Columbia Class of 2020 Forum

[hellohalo]

That sucks...

Last week I was told my application and file is complete and I will hear back soon. I called yesterday and was told that my application is still under final review. Ugh.

[Stay-at-Home Son]

This cycle has just been full of surprises. I'm at CLS's median for both LSAT and GPA, and I got $0 from NYU, so I was expecting nada from CLS as well. Just got my offer in the mail, however, and it's definitely substantial enough to sway me away from some other schools offering more. Fingers crossed for you guys all to get what you want too, and see you there in August!!

[bbp1993]

This cycle has just been full of surprises. I'm at CLS's median for both LSAT and GPA, and I got $0 from NYU, so I was expecting nada from CLS as well. Just got my offer in the mail, however, and it's definitely substantial enough to sway me away from some other schools offering more. Fingers crossed for you guys all to get what you want too, and see you there in August!!

Did you get a confirmation that they had received your financial aid information? when did you submit?

[hellohalo]

This cycle has just been full of surprises. I'm at CLS's median for both LSAT and GPA, and I got $0 from NYU, so I was expecting nada from CLS as well. Just got my offer in the mail, however, and it's definitely substantial enough to sway me away from some other schools offering more. Fingers crossed for you guys all to get what you want too, and see you there in August!!

Mail or email?

[Stay-at-Home Son]

This cycle has just been full of surprises. I'm at CLS's median for both LSAT and GPA, and I got $0 from NYU, so I was expecting nada from CLS as well. Just got my offer in the mail, however, and it's definitely substantial enough to sway me away from some other schools offering more. Fingers crossed for you guys all to get what you want too, and see you there in August!!

Did you get a confirmation that they had received your financial aid information? when did you submit?

I submitted around 3/25, and I called last week to confirm that they had all of my materials. They told me my file was in the final stage of review and that it would be ready by this week. I'd definitely recommend calling.

[harmcharm]

Hey y'all, I don't know if you mentioned other deadlines when you called financial aid this week, but I called on Monday telling them my deadlines were coming up and was told I'm in initial review and the mailing could take weeks. I preemptively emailed them my other offers a few hours later and got an email with my award in it today. I don't know how/why the decision got so fast-tracked, but try referring to deadlines and see what happens.

Thanks for the perspective! I called today and was told my application was in final review. Just curious, what other offers did you email them? I have decent offers from Michigan and NYU, but Michigan is significantly higher than NYU, and am trying to decide if I should just email them Mich's for now. I'm still trying to get NYU to take the bait and increase their offer, and I don't want to get low-balled by Columbia in the interim, particularly since I haven't seen their offer yet!

I emailed them high offers from Duke, UVA, and Penn. After receiving the award, though, I updated with offers from Chicago (2x as much) and NYU (3x) and haven't heard back.

[Quatress]

Called the financial aid office last week, and told them I had upcoming deadlines very, very soon, but I still haven't heard back from them. I also reached out to NYU to extend my deadline for accepting their offer (this Friday), and they refused. I sent a follow-up email with my scholarship offers to Columbia last week, but still radio silence.

Does this mean I'm not getting any aid, or is the Fin Aid office just extremely slow? I find it extremely inequitable that some folks have their aid offers and can mull them over, while other folks are stranded and rushing at the last minute to decide.

[hellohalo]

Called the financial aid office last week, and told them I had upcoming deadlines very, very soon, but I still haven't heard back from them. I also reached out to NYU to extend my deadline for accepting their offer (this Friday), and they refused. I sent a follow-up email with my scholarship offers to Columbia last week, but still radio silence.

Does this mean I'm not getting any aid, or is the Fin Aid office just extremely slow? I find it extremely inequitable that some folks have their aid offers and can mull them over, while other folks are stranded and rushing at the last minute to decide.

I don't think they would necessarily prioritize your financial app because you have upcoming deadlines. Everybody has them. I don't know how they decide the order to review the app, based on some admission index from admissions? I'm still waiting to hear my decision too. Sigh...

[Quatress]

Called the financial aid office last week, and told them I had upcoming deadlines very, very soon, but I still haven't heard back from them. I also reached out to NYU to extend my deadline for accepting their offer (this Friday), and they refused. I sent a follow-up email with my scholarship offers to Columbia last week, but still radio silence.

Does this mean I'm not getting any aid, or is the Fin Aid office just extremely slow? I find it extremely inequitable that some folks have their aid offers and can mull them over, while other folks are stranded and rushing at the last minute to decide.

I don't think they would necessarily prioritize your financial app because you have upcoming deadlines. Everybody has them. I don't know how they decide the order to review the app, based on some admission index from admissions? I'm still waiting to hear my decision too. Sigh...

