This is unfortunately what happens when it's a sellers' market. Being on the other side now, I agree that the application process does not always reflect the values that are expected from applicants (e.g. collegiality, empathy, respect, communication, etc.). It is not unreasonable to expect financial aid information prior to a school's CTE deadline. For those like yourself who have earned multiple acceptances and/or are on waitlists, I recommend being transparent with your schools about your deadlines and priorities.
As an example, let's say minimizing debt is your priority and you have been accepted to two schools (your state school and a private school, with the former being cheaper due to in-state tuition and/or a generous scholarship, and the latter being your top choice). If your state school's CTE deadline is approaching and you have still not received financial aid information from your top choice, it would be prudent to email your top choice with your circumstances and explain how your decision to matriculate to their school will be contingent on receiving timely financial aid and/or scholarship information prior to your state school's CTE deadline. If your top choice wants you, they will make it happen provided sufficient notice is given.
Similarly, if you are accepted to school A and are waitlisted at school B (your top choice), but school A's CTE deadline is approaching, once again, it would be prudent to email your top choice letting them know about your predicament. If your top choice wants you, they will offer an acceptance prior to school A's CTE deadline.
tl;dr:
- Be transparent about your circumstances with schools you are waitlisted at and/or accepted to. If your top choice wants you, they will work with you to make things happen.
- The application process is unfair. Some schools just want to see the world burn.