Columbia Class of 2017 Forum

[fleurdelis2]

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[jdapplicant]

They emailed me today about missing documents for financial aid. Sighs.

This is my nightmare. Sorry to hear!

[canes14]

At ASW they asked for the info and one of the students I talked to recommended sending it ASAP, so I went for it. Guy at ASW said it could go to financial aid or admissions, either way it would get where it needed to be. I'm just hoping someone actually received it...

[anagram]

Is Columbia open to people negotiating merit scholarships? I've just gotten one from UChicago, but would definitely pick Columbia if they matched it.

I haven't filled out any of the financial aid stuff because it would be an utter waste of time for me. My parents earn enough that I wouldn't be considered for aid, even though they won't be supporting me at all through law school.

I'm kind of worried that it's too late to inquire about scholarships at Columbia because I know you have to apply for them when you're sending in your initial law school application. Was so sure I wasn't going to get in that I didn't even bother... Thanks in advance for the help!

[SplitMyPants]

Has anyone heard back yet regarding non-named merit aid?

[drevo]

Is Columbia open to people negotiating merit scholarships? I've just gotten one from UChicago, but would definitely pick Columbia if they matched it.

I haven't filled out any of the financial aid stuff because it would be an utter waste of time for me. My parents earn enough that I wouldn't be considered for aid, even though they won't be supporting me at all through law school.

I'm kind of worried that it's too late to inquire about scholarships at Columbia because I know you have to apply for them when you're sending in your initial law school application. Was so sure I wasn't going to get in that I didn't even bother... Thanks in advance for the help!

The general consensus is that even if you highly doubt you will earn need based aid you should apply for it because Columbia does sometimes give out aid via the "Need Based Grants" that seem to be more of merit aid than need. There's no downside except for the time it takes to turn in the papers. The worst that happens is they come back and award you $0 in aid and you're none the worse. But there's also a chance that you get something so I really don't see the risk here.

I have no idea how not applying for need based grants affects you trying to leverage another offer but I think you should send in your documents for a Need Based Grant ASAP if you want to maximize your chances.

[jbagelboy]

Is Columbia open to people negotiating merit scholarships? I've just gotten one from UChicago, but would definitely pick Columbia if they matched it.

I haven't filled out any of the financial aid stuff because it would be an utter waste of time for me. My parents earn enough that I wouldn't be considered for aid, even though they won't be supporting me at all through law school.

I'm kind of worried that it's too late to inquire about scholarships at Columbia because I know you have to apply for them when you're sending in your initial law school application. Was so sure I wasn't going to get in that I didn't even bother... Thanks in advance for the help!

The general consensus is that even if you highly doubt you will earn need based aid you should apply for it because Columbia does sometimes give out aid via the "Need Based Grants" that seem to be more of merit aid than need. There's no downside except for the time it takes to turn in the papers. The worst that happens is they come back and award you $0 in aid and you're none the worse. But there's also a chance that you get something so I really don't see the risk here.

I have no idea how not applying for need based grants affects you trying to leverage another offer but I think you should send in your documents for a Need Based Grant ASAP if you want to maximize your chances.

You can only negotiate if you fill out the paperwork. It's not just need based. The grants are a combination. Do FAFSA and NeedAccess ASAP. Then when you Chi deadline is approaching (1 wk out), email Columbia finaid with the competing offer and hope for the best.

[cotiger]

Is Columbia open to people negotiating merit scholarships? I've just gotten one from UChicago, but would definitely pick Columbia if they matched it.

I haven't filled out any of the financial aid stuff because it would be an utter waste of time for me. My parents earn enough that I wouldn't be considered for aid, even though they won't be supporting me at all through law school.

I'm kind of worried that it's too late to inquire about scholarships at Columbia because I know you have to apply for them when you're sending in your initial law school application. Was so sure I wasn't going to get in that I didn't even bother... Thanks in advance for the help!

The general consensus is that even if you highly doubt you will earn need based aid you should apply for it because Columbia does sometimes give out aid via the "Need Based Grants" that seem to be more of merit aid than need. There's no downside except for the time it takes to turn in the papers. The worst that happens is they come back and award you $0 in aid and you're none the worse. But there's also a chance that you get something so I really don't see the risk here.

I have no idea how not applying for need based grants affects you trying to leverage another offer but I think you should send in your documents for a Need Based Grant ASAP if you want to maximize your chances.

You can only negotiate if you fill out the paperwork. It's not just need based. The grants are a combination. Do FAFSA and NeedAccess ASAP. Then when you Chi deadline is approaching (1 wk out), email Columbia finaid with the competing offer and hope for the best.

But they won't go above $85k, right? Because Butlers.

