Columbia vs. Penn $$ Forum

mcweanis · Post by **mcweanis** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:39 pm

Hello! This is my first post ever on TLS, but I've been reading since December LSATs; the stress/need to communicate has already overwhelmed me. This is kind of a complicated question..

I was invited to apply for the Toll Public Interest scholarship at Penn, which is about 120k. I have no idea how many people are invited to apply or what my chances are, but I have applied and will find out in the beginning of April.

I've also been accepted to Columbia, which is my top choice, but I don't think I'm going to get any money there because my parents are rich-ish and I have heard they don't have any merit money except Hamiltons.

The problem is, if I get accepted for the Toll, I have to accept or deny it within 48 hours - and since the Columbia financial aid deadline is tomorrow, I have a feeling I won't heard about how much money I'm getting from them yet, and I won't have time in 48 hours to contact them and try to negotiate something.

Is anyone going through something similar? I know Penn sets it up this way specifically so I CANT leverage their offer, but I would hate to choose Penn and then end up getting enough money at Columbia to convince me to go there!

mcweanis · Post by **mcweanis** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:42 pm

Oh yea - also, I haven't heard from HYS yet, and probably won't in time to factor them in to my decision! (I'm probably dinged anyway though.)

eaa1537 · Post by **eaa1537** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:49 pm

mcweanis wrote:Hello! This is my first post ever on TLS, but I've been reading since December LSATs; the stress/need to communicate has already overwhelmed me. This is kind of a complicated question..
I was invited to apply for the Toll Public Interest scholarship at Penn, which is about 120k. I have no idea how many people are invited to apply or what my chances are, but I have applied and will find out in the beginning of April.
I've also been accepted to Columbia, which is my top choice, but I don't think I'm going to get any money there because my parents are rich-ish and I have heard they don't have any merit money except Hamiltons.
The problem is, if I get accepted for the Toll, I have to accept or deny it within 48 hours - and since the Columbia financial aid deadline is tomorrow, I have a feeling I won't heard about how much money I'm getting from them yet, and I won't have time in 48 hours to contact them and try to negotiate something.
Is anyone going through something similar? I know Penn sets it up this way specifically so I CANT leverage their offer, but I would hate to choose Penn and then end up getting enough money at Columbia to convince me to go there!

I'm in a VERY similar situation. I was invited for the Levy and have been admitted to Columbia as well. I think I read somewhere that 30-50 are invited for the Levy, not sure about the Toll. I'm surprised you only have 48 hours to accept or deny, I have until April 14 I believe, which is important for me becuase I am planning on using it for leverage. It is true they don't have any official merit awards besides the Hamilton and Butler, but I have seen others who have gotten awards from them after successful negotiation, so hopefully that works out well for me too lol.

But I think your choice will come down to what you're interests are. Personally, if I get the Levy, I will probably take it, unless I fall in love with Columbia and hate Penn when I visit. Now if I get into Harvard, that's a whole different story and I will probably turn it all down and attend.

spondee · Post by **spondee** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:51 pm

You may still get aid from Columbia. Many do - even feeling as you do that they don't qualify for need-based aid.

And more importantly, don't hesitate to contact Columbia if/when you hear about the Toll fellowship. Even if you only have 48 hours, call Columbia immediately and talk to them about your situation. If Columbia's your first choice, you'd want to put your cards on the table.

glewz · Post by **glewz** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:52 pm

spondee wrote:You may still get aid from Columbia. Many do - even feeling as you do that they don't qualify for need-based aid.

And more importantly, don't hesitate to contact Columbia if/when you hear about the Toll fellowship. Even if you only have 48 hours, call Columbia immediately and talk to them about your situation. If Columbia's your first choice, you'd want to put your cards on the table.

+1

mcweanis · Post by **mcweanis** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:59 pm

What if I end up deferring? If I don't get the Toll, I will choose Columbia and defer - but does that mean I won't get any money since I'm already committed to go and they don't have to convince me?