I think it's not so much about prioritizing certain applications, but about getting back to admits at a reasonable time. From skimming this thread, I gather that the FAO initially told people in early/mid-April that they would hear back within a couple of days, and then updated them that they would hear back within a couple of WEEKS (aka around April 30/May 1). All the other schools I've applied to have disclosed their aid. Columbia is the only one that's lagging behind.

EDIT: Sorry to hear that you're waiting too. This process is really frustrating.

[hellohalo]

Called the financial aid office last week, and told them I had upcoming deadlines very, very soon, but I still haven't heard back from them. I also reached out to NYU to extend my deadline for accepting their offer (this Friday), and they refused. I sent a follow-up email with my scholarship offers to Columbia last week, but still radio silence.

Does this mean I'm not getting any aid, or is the Fin Aid office just extremely slow? I find it extremely inequitable that some folks have their aid offers and can mull them over, while other folks are stranded and rushing at the last minute to decide.

I don't think they would necessarily prioritize your financial app because you have upcoming deadlines. Everybody has them. I don't know how they decide the order to review the app, based on some admission index from admissions? I'm still waiting to hear my decision too. Sigh...

I think it's not so much about prioritizing certain applications, but about getting back to admits at a reasonable time. From skimming this thread, I gather that the FAO initially told people in early/mid-April that they would hear back within a couple of days, and then updated them that they would hear back within a couple of WEEKS (aka around April 30/May 1). All the other schools I've applied to have disclosed their aid. Columbia is the only one that's lagging behind.

EDIT: Sorry to hear that you're waiting too. This process is really frustrating.

I totally understand you. I'm frustrated by their slowly dragging their ass too. But well they seem to care less about their yield I guess.

[Thelaw23]

Do we create a facebook group ourselves or....

[jjcorvino]

Do we create a facebook group ourselves or....

Lol. If you do let us know.

[WordsworthIsBae]

Do we create a facebook group ourselves or....

Lol. If you do let us know.

+1

[enoca]

I called last week to check on my file and was told it was complete, and that my decision would be sent out at the beginning of this week. They even said it would be emailed to me.

Just got an email... saying they still need a random tax form from one of my parents.

Cool cool cool.

[lnsl123]

Cool cool cool.

When did you submit your app?

[enoca]

Early-mid March, right after being admitted.

[WordsworthIsBae]

I finally received my financial aid award letter (after informing them of upcoming deadlines.) Have any of you been successful in negotiation efforts?

[lnsl123]

...admitted.

Well then that's ridiculous and unacceptable. CLS is my top choice still, but this financial aid process has been slow and frustrating.

[jjcorvino]

...admitted.

Well then that's ridiculous and unacceptable. CLS is my top choice still, but this financial aid process has been slow and frustrating.

I think their insistence on combining need and merit is extremely frustrating. In my mind there is a significant difference and they shouldn't need your tax forms to decide whether you are a good enough applicant to warrant money.

[bbp1993]

Cool cool cool.

When did you submit your app?

and when did you call?

[enoca]

I called on Friday. Unlikely anything changed over the weekend, so there must have been some wires crossed somewhere.

I'm not mad; if they need a thing so be it. It's just a little deflating.

[lnsl123]

Yeah but they should have the capability of informing you sooner than that about a required document.

[jjcorvino]

Yeah but they should have the capability of informing you sooner than that about a required document.

The number one complaint I received from students during the ASP was how the administration is slow and behind the times. They said everything gets done, just a month later than you would want.

[DogsAndWriting]

This is a pretty inconsequential question, but do y'all know where to get CLS merch? I couldn't make it to any of the ASWs, and aside from an alumni hat I couldn't find anything online. I'd like to have a Columbia Law shirt when it's time to inevitably post the FB status flexing about what I'm doing with my life. Again, there are definitely more pressing questions out there, but if anyone knows let me know

[lnsl123]

This is a pretty inconsequential question, but do y'all know where to get CLS merch? I couldn't make it to any of the ASWs, and aside from an alumni hat I couldn't find anything online. I'd like to have a Columbia Law shirt when it's time to inevitably post the FB status flexing about what I'm doing with my life. Again, there are definitely more pressing questions out there, but if anyone knows let me know

This is my other issue with CLS. There were no t-shirts given to admits during ASW. I got Penn and NYU t-shirts. No CLS t-shirt. The online bookstore has nothing but a hoodie. I did see a t-shirt at the bookstore and many current students I met were wearing CLS caps. I would love to know where they're hiding all this stuff because I would actually like to buy some.