Columbia Class of 2020 Forum

[Bearlyalive]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

[airwrecka]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

Is it worth it to e-mail them now before initial awards have gone out? Or should we wait until later in April?

[VapidP]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

Is it worth it to e-mail them now before initial awards have gone out? Or should we wait until later in April?

I sent them my one offer but I'm holding back my another one for after the awards. In an email they said to send any comparable awards to them.

[airwrecka]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

Is it worth it to e-mail them now before initial awards have gone out? Or should we wait until later in April?

I sent them my one offer but I'm holding back my another one for after the awards. In an email they said to send any comparable awards to them.

Good to know. Thanks!

[catalina559]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

Is it worth it to e-mail them now before initial awards have gone out? Or should we wait until later in April?

I sent them my one offer but I'm holding back my another one for after the awards. In an email they said to send any comparable awards to them.

Good to know. Thanks!

As far as you guys know, are they really releasing more merit aid in April, not just financial aid? During an admissions event I met with someone in the Fin Aid office who wasn't very helpful generally, but when I asked if the fact that there was no award with my admissions letter meant that I would not be receiving merit aid, she gave me kind of a noncommittal yes.

[Bearlyalive]

Anyone have any tips about negotiating for a scholarship? I got some money from NYU and I was wondering how does one negotiate with Columbia?

Wondering this as well - does Columbia even negotiate scholarships?

Yes. Negotiate just like any other school: by emailing financial aid with other offers and, well, negotiating. They'll take UChi and NYU offers more seriously than other schools, but it doesn't hurt to bring up big money in the lower t14.

Is it worth it to e-mail them now before initial awards have gone out? Or should we wait until later in April?

I sent them my one offer but I'm holding back my another one for after the awards. In an email they said to send any comparable awards to them.

Good to know. Thanks!

As far as you guys know, are they really releasing more merit aid in April, not just financial aid? During an admissions event I met with someone in the Fin Aid office who wasn't very helpful generally, but when I asked if the fact that there was no award with my admissions letter meant that I would not be receiving merit aid, she gave me kind of a noncommittal yes.

Unless they're completely breaking from tradition, then yes, there will be mixed merit/need aid in the financial award letters. I really doubt that CLS feels its in a position to only get away with awarding Butlers and Hamiltons.

[Thelaw23]

Georgetttown literally offered me $0, so hoping for the best but expecting the worst here with the financial aid offers.

[quigleyest]

NYU wants a deposit and for me to accept/decline their fin aid award by 4/21..... hoping for some comparable money at CLS.. what would you all advise me to do?

[NotAGolfer]

NYU wants a deposit and for me to accept/decline their fin aid award by 4/21..... hoping for some comparable money at CLS.. what would you all advise me to do?

I also have a scholly deadline from a different school close to that date. My plan is to give CLS the first week of April to send their financial aid offer, and if I don't get it by then I plan on contacting the CLS financial aid office to let them know about the other school's deadline and ask for a date that I should expect their financial aid info. If they say a date that's after that deadline, I plan to request an extension from the other school.

...no idea if this is the right approach though so happy to hear what others think lol

[airwrecka]

NYU wants a deposit and for me to accept/decline their fin aid award by 4/21..... hoping for some comparable money at CLS.. what would you all advise me to do?

I also have a scholly deadline from a different school close to that date. My plan is to give CLS the first week of April to send their financial aid offer, and if I don't get it by then I plan on contacting the CLS financial aid office to let them know about the other school's deadline and ask for a date that I should expect their financial aid info. If they say a date that's after that deadline, I plan to request an extension from the other school.

...no idea if this is the right approach though so happy to hear what others think lol

I was thinking of doing basically the same thing.

[catalina559]

NYU wants a deposit and for me to accept/decline their fin aid award by 4/21..... hoping for some comparable money at CLS.. what would you all advise me to do?

