We were given advice to pay each acceptance registration fee so we could view financial aid packages for each school. Is this good advice? We assumed we would pay the fee for the school we choose once decision is made. Wondering if we should wait or not. We are pretty sure which school we are going with but are waiting for one more accept/deny to come in.
I have never heard of paying the acceptance registration fee to see a financial aid package! You may pay more than one fee to one school if you are undecided and theoretically negotiating or waiting to get off a waitlist.
Thanks! This is all new to me. First kid in our family to be heading to college. Getting lots of “advice” if you know what I mean. =)
Your kid should receive all of the financial aid offers well before it is necessary to pay any registration fees.
The only reason for paying a deposit before receiving an aid package is if doing so as soon as the kid is admitted will put the kid in line for better housing or preferential course registration.
That’s a relief. I was feeling rushed.
You were given terrible and false advice.
That being said, some schools offer a refundable housing deposit (if withdrawn by a certain date). If your cash flow can handle it and there is a benefit to be had, take that option if given.