Columbia c/o 2017 Applicants (2013-2014 cycle) Forum

[t-14orbust]

Checking in, retaking the October LSAT. 82,000 for the first year... here's hoping for lots and lots of scholarship money.

Hey good luck!

CLS '16 here (same as banjo). Re: financial aid, columbja $ comes in two forms:

1) the named fellowships given in your acceptance letter, which are half (butler) and full (hamilton) tuition scholarships -- historically these are exclusively to poach HYS kids, i.e. for 175+/3.75+. About 20 hamiltons are offered each year. Theres nothing in-between half and full.

2) everyone else applies separately w/ fafsa/needaccess and received finaid grants in April. These range from $30K up to $85K, but Ive only seen a handful that high. If you are at CLS medians, expect $30-50K total over three years -- not actually a huge dent in tuition, but they spread it out to a large number of people in the class so most admitted students can expect $10K/year off that $80K CoA, but not much more (as you can see on lawschoolnumbers).

Lastly, Columbia claims (and to some extent, actually does) to incorporate need-based in a similar fashion to HYS. The grants in 2) are a combination of need and merit, whereas 1) is strictly numbers. If you are from an extremely low income family, your aid may be higher than your numbers would dictate.

Its also worth noting that Columbia CoA projection is higher than necessary. After receiving my housing/rent/utilities and budgeting ALL my living expenses, mine comes to ~$76K total (rather than $82K, and you can make it lower -- I have higher than average expenditures) before deducting grants. Hope this helps and best of luck!

Thanks for the very informative write up jbb. I'm sure this has been answered somewhere, but I figure this is as good a place to ask as any. If Hamiltons/Butlers are generally intended to draw away HYS students do they take into account other factors such as fantastic WE, URM status, or great softs? Or is it a numbers game, basically?

I'm not sure to what extent they take those factors into account. But I do know they prefer prestigious UGs. They are only offering 20, after all, and want to showcase them.

[jbagelboy]

Re: Butlers and Hamiltons
1) the LSAT score floors of 176 for Hamilton and 174 for Butler are basically rock solid. There was one 175 hammy and one butler URM with a lower LSAT. So that LSAT is a prerequisite and is the key factor in receiving these fellowships. See pacifica, the top applicant of the 2012-2013 cycle, who got all of HYS, but no butler/hamiton w/ a 173.

2) GPA seems to be 3.75+ with one or two exceptions at most

3) good WE, LoRs, ect. are also necessary to distinguish yourself since there are more than 20 people with those top numbers. These factors will NOT overcompensate for lower numbers though, evidently.

4) while columbia in general privileges more rigorous/prestigious undergraduate record, I see no indication that this features even moreso into named scholarship consideration

[CyanIdes Of March]

Re: Butlers and Hamiltons
1) the LSAT score floors of 176 for Hamilton and 174 for Butler are basically rock solid. There was one 175 hammy and one butler URM with a lower LSAT. So that LSAT is a prerequisite and is the key factor in receiving these fellowships. See pacifica, the top applicant of the 2012-2013 cycle, who got all of HYS, but no butler/hamiton w/ a 173.

One more for the 'retake' column I guess.

[mindarmed]

Checking in and visiting Thursday! Anyone else doing the thing on Thursday?

I'll be there!

I'll also be there. Sneaking out of work for a little bit to go up!

[AAJD2B]

Checking in. GL everyone!

[Tariffs]

Checking in. Here's hoping that my October LSAT goes well!

[tortellini]

Checking in! CLS is definitely my top choice

[lastsamurai]

Hoping to make it on Thursday! Anyone know what we should bring with us to these information sessions?

Edit: spelling

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Checking in and visiting Thursday! Anyone else doing the thing on Thursday?

I'll be there!

I'll also be there. Sneaking out of work for a little bit to go up!

Ugh, not you. I'll be there too. ;(

[mindarmed]

Hoping to make in on Thursday! Anyone know what we should bring with us to these information sessions?

I'm bringing a pen and paper.

[SteelPenguin]

Hoping to make in on Thursday! Anyone know what we should bring with us to these information sessions?

I'm bringing a pen and paper.

That sounds like a good idea. Any idea what people typically wear to these things?

[TheMostDangerousLG]

Hoping to make in on Thursday! Anyone know what we should bring with us to these information sessions?

I'm bringing a pen and paper.

That sounds like a good idea. Any idea what people typically wear to these things?

Are you gonna be there? Ooo, I'd say we need a drink after, but I have work.

Accordingly, I will also be dressed in work attire.

[Dr. Dre]

Checking in.

Good luck y'all.

[mindarmed]

Hoping to make in on Thursday! Anyone know what we should bring with us to these information sessions?

I'm bringing a pen and paper.

That sounds like a good idea. Any idea what people typically wear to these things?

I'm wearing work clothes, so a polo, chinos and shoes

[cws277]

Good luck from another 2016er. I'm sure I'll be lurking on an ask a Columbia 1L thread in the next few months.

[Tiago Splitter]

Checking in

[CyanIdes Of March]

Checking in. This is the only T14 school that I actually know someone attending.

[Sourrudedude]

Checking in. This is the only T14 school that I actually know someone attending.

same

[wtrc]

Checking in. Going to be a good 6 months with y'all.

Who else is retaking (or taking) October?

[Pneumonia]

Checking in

[CyanIdes Of March]

Checking in. This is the only T14 school that I actually know someone attending.

same

What if we knew the same person .

[Sourrudedude]

Checking in. This is the only T14 school that I actually know someone attending.

same

What if we knew the same person .

We could like hang out

[chuckbass]

Checking in. Going to be a good 6 months with y'all.

Who else is retaking (or taking) October?

Retaking a 159 from February. I didn't study the first time, and I've been working hard all summer shooting for that 172+. Good luck!

[puckblocker]

Checking in.

[John_rizzy_rawls]

Checking in. Going to be a good 6 months with y'all.

Who else is retaking (or taking) October?

Retaking Oct and possibly Dec/Feb.