has anyone been contacted via email from the the financial aid department for more information regarding financial aid eligibility?
Yes, I got asked to send in the 2014 tax return and the FAFSA. I sent in the tax return, but since FAFSA does not come out until Jan, I am wondering if they will give me a preliminary estimate.
@NSG420 yeah i am wondering that too, are you taking it as a good sign that they are requiring more information?
My S is applying EA as well. We have not heard a word, for real. If I were you, guys, I would take the request for further financial info as a good sign. Congrats!
Got the same letter today.
I read it as, whatever aid figure is given in the “tentative” aid offer around the December 15 or December 31 time frame (my D’s application was EA), has to be validated by sending the tax return and completing the FAFSA, before the Offer of Financial Assistance can be finalized and considered official.
I’m going to call them tomorrow to confirm.
More info here http://www.northeastern.edu/financialaid/aid/undergraduateyouraward/
@ohiovalley16 that is true only if we are accepted, or are you hinting that because we got these emails that a tentative offer already exists? sorry if I’m misinterpreting
@TomSrOfBoston provides a lot of credible information about Northeastern, presumably from personal experience, so I would defer to him on that.
I’m just a parent of a first-time applicant. I formed an impression from the wording of the letter and the Web site information as well as comments on some other NEU threads (and a gut feel for what I think are her odds of admission), but I do plan to call the FA office and speak with someone who can confirm or correct.
I did notice the letter wasn’t on red NEU letterhead (looked like a B&W photocopy) and wasn’t signed, so it could possibly have been a mass mailing to many applicants without regard to their status. But I don’t know enough to draw a conclusion.
She says she didn’t get an e-mail. Just the letter.
@ohiovalley16 I guess we can only speculate. Although, did yours come specifically from you financial advisor or the financial aid department in general?
@Soccer321123 not sure what you mean by “your financial advisor”? The letter is from the office of Student Financial Services, and the name on it is an “Assistant Director - Fed & State Aid.”
Does the message you received say “Any award that you may be offered will remain tentative until the requested information is received and reviewed” at the end of the first paragraph?
The EA Checklist states “Complete the CSS PROFILE and Non-Custodial Parent PROFILE (if applicable) between October 1 – December 1 to receive a tentative financial aid award along with your admissions decision.” We submitted our CSS Profile on time so I’m hoping this is accurate.
@ohiovalley16 Northeastern provides a financial aid counselor based on last name, it can be found here http://www.northeastern.edu/financialaid/contact/counselors/
My email came from my counselor
No it does not mention anything like that, it just stated that they needed more financial info, of which I provided
^^^ Aha, I did not know that, thank you.
Yes, the name applicable to us at the link you provided is the name that’s on the letter.
Two items from their financial aid FAQ’s link:
“If you have applied for an Early Action admission decision and are interested in financial aid, you should file the CSS PROFILE, available online at profileonline.collegeboard.com by December 1st. You will receive a tentative financial aid award at the same time as your admissions decision at the end of December. To finalize your financial aid award prior to the May 1st deposit, you will also need to file the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov, available after January 1st. For more information about applying for financial aid, please click here.”
“For best consideration for all of Northeastern’s scholarships, you should apply for admission in advance of the January 15 deadline. Students are not required to complete the financial aid applications to be considered for a merit-based scholarship. Your admission application will be reviewed and will serve as the merit scholarship application. No other documents are necesary beyond your admission application.”
@ohiovalley16 so according to that they use FAFSA as a way to confirm or reevaluate your tentative award. That brings up the question on why they would ask for the other documents. My only theory is that its their way to create the most accurate tentative award for EA applicants, at least I hope so. I can’t see them requesting the information and creating a financial award for all their applicants. Maybe I’m just looking for any type of hint. Good luck to D!
@Soccer321123 I believe it will all become clear quite soon. Good luck to you as well.
Update: NEU’s SFS said the 2014 tax return is needed for the tentative financial aid award to be prepared, and the FAFSA is the validator to formalize it (presumably either with or without adjustments) when completed after January 1.
@ohiovalley16 thanks for the update!