Why is a school asking for me to fill out a FAFSA if they haven't given me a decision?

[CBME]

I don't entirely know how the financial aid process usually goes since I did not use it for undergrad (and I'm not sure I'm planning to for grad), but one of the schools I applied to sent me an email to fill it out. The thing I find strange is that the school has still not yet given me an admission decision. Could this affect their decision, or could it be holding it up? Or is it possibly just a bit of spam/mass email?

[RomulusAugustulus]

I think a lot of schools require it to consider you for funding/financial aid (whether or not you need to/intend to take out loans). It's pretty standard. It is also pretty quick and easy to fill out. 

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I would think it is a mass email. Typically you send your FAFSA to all the schools you are applying/considering.

[CBME]

It also has asked me to fill out an "enrollment and housing form". This is a little confusing and cruel that they are sending me strange emails without a decision

[ScannerBrainly]

It happened to me today too! I received an email asking me to fill out a fafsa and an "enrollment and housing form" but haven't heard anything from them yet regarding a decision. Seriously confusing and cruel. Other friends applying to PhD programs did not receive emails like this from schools they haven't received a decision or were rejected from!

[CBME]

Was it for USC? Maybe it was just some sort of mass email to all applicants. I have applied for a Masters and I'm still waiting on the decision

[PsycD]

Notifications to fill out the FAFSA and housing forms prior to final admission decisions being made are normal. Almost all schools send these out at some point during the admissions process. One of my schools had the housing request form as part of the admissions application.

 

There is a priority deadline for applying for financial aid, which often falls before final admissions decisions are made. So, schools send out notifications to make sure students don't miss out. The same is true for housing. Filling out the form early holds your spot, so in the event that you are admitted and want to live in on-campus housing, you'll have a better chance of getting a place before they're all taken.

[RomulusAugustulus]

Yeah, PsycD is right. This is normal for schools and, unfortunately, is completely separate from whether or not you are admitted. Don't read too much into it. But good luck!