<p>Has anyone gone to the FA office while visiting a college, with tax return in hand, or a recent fafsa and/or profile form from an older sib and asked for an estimate prior to applying? Was that estimate on the mark? Do most FA offices welcome parents in for an early estimate? Feel free to send a PM to me instead, if you'd rather not post.</p>
<p>It’s not a bad idea to visit FA when going on those college tours. It’s always better when they can attach a face, a person to the form. That’s why adcoms encourage visits. There is only so much a piece of paper can do. So unless. you are the sort of person who puts off others, it is a good idea. Better yet, your child should visit and make some inquiries. I don’t know abut coming with tax return in hand and asking for commitment on the spot; I would think that would be an individual thing. But a visit and some well directed questions (Carolyn has the best stuff on this) certainly can help. Sometimes admissions and FA share the office, or is the same person, so it is good to get a read on the situation and by visiting, you are letting them know that the school is a serious consideration, and that the aid is important in your consideration.</p>
<p>You can certainly ask if they’ll do an “early read” of your FA form prior to ED submission; some schools do (even if they don’t publicize it too well!).</p>