Should I wait for FAFSA aid package before committing to college deposit?
My son got accepted to his dream school but we still haven't received the full financial aid package yet. Meanwhile, the enrollment deposit deadline is approaching fast (May 1st). He's pushing me to just pay the deposit ($650) to secure his spot, but I'm worried that committing early might give the school less incentive to offer us better aid. The initial merit scholarship plus federal loans still leaves us about $14,500 short of our calculated SAI. Would waiting until the absolute last minute for the complete aid package be smarter? Or am I overthinking this and potentially risking his spot for nothing? Other schools are already sending complete packages but this is his top choice and I don't want to mess this up.
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Caesar Grant
just pay the deposit already!! colleges don't play games with aid like that and ur son will be devastated if he loses his spot at dream school. the deposit isn't even that much compared to the tuition anyway
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Philip Cowan
•I know the deposit isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but I'm more concerned about whether committing early impacts their final aid calculations. But you might be right that I'm overthinking this... the May 1 deadline is coming up so quickly.
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Lena Schultz
This is actually a reasonable concern. Schools have a limited financial aid budget, and they sometimes prioritize undecided students with competitive offers to encourage enrollment. However, most reputable schools have already determined your aid package based on your FAFSA information (SAI score, etc). If you're really concerned, you could contact the financial aid office directly and explain your situation - tell them you're very interested but need to see the complete package before making a final decision.
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Gemma Andrews
•Great advice about contacting financial aid directly. You can also ask for a timeline on when you'll receive the complete package. Most schools understand that families need this information to make decisions. Just be polite but direct about your need for this information before the deposit deadline.
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Philip Cowan
•Thank you for this perspective. I've been hesitant to contact them because I didn't want to seem pushy, but you're right - it's a reasonable request given the timeline. I'll call them tomorrow.
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Pedro Sawyer
I was in this exact situation last year with my daughter. We waited until literally the day before the deadline to make our deposit. The school ended up offering an additional $3,800 in institutional grants just 3 days before the deadline! I'm not saying this always happens, but it definitely seemed like they had some last-minute aid money to distribute to serious candidates who hadn't committed yet. If your son REALLY wants this school and would go regardless, maybe split the difference - tell the school how excited he is but that you're waiting on final aid info before making the deposit.
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Mae Bennett
•this is just anecdotal and doesn't mean anything. most schools don't just magically find extra money at the last minute. they probably just processed ur daughters aid package late.
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Pedro Sawyer
•Perhaps, but we had been told our package was final two weeks earlier, then suddenly received this update with additional funds. The timing seemed strategic to me.
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Beatrice Marshall
I've been trying to reach the financial aid office at my son's school for THREE WEEKS about a similar issue. Keep getting voicemail or disconnected. So frustrating! They expect us to make huge financial decisions with incomplete information and impossible deadlines. The whole system is broken!
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Melina Haruko
•Have you tried using Claimyr? I was having the same problem trying to reach financial aid offices before deadlines and it was a lifesaver. Their service connects you directly to representatives without the endless hold times. I got through to financial aid in minutes instead of hours - check out their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or their website claimyr.com. Seriously worth it during these critical college decision weeks.
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Beatrice Marshall
•No, I haven't heard of that. I'll check it out! At this point I'm desperate to talk to an actual person about our aid package.
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Gemma Andrews
Financial aid counselor here. I want to clarify some misconceptions: 1. Deposits don't typically affect aid calculations. Your aid is primarily based on your FAFSA data (SAI), academic merit, and the school's available funding. 2. However, some schools do hold back some institutional aid for undecided students as an enrollment incentive. This isn't universal though. 3. The $14,500 gap between your SAI and the offered aid is concerning. You should absolutely contact the financial aid office to verify this is their final offer and ask about additional options. 4. If the school truly wants your son, they may be able to find additional institutional grants or scholarships to close that gap. I recommend submitting an appeal letter specifically addressing the gap between your SAI and the offered aid. Be specific about what would make attendance possible. Don't wait until the absolute last minute - they need time to review appeals.
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Philip Cowan
•Thank you for this detailed response! I didn't realize I could submit a formal appeal based on the gap between SAI and offered aid. I assumed we'd just have to accept whatever package they offered. I'll draft a letter today and follow up with a call. The $14,500 gap would require significant additional loans that we hadn't planned for.
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Mae Bennett
tbh ur overthinking. if its ur sons dream school and he got accepted just pay it. most of these schools have formulas for aid and waiting wont change anything. the SAI is what it is. my daughter commited early to her school and still got decent aid later
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Philip Cowan
•That's reassuring to hear. Did you receive the aid package before or after committing? The timing is what's making me anxious.
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Lena Schultz
Based on your situation, here's what I recommend: 1. Contact the financial aid office immediately (phone and email) 2. Explain your situation - accepted but waiting on final aid before deposit 3. Ask for a timeline on the complete package 4. If they can't provide it before the deadline, ask if you can make a partial deposit to hold the spot while finalizing aid 5. If needed, request a formal appeal based on the gap between your SAI and current offer Most importantly, don't let the May 1 deadline pass without some kind of action. Some schools may offer deposit extensions if you're actively working with financial aid, but don't assume this without confirming.
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Philip Cowan
•This is an excellent step-by-step plan! I think the partial deposit idea is brilliant - I didn't even realize that might be an option. I'll follow these exact steps tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for laying this out so clearly.
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Amara Eze
As someone who went through this process recently, I'd recommend calling the financial aid office first thing Monday morning. Most schools are understanding about families needing complete information before the May 1 deadline. When I called about my daughter's package, they were able to expedite the remaining paperwork and gave us the full picture within 48 hours. The key is being proactive rather than waiting - they often have the information ready but haven't processed it yet. Also, ask specifically if there are any additional merit scholarships or grants you haven't been considered for yet. Sometimes there are departmental scholarships that aren't automatically included in the initial package.
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