Question re: Financial Aid?

<p>Yesterday, I got an email with very specific questions about my app for fin. aid. I also received very similar emails from Dartmouth and Williams (and then got likely letters from both).</p>

<p>My stats are as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li>4.0 GPA (my school - one of the best publics in NJ - doesn't rank but I am probably in the top 5-10 people out of a class of 350)</li>
<li>2380 SAT (800V, 800W, 780M)</li>
<li>800 and 760 on 2 SAT IIs</li>
</ul>

<p>I have taken the hardest course load at my school (4 APs up until this year - all 5s) and am taking another 3 this year.</p>

<p>Activities:
I am an all-state trumpet player, editor of the school paper, president of the community service club, captain of the nationally-recognized quiz bowl team, and varsity tennis member.</p>

<p>Main Awards: National Merit Finalist, Cum Laude, Harvard Book Award, Cornell Book Award, AP Scholar with Honor, President's Volunteer Service Award, Scholastic Writing Award (National Gold Medal), Lots of National Service Grants</p>

<p>I am also a legacy (mom and 2 aunts went there, grandpa taught there).</p>

<p>Thoughts?
~ Randy</p>

<p>It looks like you’re probably in if they are asking specific questions… Congrats</p>

<p>How exciting, Randy!</p>

<p>Hey Randy,</p>

<p>That’s great news! I hope Randombetch (CC poster and current student) glances at your stats and also notes that you are a legacy. He seems to think Princeton legacies are subpar. I know however that this is not at all true. </p>

<p>My son is a legacy applicant and his stats are very similar to yours!!</p>

<p>Wow! You guys really think it’s a positive sign! Has anyone else gotten a similar email and gotten in?</p>

<p>Yay! A writer! I was admitted to Princeton through the Questbridge College Match Program in Dec.–I hope you get in!</p>

<p>I think that’s a good sign. I got an email like that from dartmouth</p>

<p>Not to be a downer, but am I the only one here who thinks that this means nothing? Don’t get me wrong…you are a COMPLETE shoo in for Pton as you have such long family ties at the university. However, the office of financial aid at Pton sends emails to ALOT of applicants…many of whom will not get into pton. </p>

<p>However, I might be totally wrong. After all, back when I was waiting for Yale SCEA decisions, I thought that the fact that my regional admissions officer ended his email with “Good Luck!” meant something. It obviously didnt as I was deferred. So, I dont have a “proven record” of reading school admissions offices accurately.</p>

<p>I think it really depends the nature of the questions. Were they REALLY specific, or more like “you’re missing this and this document”?</p>

<p>I’m kind of leaning towards rtgrove’s side here. I don’t think it means something (no offense, you’re an amazing applicant). I mean, do ALL accepted students at Pton, Williams, Dartmouth, etc. receive specific questions about financial aid?</p>

<p>It was specific to the point of asking about my mother’s life insurance policy.</p>

<p>I would say that this is definitely a good sign. Even if this doesn’t mean you’re accepted already, it does at least mean that you haven’t been eliminated yet (which should be somewhat reassuring).</p>

<p>Honestly, though, I don’t see why they would be asking you this stuff if they didn’t know you were already accepted. I mean, I know the Fin Aid department “works separately from admissions” but I also find it nonsensical to believe that the admissions department makes the financial aid people waste their time on applicants who might not even be admitted to the school.</p>

<p>I think that by them just asking you specific questions about your fin. aid application, doesn’t warrant that you’ll get in. But looking at your stats, I think you have a fantastic chance!!! You seem to be really amazing, and it is true that they probably wouldn’t glance at your app that long, if you had no shot. Take it as a good sign!!!</p>

<p>Anymore thoughts on this?</p>