<p>Daughter was admitted to her first choice OOS university and did not apply for need based aide. She did apply for scholaships and has not yet heard and probably will not hear for another week or two or possibly longer. She wants me to pay the admission deposit so that she can move forward on housing decisions, orientation etc. and I was looking for input if whether paying the admissions deposit will have any impact on the scholarship decision process. In other words, will the university be less likely to offer a scholarship to someone who has already decided that they are enrolling as opposed to someone who they are waiting to hear from????? Your thoughts on this are appreciated.</p>
<p>The chances a deposit will affect a scholarship decision (either way) are pretty slim. In my experience, they are very separate considerations for schools.</p>
<p>And at many schools, the earlier you deposit, the more likely your D will get the dorm she wants, a “good” orientation date, etc. So there’s a big incentive to pay the deposit if this is the case at your D’s school.</p>
<p>And, at many schhols deposits are mostly refundable if your D decides to go elsewhere and lets the school know before May 1. (Check to see if that’s the case at D’s school.)</p>
<p>My advice is to deposit unless you know something about this school’s policies that indicates otherwise.</p>
<p>Unless you might not be able to afford the school, send in the deposit. It shouldn’t affect merit aid, but …</p>
<p>My son was given a full tuition scholarship from an outside source to attend a school. When making merit aid decisions, the department had limited funds and took into account that he was receiving that scholarship when awarding him merit aid (I know one of the professors, so that is how I know).</p>
<p>Most schools will consider other scholarships when either awarding, or more commonly processing, merit aid. So, for example, outside scholarships are “deducted” from the school’s merit award when the tuition bill is figured. It’s a way for schools to leverage whatever merit money they have to reach more students.</p>
<p>But this does not affect OP’s deposit question.</p>