[Fianna13]

Damn. Is it too late to submit my financial aid paperwork? I didn't know that I needed to submit tax return papers or the FA questionnaire. :/

[francesfarmer]

Damn. Is it too late to submit my financial aid paperwork? I didn't know that I needed to submit tax return papers or the FA questionnaire. :/

They'll take it. I submitted my questionnaire like three weeks late.

[mt2165]

Damn. Is it too late to submit my financial aid paperwork? I didn't know that I needed to submit tax return papers or the FA questionnaire. :/

I don't think so. But either way doesn't hurt to try do it quickly!!

[Synch]

FYI - I think, for scholarship negotiation (whenever that happens) you're supposed to email admissions, not financial aid. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

[Marshmallow]

FYI - I think, for scholarship negotiation (whenever that happens) you're supposed to email admissions, not financial aid. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

these department work together very closely. if you email the wrong one (and I'm not sure there's a wrong one), i'm sure they'll get it to who it needs to go to. but if someone else knows, i'd be curious to know the answer, too

[Typhoon24]

would it be wishful for me to predict financial aid packages starting to arrive this week?

[jbagelboy]

Is Columbia open to people negotiating merit scholarships? I've just gotten one from UChicago, but would definitely pick Columbia if they matched it.

I haven't filled out any of the financial aid stuff because it would be an utter waste of time for me. My parents earn enough that I wouldn't be considered for aid, even though they won't be supporting me at all through law school.

I'm kind of worried that it's too late to inquire about scholarships at Columbia because I know you have to apply for them when you're sending in your initial law school application. Was so sure I wasn't going to get in that I didn't even bother... Thanks in advance for the help!

The general consensus is that even if you highly doubt you will earn need based aid you should apply for it because Columbia does sometimes give out aid via the "Need Based Grants" that seem to be more of merit aid than need. There's no downside except for the time it takes to turn in the papers. The worst that happens is they come back and award you $0 in aid and you're none the worse. But there's also a chance that you get something so I really don't see the risk here.

I have no idea how not applying for need based grants affects you trying to leverage another offer but I think you should send in your documents for a Need Based Grant ASAP if you want to maximize your chances.

You can only negotiate if you fill out the paperwork. It's not just need based. The grants are a combination. Do FAFSA and NeedAccess ASAP. Then when you Chi deadline is approaching (1 wk out), email Columbia finaid with the competing offer and hope for the best.

But they won't go above $85k, right? Because Butlers.

Typically yes. However, Butler recipients can receive additional need based aid. Someone got* $102K total last year.

*on phone sorry

[Synch]

^ I'm someone hot! I want 102K

[BerkeleyMan5]

.

[Typhoon24]

Does that mean they don't have Dean's Scholarship grants or the like? makes sense since i couldn't find anything like that on the website..

[milkandcheerios]

It's interesting that they do this. I've spoken to the financial aid office and they were pretty adamant that their financial aid process is for solely for need based aid, and if you didn't get any merit aid in your application package then you wouldn't get any at all. I wonder what's the point of doing that if they still plan on taking merit considerations into account.

I've always assumed that they're trying to emulate HYS with the whole "need based aid only" thing. We all know that what law schools say != what law schools actually do in practice, you can't take everything at face value. Columbia's "random" interviews are another great example of that.

[t14splitter]

For what it's worth, I received an email today from the financial aid office saying I was missing something for them to review my situation - I think that means they are pretty close to actually sending things out since I sent in all of the other forms over a month and a half ago

[mt2165]

What I don't understand is how the average debt is like 140,000 at graduation. Well maybe when you factor in people who can bankroll the whole thing (like 20%) and Hamiltons and butlers, but jeez that means it seems that a majority of us will graduate 200+ which is a little disconcerting

[Marshmallow]

but last year scholarship notifications didn't go out until like April 8-ish, right? any reason we are hoping they come out earlier this year? they did say at ASW earlier this month that they will finalize things late-march for most admitted students...

[francesfarmer]

What I don't understand is how the average debt is like 140,000 at graduation. Well maybe when you factor in people who can bankroll the whole thing (like 20%) and Hamiltons and butlers, but jeez that means it seems that a majority of us will graduate 200+ which is a little disconcerting

Yup. Law school is too damn expensive.

[zen]

What I don't understand is how the average debt is like 140,000 at graduation. Well maybe when you factor in people who can bankroll the whole thing (like 20%) and Hamiltons and butlers, but jeez that means it seems that a majority of us will graduate 200+ which is a little disconcerting

Yup. Law school is too damn expensive.

Rent is too damn high.

[mt2165]

What I don't understand is how the average debt is like 140,000 at graduation. Well maybe when you factor in people who can bankroll the whole thing (like 20%) and Hamiltons and butlers, but jeez that means it seems that a majority of us will graduate 200+ which is a little disconcerting

Yup. Law school is too damn expensive.

Rent is too damn high.

True dat. I really wonder how smart it is to go to columbia at sticker if you're wholly on the government/PI track.....any thoughts?