<p>Since our flagship state school has rolling admissions DS will apply in July or August. When would they notify him if he got a merit scholarship? I've read and school website said most merit scholarships are first come, first serve. Since financial aide forms are not available until January 1 would it be February or later before he knows what aide he's getting or does he fill one out now? Are housing deposits for rolling admisssion schools usually due at the time of acceptance or closer to May?</p>
<p>If it is a true merit scholarships and doesn't have need as a factor, then they could give your S one before you fill out FA forms in Jan (they are not available earlier). My D applied to at a rolling school and got a merit award in the fall when she got her acceptance letter. However, what I'd do is call up the school and ask when they usually make the awards as all schools are different. </p>
<p>As far as housing, your S should have until May to give them his decision and would send in the deposit at that time.</p>
<p>When a college actually notifies of merit awards depends on the college and the fact that it is rolling admissions does not help in answering the question since some of those may give notice in fall but many of those don't until sometime in March or April. Thus, you need to check with the particular college as to what it does.</p>
<p>The same applies to housing, i.e, you need to check with particular college. Note, however, many rolling admissions schools allow you to apply for housing once you are admitted AND follow a rule that housing choices are awarded in order of receipt of applications for it, thus waiting to May to apply for housing can mean you get none or some temporary space. A prime example is Auburn. It begins taking admission applications on a rolling admission basis in June and housing applications beginning in July from those admitted. Often by December or January, all housing is already full and it does not guarantee housing to freshman.</p>
<p>Also, many housing deposits are refundable, since schools know that they can replace the student in the bed with those who applied later. Check for that as well.</p>
<p>The one thing the school is not allowed to do is require an attendance deposit before May 1.</p>