Columbia Law School 2012! Forum

[jpaul09]

OK, I just did my deposit tonight, and was starting to go through loans stuff. I have bothered the financial aid people a little too much in the past few weeks, so I thought I'd ask here first.

In the Admitted Students Handbook that we got in the mail when we were first admitted, it says we need to send our Loan Applications -- Stafford and GradPLUS MPNs to Columbia by May 15. That's really, really soon, and I was going to wait to figure how much I needed in GradPLUS until I got my housing assignment.

So A.: do you think there's any way to even get approved and squared away by May 15 if I picked a lender this weekend and submitted my app on Monday and then mailed the copies to Columbia?

B.: Can we change the amount of the GradPLUS loan we're taking out? Should we start out with a higher amount and then just lower it later?

C.: Are you guys thinking about Access Group, Citibank or another lender? I'm kind of wary about going with Citibank because of their liquidity troubles, but I don't know.

The more I think about it, it sounds like these are questions for the fin aid office. But any help you can provide would be appreciated. And does anyone else think this sounds ridiculously early?

[imchuckbass58]

so I am a graduating senior and just got Phi Beta Kappa invite? Ive been admitted to Columbia and got Harvard waitlist. don't know much about it? anyone else thinking of joining or whatnot?

Join. There is very little downside (you just have to go to some ceremony), and it's pretigious as far as honor societies go. If you look at the bios of law firm partners, CEOs, government officials, etc., it'll mention if they were Phi Beta Kappa even if it's been 30 years since they graduated undergrad and they have advanced degrees.

I would also notify Harvard of the fact you were elected PBK - at some schools it's very hard to get.

[tripu11]

.

[mp2012]

B.: Can we change the amount of the GradPLUS loan we're taking out? Should we start out with a higher amount and then just lower it later?

I was worried about this too. You CAN notify GradPlus that you want to lower your loan before it's been dispersed with no consequences. That's written in the MPN you sign. I plan on doing that if I receive an outside scholarship I've applied for.

+1, I accidently requested over $80,000 in loans and got it easily taken care of.

I've also heard from the Financial Aid forum that if you want/need more money mid-semester or whenever, then you can request more money no problem.

[UnknownElementX]

So i am in the exact same position as the Phi Betta Kappa poster as well as the confusion with loans and such. What is everyone else doing loanwise?

[jpaul09]

Called fin aid today. The woman I spoke to said to request the loans now, and then if you need to lower the amount, contact Columbia's financial aid office. So I guess I'm going to request as much as I could possibly need because of housing and then decrease the request when my housing comes in. (I asked for something in the $800-950 range...it would be awesome to actually get it!) She said you also can cancel the loan before disbursement. I'm going to double check all of this with my lender (when I choose one), obviously, but hopefully this helps everyone somewhat.

[vegcat]

So, I already sent my deposit in, but today I got an email telling me that my application is complete, and good luck in the admissions process! I'm thinking it's because I sent them my transcript and dean's cert, which they asked for, but it's still weird. I saw it and was like, oh no, they accepted me and now they're taking it back !?!

[Lem37]

So, I already sent my deposit in, but today I got an email telling me that my application is complete, and good luck in the admissions process! I'm thinking it's because I sent them my transcript and dean's cert, which they asked for, but it's still weird. I saw it and was like, oh no, they accepted me and now they're taking it back !?!

I also got this. I called, actually, and their voicemail specifically mentions this e-mail and says to disregard. PHEW!

[huckabees]

I think everyone got that email, or at least lots of ppl did.

If you call the admissions number, it is part of the official introductory voice recording that the email was sent in error.

[Unemployed]

The first of many administrative failures that we are expected to encounter... according to some 2L friends

[vegcat]

Cool, glad I'm not the only one

[vegcat]

The first of many administrative failures that we are expected to encounter... according to some 2L friends

Haha, well I'm used to school administrations being, um, frustrating to work with

[UnknownElementX]

hah, just got the e-mail as well. Nice one Columbia

[huckabees]

This is a dumb question, but even if we might defer, we still pay the deposit now, correct?

I am 99% sure this is correct, but just want to be completely sure. I know that some people don't even choose to defer until later in May.

Thanks!

[Unemployed]

The first of many administrative failures that we are expected to encounter... according to some 2L friends

Haha, well I'm used to school administrations being, um, frustrating to work with

I went to a bread-and-butter school with a very competant and responsive administrative staff. I was pretty happy with them... until someone broke into the records office and stole a computer containing thousands of social security numbers, including mine.

[Unemployed]

On a completely unrelated note,

One CLS alum (class of 2006) has unflattering things to say about Lionsgate.

--LinkRemoved--

[06132010]

hah, just got the e-mail as well. Nice one Columbia

My roommate who was rejected got it. Ouch.

[Lem37]

On a completely unrelated note,

One CLS alum (class of 2006) has unflattering things to say about Lionsgate.

--LinkRemoved--

Sounds like every New York apartment I've ever lived in. Meh, I'll take my chances.

[Unemployed]

On a completely unrelated note,

One CLS alum (class of 2006) has unflattering things to say about Lionsgate.

--LinkRemoved--

Sounds like every New York apartment I've ever lived in. Meh, I'll take my chances.

+1

[06132010]

woo, my application is complete again as well.

[nyydem]

This is a dumb question, but even if we might defer, we still pay the deposit now, correct?

I am 99% sure this is correct, but just want to be completely sure. I know that some people don't even choose to defer until later in May.

Thanks!

Yep. You'll then get all the same admissions material, etc, next year, and have to accept the offer of admission again...but they won't make you pay the deposit again.

[sbalive]

So, I'm planning to do all this stuff tomorrow.

Does anyone have any last minute reasons why I should not commit to Columbia Law School?

[nyydem]

I dunno if everybody else has figured this out already, but it's now possible to access this AdmitNet thing. If you've enrolled, just go here: http://www.law.columbia.edu/law_school/ ... ingstudent

and click on "Click here to access AdmitNet"

[Unemployed]

So, I'm planning to do all this stuff tomorrow.

Does anyone have any last minute reasons why I should not commit to Columbia Law School?

The most expensive COA in the T14? Actually, I'm just guessing here...

Forget what I said! Join us!

[yqsong]

So, I'm planning to do all this stuff tomorrow.

Does anyone have any last minute reasons why I should not commit to Columbia Law School?

The most expensive COA in the T14? Actually, I'm just guessing here...

Forget what I said! Join us!

most expensive COA? u are forgetting NYU my friend

and JOIN us

by the way guys, after i put down my deposit, how long would it take them to send me a columbia email?