Columbia Class of 2018 Forum

[savethewhales]

Does anyone know if CLS ever awards additional need-based aid on top of a Butler fellowship? I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to deal with my parents and get together all of the paperwork.

[LoganCouture]

Does anyone know if CLS ever awards additional need-based aid on top of a Butler fellowship? I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to deal with my parents and get together all of the paperwork.

No idea but I applied anyway.

#yolo

[BruiserWoods]

Even if financial aid info got sent out today, would it be sent out over e-mail? Or snail mail?

[betty_bojangles]

They emailed me to say I was missing part of my Questionnaire (even though I'm preeeeeetty sure I sent it in). So it looks like they are getting a move on if nothing else.

[wsag826]

Pls, Columbia

[andthenIwaslike]

Pls, Columbia

[lnick93]

I'm really hoping they send something out today since there are other scholarship deadlines coming up/already past.

[tecumseh115]

Have y'all been primarily communicating/submitting via email? And have they sent you confirmations of receiving your docs?

I straight up mailed everything besides the need access to CLS -- tax returns, questionnaire , etc. -- back in February and have yet to hear. For that matter, I also mailed in the admitted students travel refund -- I attended late March. Anyone got that back yet? As a child of the internet, postage obviously makes me nervous. Seems like we are still waiting so won't get too worked up yet.

[90convoy]

I sent them stuff, forgot to include something, then they emailed me asking me to send it.

[goldenbear92]

At what point would it constitute a switch from early to mid April? (given the fact that financial aid info's supposed to come out by then at the latest according to CLS)

[tk17]

At what point would it constitute a switch from early to mid April? (given the fact that financial aid info's supposed to come out by then at the latest according to CLS)

Early - April 1-10
Mid - April 11-20
Late - April 21-30

[goldenbear92]

At what point would it constitute a switch from early to mid April? (given the fact that financial aid info's supposed to come out by then at the latest according to CLS)

Early - April 1-10
Mid - April 11-20
Late - April 21-30

My thoughts exactly, so we should hear back by this Friday at the latest (but hopefully sooner) right?, right!?!? :/

[DK21]

At what point would it constitute a switch from early to mid April? (given the fact that financial aid info's supposed to come out by then at the latest according to CLS)

Early - April 1-10
Mid - April 11-20
Late - April 21-30

My thoughts exactly, so we should hear back by this Friday at the latest (but hopefully sooner) right?, right!?!? :/

I called earlier today to see if they had all my stuff and they told me they'd be sending their first round out this week.

[goldenbear92]

At what point would it constitute a switch from early to mid April? (given the fact that financial aid info's supposed to come out by then at the latest according to CLS)

Early - April 1-10
Mid - April 11-20
Late - April 21-30

My thoughts exactly, so we should hear back by this Friday at the latest (but hopefully sooner) right?, right!?!? :/

I called earlier today to see if they had all my stuff and they told me they'd be sending their first round out this week.

Thanks for sharing! hopefully we're included in that 1st wave

[LawSchoolGuy95]

Hi guys - so, I've read through the forum and I'm still really confused about some stuff regarding merit aid - been hearing tons of different things and hopeful some of you can provide some clarity!

I didn't receive any merit aid in my initial acceptance letter - does this mean I'm SOL, or could I still get some?

Since I'm not applying for any need-based aid, do I not need to submit the financial aid questionnaire until May 15th? Or does this need to get in for the possibility of merit aid still? Haven't sent it in yet, starting to freak about that, and ready to Fed Ex it overnight lol.

Basically - 1) could I still get merit aid & 2) WTF do I need to submit in order to be considered for it?

Thank you!!!

[tk17]

Hi guys - so, I've read through the forum and I'm still really confused about some stuff regarding merit aid - been hearing tons of different things and hopeful some of you can provide some clarity!

I didn't receive any merit aid in my initial acceptance letter - does this mean I'm SOL, or could I still get some?

Since I'm not applying for any need-based aid, do I not need to submit the financial aid questionnaire until May 15th? Or does this need to get in for the possibility of merit aid still? Haven't sent it in yet, starting to freak about that, and ready to Fed Ex it overnight lol.

Basically - 1) could I still get merit aid & 2) WTF do I need to submit in order to be considered for it?

Thank you!!!

Columbia calls all aid that doesn't come in the form of a Butler or a Hamilton "need-based aid." But it is actually a combination of need- and merit-based aid. You have to submit everything required for need-based aid (which is an annoyingly large amount of information) to be considered for this we-call-it-need-based-but-it's-actually-need-and-merit money.

[LawSchoolGuy95]

Hi guys - so, I've read through the forum and I'm still really confused about some stuff regarding merit aid - been hearing tons of different things and hopeful some of you can provide some clarity!

I didn't receive any merit aid in my initial acceptance letter - does this mean I'm SOL, or could I still get some?

