Columbia Financial Aid 2011 Forum

[Hey-O]

I haven't heard anything from Columbia and I wanted to see what other people were doing about negotiating need based aid. I'm pretty sure I'm going to qualify for need based aid. I got $ at Chicago and I've been told by other people that I should send in my aid negotiation email before I hear from CLS. But I feel like that is a bit presumptuous. Any one else making this same decision?

[jpk5372]

I haven't heard anything from Columbia and I wanted to see what other people were doing about negotiating need based aid. I'm pretty sure I'm going to qualify for need based aid. I got $ at Chicago and I've been told by other people that I should send in my aid negotiation email before I hear from CLS. But I feel like that is a bit presumptuous. Any one else making this same decision?

I am in a similar situation and would like some insight into this as well.

[lzyovrachievr]

I sent in my aid negotiation e-mail a few weeks ago, and they were very nice in their response and elaborated the steps I needed to take. They said they may taking competing scholarship offers into account when awarding need aid. Based on that, I felt like it was worthwhile to bring it up ahead of time as I'm not certain how my parent's financial situation will affect my aid. However, I don't know if people are generally successful in negotiating need-based aid which seems a bit more of a nebulous prospect than negotiating merit aid.

[japes]

Anyone know if I would be eligible for some form of need-based aid were I to get off the waitlist when they review apps in May?

[alicen]

does anyone know when to expect need based aid information if you submitted on the march 1st deadline...?

[mcweanis]

i got my nyu package today - the deans award, 30k over three years. do you think columbia would match that?

[Hey-O]

Well, I sent my email. I wonder when I'll get a response.

[Hobbes89]

Is anyone else who got a package from NYU today considering sending in a negotiation letter? Or is that jumping the gun? Also, would love to hear about how people phrase their letters...

[Hey-O]

Is anyone else who got a package from NYU today considering sending in a negotiation letter? Or is that jumping the gun? Also, would love to hear about how people phrase their letters...

I attached the PDF of my scholarship letter from UChi. I just wrote a brief email that high lighted why CLS was my first choice, and that money was an issue. I was attaching the scholarship from UCHi to help them with their decision.

[gmreplay]

I haven't heard a word on aid from Columbia yet. Wonder what's taking them so long. Do they let you know if you didn't get any aid?

[gmreplay]

I asked Columbia when I should expect word on financial aid. They said they will decide by late March or early April.

[mcweanis]

i am a finalist for a penn scholarship (120k), and the rules on the application say that you must decide whether to accept the scholarship within 48 hours of it being award (mid-april). i know i'm jumping the gun a bit by thinking about this!

anyway, i have a 30k offer from nyu, and possibly 120k from penn, but i won't know for awhile. should i send one email now with the nyu letter, and another later in case i get the penn scholarship? or just wait? i'm really stressed out about the 48 hour deadline - will they be able to decide whether to change my package that quickly?

[Hobbes89]

Hey guys, just double checking - which email did you send your negotiation letter to and did you get a response from them? I sent it to the financial aid email but haven't gotten a response back.

[Hey-O]

Hey guys, just double checking - which email did you send your negotiation letter to and did you get a response from them? I sent it to the financial aid email but haven't gotten a response back.

Yes, but it took about a week.

[rockspaperjesus]

Does anyone know if Columbia (or NYU) would take into account a scholarship from Michigan? I've got $54,000 and hope to use it to negotiate, but I'm not sure if it's possible.

[kelslater]

I also received scholarship/aid package from NYU and have to decide whether to enroll or not by April 4. Obviously Columbia will be releasing their financial aid packages soon or perhaps just after that. Do you think its a good idea to send them the NYU offer (90k) before I even receive aid/scholarship information from them? and let them know I have a deadline?

[jtemp320]

+1 for waiting

[Hobbes89]

From what I've read from current CLS students on here, it's best to send in your offer now, not later. (EDIT: see http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2#p4157092)

Anyone who sent in a NYU offer via email hear anything back from them? Mind you, not an actual aid package, but just any sort of acknowledgment.

[bendurnotes4me]

This is relevant to my interests.

[bhan87]

I'm also debating whether send my negotiation letter now or later.

I have a 25k offer from NYU and a 75k offer from UCLA. Do you think it's worth sending in both?

[Older Chest]

I'm also debating whether send my negotiation letter now or later.

I have a 25k offer from NYU and a 75k offer from UCLA. Do you think it's worth sending in both?

Columbia likely will not care what UCLA is offering, but the NYU scholarship could mean something. I have read on these boards that Columbia does what it can to offer aid to students with competing offers from NYU, but unfortunately I do not have first hand experience yet.

For your sake as well as mine, I am hopeful they do.

Good luck!

[bhan87]

I'm also debating whether send my negotiation letter now or later.

I have a 25k offer from NYU and a 75k offer from UCLA. Do you think it's worth sending in both?

Columbia likely will not care what UCLA is offering, but the NYU scholarship could mean something. I have read on these boards that Columbia does what it can to offer aid to students with competing offers from NYU, but unfortunately I do not have first hand experience yet.

For your sake as well as mine, I am hopeful they do.

Good luck!

Something is better than nothing, so even 20k from Columbia would make me ecstatic

[Hobbes89]

I'm also debating whether send my negotiation letter now or later.

I have a 25k offer from NYU and a 75k offer from UCLA. Do you think it's worth sending in both?

The problem with sending it later is that the NYU acceptance deadline might pass before you even hear anything from CLS (in fact, from perusing last year's Columbia thread, it appears that people who sent in NYU offers got their aid packages on the day of the deadline itself).

[Ship87]

I just got a $62.5k Dean's award from NYU and I'm planning on sending that over to Columbia tomorrow because the deadline is April 4th. I really hope Columbia can get me something before then.

I've been searching LSN but anyone have better data on how much we can expect from Columbia? Financially, my parents combined make right at ~100k, and I have minimal income. I really want to go to Columbia but I don't know about turning down $62.5k...

[bosox777]

No one has heard from Columbia still? In the past, has it all happened at the same time after the initial named scholarships? Getting antsy waiting with NYU deadline near at hand...