<p>So if I applied to 20 schools, got accepted at 10 and narrowed it down to 5, would I apply for financial aid to all of those 5 schools to see who would give me the most aid. Is that how it works?</p>
<p>It might be advantageous to apply for financial aid from all the schools that accept you. One that didn’t make the final five might seem a lot more attractive after you see their financial aid package.</p>
<p>Financial aid applications don’t work that way. You need to apply for financial aid when you apply for admission, or you will miss the boat. Admissions acceptances for Regular Decision come out on or after April 1st. You can’t wait until then to apply for FA. For each school that you apply to, check the specific timelines for financial aid on each of the school’s sites. Most schools will require tax forms, CSS profile, etc, by March 1st - well before you’ll get your admissions decision. If you are hoping for Federal Aid (ie, Pell Grant), you should file the FAFSA as soon after Jan 1st as possible - using estimated financial info and then updating it when taxes are complete.</p>