Columbia Class of 2017 Forum

[jbagelboy]

Wouldn't that make your case weaker? I mean if you are telling them "my parents are helping pay tuition" isn't that kind of the opposite thing they'd want to hear when looking to give out Need-Based Aid? It just seems if they have no problem telling applicants who are paying for 100% of the cost on their own then they wouldn't have any problem not giving a scholarship to someone who isn't paying 100% of the cost. Just curious if I am understanding this right.

Considering that they have three children in college and are basically paying a 200k/year for three children to attend college, I think that I should have gotten some need based aid. I've had a comfortable life, but my parents are by no means wealthy enough to afford anything near that.

Basically: I'm willing to take out the 300k in loans if I have to, but I have nothing to lose by asking

Edit: Also I have no idea what your age is but I am young enough to never have had a "real" job. The thought of 300k in loans is kind of frightening, considering I made 4k last year.....

It's not like college, where the financial aid formulas take multiple tuitions into account; I would be shocked if you got any need based aid if your family has the resources to pay $200,000 a year on anything. Typically need based aid at non-HYS goes to people have actually have very few family resources; if your parents even own their own home, income notwithstanding , that asset would militate heavily against a need based grant.

Since CLS is a mutation of need and merit, it's still worth asking for $$ if you haven't already though.

[drevo]

Wouldn't that make your case weaker? I mean if you are telling them "my parents are helping pay tuition" isn't that kind of the opposite thing they'd want to hear when looking to give out Need-Based Aid? It just seems if they have no problem telling applicants who are paying for 100% of the cost on their own then they wouldn't have any problem not giving a scholarship to someone who isn't paying 100% of the cost. Just curious if I am understanding this right.

Considering that they have three children in college and are basically paying a 200k/year for three children to attend college, I think that I should have gotten some need based aid. I've had a comfortable life, but my parents are by no means wealthy enough to afford anything near that.

Basically: I'm willing to take out the 300k in loans if I have to, but I have nothing to lose by asking

Edit: Also I have no idea what your age is but I am young enough to never have had a "real" job. The thought of 300k in loans is kind of frightening, considering I made 4k last year.....

Oh I completely understand and honestly agree with you to an extent. I'm just saying that when it comes to law school and "need-based aid" any contribution from parents is going to hurt you. Because you are being compared against those with no parental help. I'm not saying you should've lied or anything, but I would think the strongest case for need aid would be saying your parents aren't helping even if they make good money and you grew up with a comfortable life.

FWIW I grew up with a comfortable life and financially successful parents as well, so I'm not trying to do any sort of privilege bashing or anything of the sort. I completely understand and empathize with you, but the rules of the law school financial aid are what they are.

[Balthy]

Wouldn't that make your case weaker? I mean if you are telling them "my parents are helping pay tuition" isn't that kind of the opposite thing they'd want to hear when looking to give out Need-Based Aid? It just seems if they have no problem telling applicants who are paying for 100% of the cost on their own then they wouldn't have any problem not giving a scholarship to someone who isn't paying 100% of the cost. Just curious if I am understanding this right.

Considering that they have three children in college and are basically paying a 200k/year for three children to attend college, I think that I should have gotten some need based aid. I've had a comfortable life, but my parents are by no means wealthy enough to afford anything near that.

Basically: I'm willing to take out the 300k in loans if I have to, but I have nothing to lose by asking

Edit: Also I have no idea what your age is but I am young enough to never have had a "real" job. The thought of 300k in loans is kind of frightening, considering I made 4k last year.....

This is confusing. How are you parents currently paying 200k a year in tuition if they can't afford "near that"?

[Balthy]

In other news my aid offer was shit. PM for deets. I had already sent in my other offers before receiving their award (they asked for them) and I wasn't accepted to any peer schools, so I don't know how to negotiate this. No ammo.

I know this is supposed to include merit-based $ but I'll just pretend it doesn't to feel better.

[randomperson46]

Thanks for the response scoobers! Did you ask about deferring? I'm planning on reapplying next year after retaking the LSAT, so I guess I won't be asking to defer.

Has anyone here asked about deferring enrollment at Columbia for a year? Do you know if they require the applicant to sign an agreement promising not to apply to other law schools?

They do.

You have to sign that and pull from all wait lists, the deadline is June 1st.

[loveduck]

Is anyone who submitted their fin aid forms by March 1st still waiting on financial aid?

I called last week and they said my file was complete, under review, and they hoped it'd be done in a few days.

[francesfarmer]

It's not like college, where the financial aid formulas take multiple tuitions into account; I would be shocked if you got any need based aid if your family has the resources to pay $200,000 a year on anything. Typically need based aid at non-HYS goes to people have actually have very few family resources; if your parents even own their own home, income notwithstanding , that asset would militate heavily against a need based grant.