Since I'm not applying for any need-based aid, do I not need to submit the financial aid questionnaire until May 15th? Or does this need to get in for the possibility of merit aid still? Haven't sent it in yet, starting to freak about that, and ready to Fed Ex it overnight lol.

Basically - 1) could I still get merit aid & 2) WTF do I need to submit in order to be considered for it?

Thank you!!!

Columbia calls all aid that doesn't come in the form of a Butler or a Hamilton "need-based aid." But it is actually a combination of need- and merit-based aid. You have to submit everything required for need-based aid (which is an annoyingly large amount of information) to be considered for this we-call-it-need-based-but-it's-actually-need-and-merit money.

Jesus, what a joke/entirely unclear, despite that nifty handbook they send out. Thank you! So, odds of me sending this shit from Cali today and getting any sort of word back in time to make an informed decision before other schools' deadlines pass = pretty much zilch. Lovely.

[tk17]

Jesus, what a joke/entirely unclear, despite that nifty handbook they send out. Thank you! So, odds of me sending this shit from Cali today and getting any sort of word back in time to make an informed decision before other schools' deadlines pass = pretty much zilch. Lovely.

Yep.

As an aside, everything I heard from friends/colleagues about the university as a whole (including the law school) is that the administrative side of things is terribly run and horribly archaic (e.g. sending out financial aid via snail mail). So if you're going to Columbia, don't expect anything on the administrative side to go smoothly.

[betty_bojangles]

Hi guys - so, I've read through the forum and I'm still really confused about some stuff regarding merit aid - been hearing tons of different things and hopeful some of you can provide some clarity!

I didn't receive any merit aid in my initial acceptance letter - does this mean I'm SOL, or could I still get some?

Since I'm not applying for any need-based aid, do I not need to submit the financial aid questionnaire until May 15th? Or does this need to get in for the possibility of merit aid still? Haven't sent it in yet, starting to freak about that, and ready to Fed Ex it overnight lol.

Basically - 1) could I still get merit aid & 2) WTF do I need to submit in order to be considered for it?

Thank you!!!

Columbia calls all aid that doesn't come in the form of a Butler or a Hamilton "need-based aid." But it is actually a combination of need- and merit-based aid. You have to submit everything required for need-based aid (which is an annoyingly large amount of information) to be considered for this we-call-it-need-based-but-it's-actually-need-and-merit money.

Jesus, what a joke/entirely unclear, despite that nifty handbook they send out. Thank you! So, odds of me sending this shit from Cali today and getting any sort of word back in time to make an informed decision before other schools' deadlines pass = pretty much zilch. Lovely.

I think you can email them your documents. I emailed most things and they seemed fine with it.

[wsag826]

Jesus, what a joke/entirely unclear, despite that nifty handbook they send out. Thank you! So, odds of me sending this shit from Cali today and getting any sort of word back in time to make an informed decision before other schools' deadlines pass = pretty much zilch. Lovely.

Yep.

As an aside, everything I heard from friends/colleagues about the university as a whole (including the law school) is that the administrative side of things is terribly run and horribly archaic (e.g. sending out financial aid via snail mail). So if you're going to Columbia, don't expect anything on the administrative side to go smoothly.

To be honest, in seeing this anecdotally across TLS for a while, I've always wondered what this means. Have friends been able to give you examples outside of financial aid? Friends have essentially told me that the financial aid office is run like almost any other financial aid office...but other aspects of the administration are competent.

[tk17]

Jesus, what a joke/entirely unclear, despite that nifty handbook they send out. Thank you! So, odds of me sending this shit from Cali today and getting any sort of word back in time to make an informed decision before other schools' deadlines pass = pretty much zilch. Lovely.

Yep.

As an aside, everything I heard from friends/colleagues about the university as a whole (including the law school) is that the administrative side of things is terribly run and horribly archaic (e.g. sending out financial aid via snail mail). So if you're going to Columbia, don't expect anything on the administrative side to go smoothly.

To be honest, in seeing this anecdotally across TLS for a while, I've always wondered what this means. Have friends been able to give you examples outside of financial aid? Friends have essentially told me that the financial aid office is run like almost any other financial aid office...but other aspects of the administration are competent.

I've had friends who work for different parts of the university, and basic administration functions like adding a new employee to the books and getting tax forms out seem to be more difficult than they should be.

But really, I feel like snail-mailing admissions decisions and financial aid awards is evidence enough.

[90convoy]

Praying for $$$

[betty_bojangles]

Praying for $$$

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHoDw9ICBHY

[greekguy123]

Received an email today with their need/merit financial aid offer - looking forward to meeting all of you next year!

[tk17]

Received an email today with their need/merit financial aid offer - looking forward to meeting all of you next year!

Man. The first reported financial aid notice and crickets from the rest of the folks ITT. A little surprising.