PS - I'm scared Penn is going to tell me on a Friday or something so Columbia will be closed and I won't be able to call!

eaa1537 · Post by **eaa1537** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:11 pm

mcweanis wrote:What if I end up deferring? If I don't get the Toll, I will choose Columbia and defer - but does that mean I won't get any money since I'm already committed to go and they don't have to convince me?
PS - I'm scared Penn is going to tell me on a Friday or something so Columbia will be closed and I won't be able to call!

I'm pretty sure that I've read Columbia doesn't just give out any merit awards other than Hamilton or Butler without negotiation. So since you won't qualify for need based, unless you have an offer from another school to negotiate with, chances are you probably wont get money from Columbia. So deferring wouldn't really change anything anyway. Have you gotten any offers from other schools yet? If you're really worried I would try to compile all offers you have and as soon as you hear back from Penn, send Columbia an email with PDF attachments of your award letters, and give them a call right after you send it. Even if Penn tells you on a Friday, it will probably still be during business hours, so you can still try contacting Columbia asap.

mcweanis · Post by **mcweanis** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:14 pm

i've been accepted to Penn, Georgetown, NYU and Columbia, but no offers of any kind. I'm finishing my financial aid apps today.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:16 pm

I can't help with a decision between a substantial scholarship from Penn & your dream school of Columbia. I am curious, however, as to your preferences if you were accepted to Harvard, Yale & Stanford on top of Columbia, NYU & Penn.

mcweanis · Post by **mcweanis** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:18 pm

my numbers and softs are great but i don't think they are hys quality, so i haven't really thought about it that much. i really dont know what i'd do.

eaa1537 · Post by **eaa1537** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:30 pm

mcweanis wrote:i've been accepted to Penn, Georgetown, NYU and Columbia, but no offers of any kind. I'm finishing my financial aid apps today.

I think even if you don't get the Toll, you will still get a good amount of $$ from Penn. They don't just invite anyone, so chances are they really liked something about you and will offer you $$ even if it is not the full amount. If I were you, I would then use this to get something from Columbia, they might not match it all but they might give you something! That might make it easier for you to choose Columbia over Penn. And isn't the Toll a public interest scholarship? I think Columbia has a pretty good LRAP, maybe that would tip the scale towards Columbia regardless?

jtemp320 · Post by **jtemp320** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:32 pm

eaa1537 wrote:
mcweanis wrote:Hello! This is my first post ever on TLS, but I've been reading since December LSATs; the stress/need to communicate has already overwhelmed me. This is kind of a complicated question..
I was invited to apply for the Toll Public Interest scholarship at Penn, which is about 120k. I have no idea how many people are invited to apply or what my chances are, but I have applied and will find out in the beginning of April.
I've also been accepted to Columbia, which is my top choice, but I don't think I'm going to get any money there because my parents are rich-ish and I have heard they don't have any merit money except Hamiltons.
The problem is, if I get accepted for the Toll, I have to accept or deny it within 48 hours - and since the Columbia financial aid deadline is tomorrow, I have a feeling I won't heard about how much money I'm getting from them yet, and I won't have time in 48 hours to contact them and try to negotiate something.
Is anyone going through something similar? I know Penn sets it up this way specifically so I CANT leverage their offer, but I would hate to choose Penn and then end up getting enough money at Columbia to convince me to go there!
I'm in a VERY similar situation. I was invited for the Levy and have been admitted to Columbia as well. I think I read somewhere that 30-50 are invited for the Levy, not sure about the Toll. I'm surprised you only have 48 hours to accept or deny, I have until April 14 I believe, which is important for me becuase I am planning on using it for leverage. It is true they don't have any official merit awards besides the Hamilton and Butler, but I have seen others who have gotten awards from them after successful negotiation, so hopefully that works out well for me too lol.

But I think your choice will come down to what you're interests are. Personally, if I get the Levy, I will probably take it, unless I fall in love with Columbia and hate Penn when I visit. Now if I get into Harvard, that's a whole different story and I will probably turn it all down and attend.

+1 but with the James Wilson which is smaller

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