p>Most schools are so bombarded with applications they don’t start looking at those forms until they’ve weeded down their list and are close to a decision (if they are not need blind) or after (if they are).</p>
<p>I wouldn’t sweat it.</p>
<p>malia95, ExieMITAlum: Appreciate your opinions. I prefer simple things to complex things. I don’t see any reason why SSS should include all the schools in PFS. More info than necessary can create a behind the scenes drama in which we have no part. There are posts here on CC that most people applying to Andover and Exeter only get into one school or the other, rarely both. Yield is important to schools because it is one of the factors the schools advertize like high SSATs to attract potential applicants which in turn makes them look very selective.</p>
<p>[thread=904413]Tuft’s Syndrome[/thread]</p>
<p>Every school we applied to asked a question on their application “what other schools are you applying to.” You also have to sign that you have answered all questions factually. So, if you were honest on your application, the school will already know where else you are applying.</p>
<p>None of the GLADCHEMMS schools we applied to asked for other school info in the application. I don’t know what schools you are talking about.</p>
<p>@sunrise: I’m pretty sure one school we applied to (non “GLADCHEMMS”) asked for this info…</p>
<p>I wonder what is the relevance of that info on the application for admission?</p>
<p>It isn’t.</p>
<p>Also - I’ll save this for the thousandth time - some students DO get into both schools. They don’t cross pollinate. The reason why so many do NOT get into both schools is because the personality is so different. Honestly. </p>
<p>They are not looking for the same “kids.” If anything, they pride themselves on being different. And if they were worried about “yield” how would they know unless they called each other to negotiate (they don’t). Nor do they know the student’s preference or first choice in many cases. So the theory doesn’t jive with the reality.</p>
<p>But no amount of saying that will get people to think otherwise.</p>
<p>I do agree, however, the PFS should not list the other schools. I might ask an officer if they really do.</p>
<p>I think my d was asked at her interviews what other schools she was looking at, but I don’t remember it on any applications.</p>
<p>At least one of the schools my child applied to this year asked on the application. It’s actually not the “top” schools that, in this example, matter any way.<br>
Between my 2 children, they interviewed at 14 different schools in the last 3 years. Applied to 8 different schools. At both “top” schools and others of all “levels” (I don’t into the whole “levels” or “tiers” of schools, but that’s another topic). The application had it on at least half of them. They were asked at the interview at every single one. Obviously, you don’t have to answer all of them there and interviewing/applying are different. </p>
<p>I know of a few instances where a student was waitlisted at a school that thought they were a “safety” school. In one of them, the school called and asked the placement counselor if they were the student’s first choice. They said if they were, this child was in, if not, it was a waitlist…which would change if the student changed their mind.</p>
<p>I know of another who was accepted with a much better aid package at the “lower tier” school in an effort to get them to attend. And other that was accepted with a FA waitlist (which it was implied by a conversation that if the student had called and made it clear they were first choice, that money would have become available.)</p>