Columbia Class of 2016 Forum

[smdpnp]

Hello ladies and gents, looks like I'll be joining you in Morningside.

[djwjddl]

anybody going to "Mondays at Columbia" this monday? Think it's the last one. Also, for anyone who's been, how was the apartment viewing portion? Did they show you multiple housing options?

[smdpnp]

anybody going to "Mondays at Columbia" this monday? Think it's the last one. Also, for anyone who's been, how was the apartment viewing portion? Did they show you multiple housing options?

I'm definitely going if I can get back to the city in time. Also interested in hearing about the apartment viewings.

[Bob-Loblaw 1]

Checking in, just got accepted! Couldn't be happier.

[permapress]

hi guys, so excited to be here! quick question, do you know if we can email the financial aid office our aid questionnaire and income tax forms? i need a decision asap, so i figured emailing would be the quickest...

[beepboopbeep]

hi guys, so excited to be here! quick question, do you know if we can email the financial aid office our aid questionnaire and income tax forms? i need a decision asap, so i figured emailing would be the quickest...

I asked on the phone a while back and the answer is: yes.

(They don't like you to, for security reasons, so I faxed from work. But they WILL take them.)

[Bob-Loblaw 1]

Do most people try to find their own apartments or is grad housing the way to go?

[helix23]

hi guys, so excited to be here! quick question, do you know if we can email the financial aid office our aid questionnaire and income tax forms? i need a decision asap, so i figured emailing would be the quickest...

LOLOL good luck getting that decision asap

[permapress]

hi guys, so excited to be here! quick question, do you know if we can email the financial aid office our aid questionnaire and income tax forms? i need a decision asap, so i figured emailing would be the quickest...

LOLOL good luck getting that decision asap

:'( :'( that doesn't bode well...

[moonman157]

Officially finally for real checking in here! Can't wait for August!

[J90]

Officially finally for real checking in here! Can't wait for August!

Congrats, man! Glad to have you going too.

[arrggg]

Has anyone been successful in getting CLS to increase their initial grant offer? I sent them an email asking them to increase my grant money, and I'm wondering if it's a lost cause.

[djwjddl]

anyone know why columbia locks in their grants for 3 years? i mean the purpose of offering need-based grants is that it's "need-based" and that need can certainly change year-to-year. i'm particularly concerned, as i'm sure others are, because i'm not a k-jd, and i will obviously not be employed in the current position i'm in when i enter law school. Thus, arguably, i should be eligible for more need-based during my second year, assuming my parents' financial status remains virtually unchanged.

does anyone know if fin aid at cls tries to address this issue somehow?

[ph5354a]

anyone know why columbia locks in their grants for 3 years? i mean the purpose of offering need-based grants is that it's "need-based" and that need can certainly change year-to-year. i'm particularly concerned, as i'm sure others are, because i'm not a k-jd, and i will obviously not be employed in the current position i'm in when i enter law school. Thus, arguably, i should be eligible for more need-based during my second year, assuming my parents' financial status remains virtually unchanged.

does anyone know if fin aid at cls tries to address this issue somehow?

It doesn't seem purely need-based. Also, generally speaking, most places evaluate need by your financial status going into college. If they re-evaluated it every year, then I would assume everyone would appear to be eligible for need-based aid, since no one will have a job and there would be no way to differentiate among who is most needy.

On the other hand, I'm not a K-JD either, but I supposedly showed well enough on Need Access and the questionnaire that I do not earn enough to save for law school and my parents aren't contributing either, because I got a $40k (total) grant. Again, I'm not convinced it's entirely need-based.

[djwjddl]

anyone know why columbia locks in their grants for 3 years? i mean the purpose of offering need-based grants is that it's "need-based" and that need can certainly change year-to-year. i'm particularly concerned, as i'm sure others are, because i'm not a k-jd, and i will obviously not be employed in the current position i'm in when i enter law school. Thus, arguably, i should be eligible for more need-based during my second year, assuming my parents' financial status remains virtually unchanged.

does anyone know if fin aid at cls tries to address this issue somehow?

It doesn't seem purely need-based. Also, generally speaking, most places evaluate need by your financial status going into college. If they re-evaluated it every year, then I would assume everyone would appear to be eligible for need-based aid, since no one will have a job and there would be no way to differentiate among who is most needy.

On the other hand, I'm not a K-JD either, but I supposedly showed well enough on Need Access and the questionnaire that I do not earn enough to save for law school and my parents aren't contributing either, because I got a $40k (total) grant. Again, I'm not convinced it's entirely need-based.

wait, what? why do they ask for your most recent income tax statement, or any other financial information regarding your post-college employment then? if my parents won the lottery after i entered college, that wouldn't matter?

[ph5354a]

It doesn't seem purely need-based. Also, generally speaking, most places evaluate need by your financial status going into college. If they re-evaluated it every year, then I would assume everyone would appear to be eligible for need-based aid, since no one will have a job and there would be no way to differentiate among who is most needy.

On the other hand, I'm not a K-JD either, but I supposedly showed well enough on Need Access and the questionnaire that I do not earn enough to save for law school and my parents aren't contributing either, because I got a $40k (total) grant. Again, I'm not convinced it's entirely need-based.

wait, what? why do they ask for your most recent income tax statement, or any other financial information regarding your post-college employment then? if my parents won the lottery after i entered college, that wouldn't matter?

Right, they ask for your most recent tax returns to evaluate your current financial status (or, 2012 status). I don't have my award letter in front of me, but I think there's some vague language in there about informing them of any changes in your financial status, like marriage, etc. Winning the lottery would probably fall into that category. But, if they're evaluating your financial status independent of your parents, then theoretically that wouldn't matter anyways, but I get your point. I just meant that re-evaluating financial need each year would be largely pointless, because everybody would appear to have great financial need, since we're students, and it would be impossible for them to prioritize aid to those who have the most need.

[Audeamus]

accepted earlier today! still can't believe it.

[moonman157]

accepted earlier today! still can't believe it.

Congrats!!!

[ph5354a]

Has anyone negotiated yet with Columbia? If so, did you just send an email to the fin aid email address?

[arrggg]

Has anyone negotiated yet with Columbia? If so, did you just send an email to the fin aid email address?

I sent an e-mail to fin aid on Monday. Still haven't heard anything from them (not even acknowledgement that they received it).

[helix23]

Has anyone negotiated yet with Columbia? If so, did you just send an email to the fin aid email address?

I sent an e-mail to fin aid on Monday. Still haven't heard anything from them (not even acknowledgement that they received it).

They won't acknowledge it. Calling works better than email.

[tkim129]

Checking in. Admitted on 4/16. Congrats to all my new fellow Lions!

Excited for CLS, but not forward to looking having finances comparable to the federal budget.

So...Big Law or Bust 2016

[ph5354a]

Has anyone negotiated yet with Columbia? If so, did you just send an email to the fin aid email address?

I sent an e-mail to fin aid on Monday. Still haven't heard anything from them (not even acknowledgement that they received it).

They won't acknowledge it. Calling works better than email.

Just submitted my appeal. I'll follow-up in person on Monday.

[Bob-Loblaw 1]

Checking in. Admitted on 4/16. Congrats to all my new fellow Lions!

Congrats!

[txdude45]

So, I reached under my bed and found some money to reduce my debt load. I'll be depositing at Columbia tomorrow!