Columbia c/o 2015 Applicants (2011-2012 cycle) Forum

[seahawk32]

Also what is the Voldemort thing?

[chucklesmcgee]

Also what is the Voldemort thing?

It's a thing which shall not be named. It allowed dark evil-doers to see into the future- maybe. It's no longer available.

[seahawk32]

That raises more questions than answers.

[MachineLemon]

That raises more questions than answers.

Haha, yes it did.

[theduffman]

That raises more questions than answers.

It was a way that people may have seen their decisions in advance, but it caused a lot of conflict both within columbia and on the boards. Thus, we don't speak of it anymore.

[zworykin]

Thus, we don't speak of it anymore.

Clearly.

[Tiago Splitter]

I saw the future, and it was glorious.

[sailboat]

Also what is the Voldemort thing?

It's a thing which shall not be named. It allowed dark evil-doers to see into the future- maybe. It's no longer available.

+1

[Bronck]

Congrats to everyone else who got in (especially snehpets!)!

These next ~2 months are going to be hectic. So much financial aid info we need to send off to CLS + figuring out how to negotiate aid within tight windows.

[snehpets]

Congrats to everyone else who got in (especially snehpets!)!

These next ~2 months are going to be hectic. So much financial aid info we need to send off to CLS + figuring out how to negotiate aid within tight windows.

Haha, thanks!!

as for financial aid/general post-acceptance stress we should definitely all post in this thread so everyone here still waiting can continue to analyze postmark dates and things in peace (good luck guys!). Also the In at Columbia thread is like 20 pages less than the In at NYU thread, so it could use some help

[Bronck]

Congrats to everyone else who got in (especially snehpets!)!

These next ~2 months are going to be hectic. So much financial aid info we need to send off to CLS + figuring out how to negotiate aid within tight windows.

Haha, thanks!!

as for financial aid/general post-acceptance stress we should definitely all post in this thread so everyone here still waiting can continue to analyze postmark dates and things in peace (good luck guys!). Also the In at Columbia thread is like 20 pages less than the In at NYU thread, so it could use some help

Didn't notice that thread. Thanks for the heads up !

Edit: No wonder, no one's posted in it in a few weeks haha

[JamMasterJ]

Congrats to everyone else who got in (especially snehpets!)!

These next ~2 months are going to be hectic. So much financial aid info we need to send off to CLS + figuring out how to negotiate aid within tight windows.

Haha, thanks!!

as for financial aid/general post-acceptance stress we should definitely all post in this thread so everyone here still waiting can continue to analyze postmark dates and things in peace (good luck guys!). Also the In at Columbia thread is like 20 pages less than the In at NYU thread, so it could use some help

yeah, you guys are making me depressed and jealous

[jpal13]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

[maxpower430]

I live pretty close to NYC so I am losing hope fast. Time to start weighing Penn v. NYU (unless anyone out there wants to trade a Columbia acceptance for my UChi!) I think I jinxed it because it's the only school I visited before sending apps haha.

Haha I did the same thing with Columbia (though I more just visited the campus instead of going on a tour). but yea, we're basically numbers twins, and I'm starting to more seriously look into the Penn vs NYU thing too, hope springs eternal though and I have faith we'll both get the vomit, eventually.

[Doorkeeper]

I live pretty close to NYC so I am losing hope fast. Time to start weighing Penn v. NYU (unless anyone out there wants to trade a Columbia acceptance for my UChi!) I think I jinxed it because it's the only school I visited before sending apps haha.

Haha I did the same thing with Columbia (though I more just visited the campus instead of going on a tour). but yea, we're basically numbers twins, and I'm starting to more seriously look into the Penn vs NYU thing too, hope springs eternal though and I have faith we'll both get the vomit, eventually.

If you guys look back a page or two, multiple posters mentioned there being later waves of acceptances in Feb/March. Since you both have strong numbers, maybe you guys will just have to wait a bit longer for the VCEs...