I also have a scholly deadline from a different school close to that date. My plan is to give CLS the first week of April to send their financial aid offer, and if I don't get it by then I plan on contacting the CLS financial aid office to let them know about the other school's deadline and ask for a date that I should expect their financial aid info. If they say a date that's after that deadline, I plan to request an extension from the other school.

...no idea if this is the right approach though so happy to hear what others think lol

I was thinking of doing basically the same thing.

also thinking I would probably do that.

[quigleyest]

Solid advice, thank you

[2020Hopeful]

for those discussing housing earlier...

pretty sure you can "back out" of housing once you get assigned if you hate your assignment. Someone currently at Columbia or colluding with the housing office, can you confirm? Especially for those trying to get couples housing but aren't married.

Thats why there are waitlists because people drop out early, back out of housing, etc.

But this is mostly speculation.

[Leliana]

for those discussing housing earlier...

pretty sure you can "back out" of housing once you get assigned if you hate your assignment. Someone currently at Columbia or colluding with the housing office, can you confirm? Especially for those trying to get couples housing but aren't married.

Thats why there are waitlists because people drop out early, back out of housing, etc.

But this is mostly speculation.

This is true. I talked to the housing coordinator at ASW and she said you are guaranteed a housing offer, but can turn it down if you don't like what you get. You are not guaranteed another offer if you turn down the first, though -- it's my understanding that doing so will put you back at the end of the waitlist.

[texcellence]

.

[dreamer_13]

Who's going to ASD this week?

Checking in! I'll be at ASD!

[anonymous117]

for those discussing housing earlier...

pretty sure you can "back out" of housing once you get assigned if you hate your assignment. Someone currently at Columbia or colluding with the housing office, can you confirm? Especially for those trying to get couples housing but aren't married.

Thats why there are waitlists because people drop out early, back out of housing, etc.

But this is mostly speculation.

This is true. I talked to the housing coordinator at ASW and she said you are guaranteed a housing offer, but can turn it down if you don't like what you get. You are not guaranteed another offer if you turn down the first, though -- it's my understanding that doing so will put you back at the end of the waitlist.

Current student popping in...this is true. You get an offer and have I think a week to decide if you want to accept it, and then when you accept you put down your deposit and pick a move in date.

If you don't like your offer, you can just not accept it with no consequences, or you can talk to them and try to get another offer. They formally say they won't give you another one, but if you have an actual reason (out of your budget, unfurnished instead of furnished, etc.), they might offer you another option. So if you get your offer and are unhappy, it's definitely worth it to try to get in touch.

[Baby Gaga]

Who's going to ASD this week?

Checking in! I'll be at ASD!

Me too! I'll be there Wednesday and Thursday morning

[gizmo1024]

Anyone going to the diversity program Tuesday or ASP Wednesday?

[texcellence]

.

[dwall1121]

Any girls who went to the last admitted students program/guys who noticed the general vibes going on-- what did you guys wear both days? Wondering how casual it is or if I need to change before the welcome reception or anything like that. Packing rn and getting very excited! Thanks for the help!

[meeseeks]

Who's going to ASD this week?

Checking in! Will be landing in NYC Tuesday evening.

[shehulk16]

Who's going to ASD this week?

Checking in! I'll be at ASD!

Me too! I'll be there Wednesday and Thursday morning

checking in! I get in Wednesday night! Pumped!

[lnsl123]

Any girls who went to the last admitted students program/guys who noticed the general vibes going on-- what did you guys wear both days? Wondering how casual it is or if I need to change before the welcome reception or anything like that. Packing rn and getting very excited! Thanks for the help!

It's pretty casual. I wouldn't worry too much about what you're wearing. The one guy in a suit stuck out. I did see some women wearing blazers, but the rest of the outfit was casual. No one will remember or care about your outfit. Unless there's an event you've been invited to that explicitly says "business attire", you can pretty much wear what you want.

[blessup]

Have any of you guys been able to access the housing page (https://facilities.columbia.edu/housing/) recently? I get an error message ("Not Found") when I try it.