Since CLS is a mutation of need and merit, it's still worth asking for $$ if you haven't already though.

Just an anecdotal point of evidence, my family owns a home and I got need-based grants from CLS (and Perkins loans). Family income is very low though.

[dc91]

checking in

[Kimikho]

So after a scholarship increase at another school...Columbia please follow through

[teampeeta]

Okay, so I just got my scholarship award- $50K. I am between CLS and a Dillard. Any chance Columbia increases my offer? Whom should I contact?

[drevo]

Okay, so I just got my scholarship award- $50K. I am between CLS and a Dillard. Any chance Columbia increases my offer? Whom should I contact?

Have no idea on chances of an increased offer, but myself and others ITT have emailed the Financial Aid Office directly with our appeal for more aid with offers from other schools attached to the email. Some have reported very quick turnaround time (48 hours), I sent mine in late Wednesday afternoon and haven't heard back yet so I don't know what the normal turnaround time is.

[teampeeta]

Okay, so I just got my scholarship award- $50K. I am between CLS and a Dillard. Any chance Columbia increases my offer? Whom should I contact?

Have no idea on chances of an increased offer, but myself and others ITT have emailed the Financial Aid Office directly with our appeal for more aid with offers from other schools attached to the email. Some have reported very quick turnaround time (48 hours), I sent mine in late Wednesday afternoon and haven't heard back yet so I don't know what the normal turnaround time is.

How did you phrase it? I feel like the following is better than, SHOW ME THE MONEY, BITCHES.

Dear XX,

I recently received Columbia's fin aid offer, and although I am grateful for the grant, I received a greater amount of aid at another school. I love CLS and hope to attend in the fall, but the cost of law school and my debt aversion are dispositive factors in my decision-making process. Is it possible that CLS could increase my amount of aid to match {insert scholarship here}.

Please let me know as soon as you can.

Thanks,
TP

[drevo]

How did you phrase it? I feel like the following is better than, SHOW ME THE MONEY, BITCHES.

Dear XX,

I recently received Columbia's fin aid offer, and although I am grateful for the grant, I received a greater amount of aid at another school. I love CLS and hope to attend in the fall, but the cost of law school and my debt aversion are dispositive factors in my decision-making process. Is it possible that CLS could increase my amount of aid to match {insert scholarship here}.

Please let me know as soon as you can.

Thanks,
TP

I made mine a bit longer. Columbia is undeniably my first my choice, so I let them know that and mentioned how I felt about it after that visit. Basically said how much Columbia is for me and the only reason I haven't deposited is the financial obligation compared to other offers I had received. I used this website as sort of a guideline:

http://lawschooladvice.com/guides/negot ... olarships/

I didn't follow it exactly but I used some points from it.

[TheYesGuy]

You don't need to separately accept the grant offer besides making the deposit, right?

[moopness]

You don't need to separately accept the grant offer besides making the deposit, right?

Correct

[Kimikho]

Has anyone heard back from a second round of negotiations?

[Tariffs]

Just committed a few minutes ago, can't wait for the fall.

[AdInfinitum]

x

[Humbert Humbert]

Could we create a poll that shows (for the folks who are planning to attend) what their financial aid offer was? Or perhaps what their COA will be (using LS22's calculator)?

[jbagelboy]

Just received my award - 30k less than NYU offered me. As a reverse splitter, (3.56/178), do you guys think I should send in my appeal to the admissions office or financial aid office?

Relatively surprised by the low amount as my parents make very little.

FYI you're not a reverse splitter; also they typically won't shell out major cash until you're above both medians, but there are exceptions.

[StructuresAndForces]

.

[FOM]

Got my financial aid offer today. I felt I was lucky to get into Columbia in the first place and now feel even luckier. As a splitter, I have to say my scholarship offers from the T-14 have been extremely consistent. I got offers from 6 schools and they were all within $5,000 of each other (Besides NYU). Anyways, I'll see you guys in NYC!

[gta]

Just received my award - 30k less than NYU offered me. As a reverse splitter, (3.56/178), do you guys think I should send in my appeal to the admissions office or financial aid office?

Relatively surprised by the low amount as my parents make very little.

FYI you're not a reverse splitter; also they typically won't shell out major cash until you're above both medians, but there are exceptions.

Right, splitter = LSAT above median, GPA below. Reverse splitter = LSAT below, GPA above.

[leeway89]

Could we create a poll that shows (for the folks who are planning to attend) what their financial aid offer was? Or perhaps what their COA will be (using LS22's calculator)?

What's the link for LS22's CoA spreadsheet? I can't seem to find it

[EquallyWrong]

Could we create a poll that shows (for the folks who are planning to attend) what their financial aid offer was? Or perhaps what their COA will be (using LS22's calculator)?

considering that the last day for visiting Columbia is on monday, a new poll seems in order...ASW is kind of old newz.