[46nyc]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

[jpal13]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

Will do. I only worry about doing that because in 2010 I had my best income year but 2011 was horrible horrible so I'd rather use 2011 numbers

[46nyc]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

Will do. I only worry about doing that because in 2010 I had my best income year but 2011 was horrible horrible so I'd rather use 2011 numbers

Oh, well that's not fun... Sorry I guess I'd just include a note or email schools to say you'll be filing 2011 asap but your income was much lower than what they'll be seeing on the initial FAFSA

[Nelson]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

Will do. I only worry about doing that because in 2010 I had my best income year but 2011 was horrible horrible so I'd rather use 2011 numbers

You don't use 2010 numbers, you can estimate 2011. They don't care about most of the stuff on your taxes (deductions, business expense, etc.). The form only asks for income basically. Then you refile with adjusted numbers after you file your taxes.

NeedAccess is even easier to fudge. They let you explicitly use estimates of your 2011 income.

[jpal13]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

Will do. I only worry about doing that because in 2010 I had my best income year but 2011 was horrible horrible so I'd rather use 2011 numbers

You don't use 2010 numbers, you can estimate 2011. They don't care about most of the stuff on your taxes (deductions, business expense, etc.). The form only asks for income basically. Then you refile with adjusted numbers after you file your taxes.

NeedAccess is even easier to fudge. They let you explicitly use estimates of your 2011 income.

That is welcome news. Thanks, I started these but felt uncomfortable estimating. As far as merit aid if I didn't get anything in my acceptance packet do I just wait around for them to say anything? If I'm waiting how long will I be waiting for? Does Columbia negotiate? So far all I got was 54k from Michigan.

I doubt I have much leverage, Columbia was a reach for me.

[Bronck]

My taxes are complicated, 2011 won't be done right away. How hard will this hit me in the delay of my FASFA app? Will it affect merit aid?

Do it now using your 2010 tax returns. They ask have you filed already, will you file, or are you not filing for 2011, so you just choose will file for 2011 and you can go back and enter those numbers when you get the 2011 returns.

Will do. I only worry about doing that because in 2010 I had my best income year but 2011 was horrible horrible so I'd rather use 2011 numbers

You don't use 2010 numbers, you can estimate 2011. They don't care about most of the stuff on your taxes (deductions, business expense, etc.). The form only asks for income basically. Then you refile with adjusted numbers after you file your taxes.

NeedAccess is even easier to fudge. They let you explicitly use estimates of your 2011 income.

To add onto that. If you haven't been accepted to YHS then in the end the amount isn't really going to matter. Some schools may claim to give out need based aid but in reality it is virtually all merit based. The values you put aren't going to impact your ability to receive federal loans.

[Bronck]

I posted financial aid information a few pages back. I would recommend submitting your negotiation letter in early march after you receive scholarship info from chicago and/or nyu. If recall correctly their usual amount is somewhere around 25-30k total for non-named scholarship people. Remember to submit all your forms before march 1 as well. All of that information should be linked through the ASW

[jpal13]

To add onto that. If you haven't been accepted to YHS then in the end the amount isn't really going to matter. Some schools may claim to give out need based aid but in reality it is virtually all merit based. The values you put aren't going to impact your ability to receive federal loans.[/quote]

Already rejected at Harvard!

[jpal13]

I posted financial aid information a few pages back. I would recommend submitting your negotiation letter in early march after you receive scholarship info from chicago and/or nyu. If recall correctly their usual amount is somewhere around 25-30k total for non-named scholarship people. Remember to submit all your forms before march 1 as well. All of that information should be linked through the ASW

Yeah I was waitlisted at Chicago and never applied to nyu. My next highest schools are Michigan and Penn.

[Bronck]

I posted financial aid information a few pages back. I would recommend submitting your negotiation letter in early march after you receive scholarship info from chicago and/or nyu. If recall correctly their usual amount is somewhere around 25-30k total for non-named scholarship people. Remember to submit all your forms before march 1 as well. All of that information should be linked through the ASW

Yeah I was waitlisted at Chicago and never applied to nyu. My next highest schools are Michigan and Penn.

I'd probably send a negotiation letter after all your materials are in then. I can't imagine they'll be swayed much by 54k at Michigan. Always worth a try, however.