SSS/Financial Aid Verification - Tip-off of Admissions Decision?

Here’s an interesting one–I got an email just two days ago from SSS (the software portal that manages the financial aid applications)–they said that “we have accepted/verified your documents for PEA”. I called SSS and asked why they didn’t accept/verify for the other three schools I applied to. They said “some schools notify us, and some don’t, etc.”. Plus, it appears that the other schools have later deadlines for final tax returns, etc.

So, it turns out that it was PEA that initiated this (i.e. contacted SSS to confirm everything is OK). I note that the deadline (and the day I actually submitted all the financial aid forms) was weeks ago. I get the sense that, especially at this late date, PEA wouldn’t be wasting time/resources attending to the financial aid applications of the thousands of applicants they are rejecting.

Logically, the fact that they are attending to my financial aid application (at this late date) means that an admissions decision has already been rendered, and they are now preparing the financial aid award. Correct? Am I jumping to an unwarranted conclusion here?

I wouldn’t read anything into it. It ONLY means that they reviewed your forms and bothered to tell SSS.

But why would they bother reviewing my financial aid forms at this late date (and the financial aid forms of hundreds or thousands of applicants they already know won’t be admitted) if I haven’t been admitted? Surely, the schools at this point have made all or most of their admissions decisions. Why would they waste all of that time and those resources? Doesn’t make sense.

Has anyone else on this board applied to PEA and for financial aid? Have you gotten an email from SSS or not? Would be curious if there is anyone who has not gotten an email (but submitted all of their forms on time). That should answer the question.

If this is true then good job on getting into Exeter!!! ^:)^

We received an email titled, “Family Portal: All Documents Received Confirmation,” with the opening paragraph, “We are writing to let you know that all required documents for PFS #Phillips Exeter Academy have been received and successfully processed by SSS.” We received this a month ago, though, so maybe not the same thing…?

Yes, that’s the same email. Well, if you got it a month ago, then maybe it doesn’t mean anything as far as admissions. Was just curious as the timing on ours seemed meaningful. I guess we’ll know everything in a week!

They need to review the docs in order to determine which and how many FA kids they can afford to admit.

I recall that we received such an email from a school asking us to submit additional forms in order to complete review. I dont think you can read anything into it. ANYONE who applies for financial aid will have that portion of their application vetted/processed for validity–meaning you qualify for nothing, something or everything ad we need to know all of this s we are making admissions decisions

Actually, I don’t think that’s true–you simply check a box on the Candidate Profile indicating whether you are applying for financial aid, and if you are, then you’re in the pool of FA applicants. If you’re not, then you’re in the pool of FP applicants. I don’t think they discriminate for admissions purposes between partial pay and full FA (they just assume, worst case, that all FA applicants will be full FA), and in fact, if you look at the stats, the average FA award at PEA is something like 44K, i.e. close to free ride.

Also, I think “validity” means whether the numbers you put in on the SSS form match your tax returns and perhaps other independent verification. I don’t think it has anything to do with whether or how much you qualify for–although SSS does generate an “Expected Family Contribution” number, the schools make it clear that they are not bound by that.

Anyway, not worth spinning the wheels over further–just an inside baseball sort of curiosity.

Something similar just happened with us. One school called me last week to ask for a tax document that apparently has two pages and I had uploaded one. Then they reminded me to get in the 2017 taxes asap also. At the same time, I received that SSS email. I’ve received it two or three times now. Another school made contact saying, “I was just checking the status of child’s financial aid application…”

I didn’t make anything of it at the time so it will be very interesting next week to see if there was anything to it or not!

Well, that sounds like actually even more of a sign than just the SSS emails. Sounds like those schools are working on his/her financial aid award letter and are anxious for you to get the missing forms in so they can finalize the award letter by March 10th. I’m skeptical that the schools put work into reviewing financial aid documents for kids that won’t be admitted. It would just be an unnecessary huge burden and waste of resources. Also note the timelines / deadlines: financial aid applications are due later than admission applications. Were your SSS emails received recently or farther back (like a month ago)?

So one school emailed me on February 21 to ask me for something and the other school called and emailed on February 28th. The SSS emails were last week but also coincided with my uploading the final taxes — came right after. Another SSS email came about two weeks ago.

We have literally days left now and the great mystery will be over! I’m just hoping that IF my kid is accepted and IF she’s offered FA, then it’s enough to go!

Onwards to M10!!!

@AlfalfaGuy Sort of. Although I did not receive an email from SSS, Exeter has been emailing my mother as we are in a very, per se, unique situation, and they have been assisting her with the international financial aid forms. They have been in contact with her since early February. Although it makes logical sense that they have already made the decision to admit us, I wouldn’t read too much into as it would be devasting if we turn out to be denied. Best of luck, AlfalfaGuy!

Gaaaah! I just received another SSS email telling me that they cannot process one of the documents! Really? I uploaded it in November and M10 is five days away!!! Now I have to figure out what exactly is the problem.

One school keeps asking me for my fathers 2017 1040. He just got it done. Is this a sign? He tells me that they need the tax documents for an official grant. Unless they want to accept me, why would they be trying to finalize my documents?

If it’s past the deadline they established then your FA application is incomplete. They likely have a checklist and that box is not checked. It could be good news but until M10 you just never know. Best of luck!