Columbia Finaid 2010 Forum

[NYC2013]

An MPN is **NOT** a loan application. You can fill out an MPN which just approves your eligibility to receive the loans, but i'm pretty sure you still need to do the direct loan application when it comes online to choose the amount of your loans and get approved for that.

You can do the MPNs now, I recommend doing the entrance counseling early just because it's inconvenient and takes a few minutes, but the MPNs are quick and easy, just need to wait for them to be ready for loan applications

[of Benito Cereno]

,.,..

[andreea7]

An MPN is **NOT** a loan application. You can fill out an MPN which just approves your eligibility to receive the loans, but i'm pretty sure you still need to do the direct loan application when it comes online to choose the amount of your loans and get approved for that.

You can do the MPNs now, I recommend doing the entrance counseling early just because it's inconvenient and takes a few minutes, but the MPNs are quick and easy, just need to wait for them to be ready for loan applications

Thanks for clarifying -- I thought it meant the entire application.

[huckabees]

So is everyone still waiting to get the loan email from CLS? I haven't done anything yet aside from filling out the forms we should've submitted by March 1. Not sure if I should have? Thanks.

[andreea7]

So is everyone still waiting to get the loan email from CLS? I haven't done anything yet aside from filling out the forms we should've submitted by March 1. Not sure if I should have? Thanks.

You can fill out the MPN as pointed above. seems the actual loan application is not due until June 15 so we are just waiting on instructions from CLS

[swc65]

Yay finally got the email today with instructions! Hopefully they'll have my damn money by august

[Moxie]

I just got my aid package from Columbia- very impressed.

I received between 60k and 70k in grants.

I was also ED with a GPA below the 25%tile so I think this is a strong indication that need-based aid does exist outside of HYS.

I thought I would start a thread if anyone else wants to share their finaid details. If not, then /thread and fail.

Awesome to hear! I received some generous aid from HLS, a little over $50k, and from CLS, of about 65k. (But my parents and I have almost no personal assets, so it wasn't particularly surprising)

[TobiasFunke]

.

[andreea7]

You should apply for the GradPlus loans through a different Web site. You only do the MPNs on the studentloans.gob web site. Didn't you receive an email from Columbia regarding this? just type Columbia Law School financial aid in google and their web page will direct you

[protokurios]

Go to the links in the section "Request Your Loan Amounts" on this page: http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... /Loan_Apps

[babaghanouj]

OK, so we don't have to go through the PLUS application on studentloans.gov, right? That's definitely what it looks like...

[swc65]

OK, so we don't have to go through the PLUS application on studentloans.gov, right? That's definitely what it looks like...

On the federal site you only fill out the MPN for Plus and Stafford.

Columbia has its own form for applying for the loans. http://www.law.columbia.edu/current_stu ... /Loan_Apps

Just follow the instructions. I had to fill out four forms. On the federal site one form for Stafford MPN and one form for the Plus MPN. On Columbia's site I had on loan amount request/application for Stafford and one loan amount request/application for the Plus loan.

[swc65]

Did anyone receive any kind of approval letter for the PLUS loans? I submitted my paperwork a long time ago but I have not heard a word from CLS or the DOE.

[babaghanouj]

Did anyone receive any kind of approval letter for the PLUS loans? I submitted my paperwork a long time ago but I have not heard a word from CLS or the DOE.

Same here. That's why I was wondering if there was another step...it would be nice to know soon if I'm approved or not for PLUS loans...

[andreea7]

Did anyone receive any kind of approval letter for the PLUS loans? I submitted my paperwork a long time ago but I have not heard a word from CLS or the DOE.

Same here. That's why I was wondering if there was another step...it would be nice to know soon if I'm approved or not for PLUS loans...

I called them because I will be out of the country for a while and really need to know what's going on. They said they are just putting the files together now for everyone and letting us know if anything is missing. Then they will start doing the certifications. So it will be a while....

[babaghanouj]

Any word on loan approval?

[andreea7]

Any word on loan approval?

ugh, no, but good to know I am not the only one who is not hearing anything....doesn't school start in about seven weeks? what's up with this?

[swc65]

Any word on loan approval?

ugh, no, but good to know I am not the only one who is not hearing anything....doesn't school start in about seven weeks? what's up with this?

Apparently you should hear next week. I called last week and they were just getting to the approvals and sending out letters. I hope this doesn't delay getting refunds!

[rx3r]

Any word on loan approval?

ugh, no, but good to know I am not the only one who is not hearing anything....doesn't school start in about seven weeks? what's up with this?

Apparently you should hear next week. I called last week and they were just getting to the approvals and sending out letters. I hope this doesn't delay getting refunds!

GAH Columbia you are driving me crazy!

[Alyssa]

I just got an email that my e-bill is available. Was so excited for a minute there... but the statement just had the $500 credit, no tuition bill or loan info yet.

[CG614]

I just got an email that my e-bill is available. Was so excited for a minute there... but the statement just had the $500 credit, no tuition bill or loan info yet.

+1. I noticed that a Perkins MPN is available on there. Anyone fill it out?

[CG614]

Just spoke with Columbia Fin Aid. I was told that the delay in getting a response about the Grad Plus loans is due to the Federal Government having a backlog with the new system. There is no definite time frame on when we should expect the response. The person I spoke with did say that Columbia is aware of how late this information is getting to us and they will work with people. They also said that we aren't actually billed until after we get there and the payments won't be due until Mid-September. So, I think we can all rest a little easier now, at least I am.

[babaghanouj]

Just spoke with Columbia Fin Aid. I was told that the delay in getting a response about the Grad Plus loans is due to the Federal Government having a backlog with the new system. There is no definite time frame on when we should expect the response. The person I spoke with did say that Columbia is aware of how late this information is getting to us and they will work with people. They also said that we aren't actually billed until after we get there and the payments won't be due until Mid-September. So, I think we can all rest a little easier now, at least I am.

Thanks! That's good to know.