Cornell 2011 applicants Forum

[sarahlawg]

Snail mail sent out friday, called today and had the letter scanned and emailed. hth

great, thanks!

[FiveSermon]

how the hell does $$ work at cornell anyway? seems like a combination of need and merit, since on LSN there is a wide range of money offered to people with very similar #s. anybody more familiar with this?

Only one I've seen get money around 167-168/3.8+ range are Arbiter who got 60k (but he said his parents income was negative 37k or something) and someone else who got 27k?

In summary don't expect much

[paulinaporizkova]

how the hell does $$ work at cornell anyway? seems like a combination of need and merit, since on LSN there is a wide range of money offered to people with very similar #s. anybody more familiar with this?

Only one I've seen get money around 167-168/3.8+ range are Arbiter who got 60k (but he said his parents income was negative 37k or something) and someone else who got 27k?

In summary don't expect much

i'm not. anything less than 30k and i'm going to UVA and there's no way i'm getting more than that (i also think there's quite a difference in aid between a 167 and 168, and i have a 167)

[FiveSermon]

how the hell does $$ work at cornell anyway? seems like a combination of need and merit, since on LSN there is a wide range of money offered to people with very similar #s. anybody more familiar with this?

Only one I've seen get money around 167-168/3.8+ range are Arbiter who got 60k (but he said his parents income was negative 37k or something) and someone else who got 27k?

In summary don't expect much

i'm not. anything less than 30k and i'm going to UVA and there's no way i'm getting more than that (i also think there's quite a difference in aid between a 167 and 168, and i have a 167)

You do have a 4.0 so that might be a deciding factor although it does seem like Cornell is really trying to grab 168+

[paulinaporizkova]

You do have a 4.0 so that might be a deciding factor although it does seem like Cornell is really trying to grab 168+

meh, i'm definitely not gonna get any points in the need based aid category though. especially if parents' info is taken into consideration

i guess i'm not really worthy of any though, IMO

[fetalposition]

Have any deferred applicants NOT been updated by the status checker since getting deferred? Mine still says 12/14...

[tttlllsss]

Have any deferred applicants NOT been updated by the status checker since getting deferred? Mine still says 12/14...

I'm deferred since 11/24...

Why - have any deferred applicants been updated?? (haven't been following this thread since Nov)

[fetalposition]

Have any deferred applicants NOT been updated by the status checker since getting deferred? Mine still says 12/14...

I'm deferred since 11/24...

Why - have any deferred applicants been updated?? (haven't been following this thread since Nov)

Yeah join the club. I've seen a few deferred people get updated to March status dates. But whatever... I just wanted to make sure they didn't lose my app

[FiveSermon]

On LSN there are a few people who have gotten in after they have been deferred. It seems to be on a case by case basis for deferred applicants. I don't think all of you will hear back at similar times.

[dpk711]

When I asked for my financial aid info, Kelly (the kind lady on the phone) told me that they mailed my award last week Friday. I asked if she could tell me my award and she kindly sent a scanned copy of the letter literally 60 seconds later. $15,000/year -- nothing compared to the $35,000 GULC gave me but I guess that means it's time for me to negotiate.

[mr_toad]

...

[RTFM]

I was admitted EA and I haven't heard anything about financial aid. They just started sending out letters (snail mail), right? So I shouldn't be worried yet?

[Arbiter213]

I was admitted EA and I haven't heard anything about financial aid. They just started sending out letters (snail mail), right? So I shouldn't be worried yet?

Depends- did you remember to apply?

[Arbiter213]

When I asked for my financial aid info, Kelly (the kind lady on the phone) told me that they mailed my award last week Friday. I asked if she could tell me my award and she kindly sent a scanned copy of the letter literally 60 seconds later. $15,000/year -- nothing compared to the $35,000 GULC gave me but I guess that means it's time for me to negotiate.

Another example of how confusing this is... I got 30k at Gtown and 60k at Cornell; you get 105 at Gtown and 45k at Cornell. Still, your 172 is going to tempt Gtown to maintain their 75th LSAT, and yadayadayada we could go into speculation but what's the point...

Yah, I think it definitely has to do with "merit"- Cornell gave me 60k, Georgetown ~33k if you coun't work study, ~15k if not. And I mean total, not per year.

[RTFM]

I was admitted EA and I haven't heard anything about financial aid. They just started sending out letters (snail mail), right? So I shouldn't be worried yet?

Depends- did you remember to apply?

Err... I filled out the FAFSA and put them on it... was I supposed to do something else? (Didn't do Need Access for anyone since both my parents are re-married and between the 4 of them I wasn't getting any money anyway.)

[japes]

Err... I filled out the FAFSA and put them on it... was I supposed to do something else? (Didn't do Need Access for anyone since both my parents are re-married and between the 4 of them I wasn't getting any money anyway.)

http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... al_faq.cfm

Candidates wishing to be considered for institutional grants should complete the Cornell Law School Financial Aid Information Sheet and Need Access Report by March 15, 2011 and submit both 2010 parent and 2010 student tax returns to the Financial Aid office.

[FiveSermon]

Do you guys get any "we have received all required financial aid material" thing?

[japes]

I did not, no.

[RTFM]

Err... I filled out the FAFSA and put them on it... was I supposed to do something else? (Didn't do Need Access for anyone since both my parents are re-married and between the 4 of them I wasn't getting any money anyway.)

http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... al_faq.cfm

Candidates wishing to be considered for institutional grants should complete the Cornell Law School Financial Aid Information Sheet and Need Access Report by March 15, 2011 and submit both 2010 parent and 2010 student tax returns to the Financial Aid office.

Sigh. Thanks. I haven't done an awesome job at keeping up with all the financial aid stuff.

[sarahlawg]

Err... I filled out the FAFSA and put them on it... was I supposed to do something else? (Didn't do Need Access for anyone since both my parents are re-married and between the 4 of them I wasn't getting any money anyway.)

http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... al_faq.cfm

Candidates wishing to be considered for institutional grants should complete the Cornell Law School Financial Aid Information Sheet and Need Access Report by March 15, 2011 and submit both 2010 parent and 2010 student tax returns to the Financial Aid office.

Sigh. Thanks. I haven't done an awesome job at keeping up with all the financial aid stuff.

hmmm crap.

my mother hasn't even done her taxes.

[rjh456]

The March 15 date only really applies to those who have already been admitted. I emailed a fin aid officer when I realized they wanted tax info too, and they said just to send that information along after you/if you get accepted.

But, even if you've been accepted already, you might want to just contact the Financial Aid office anyway. I came in past the deadline at UCLA and they were willing to accept my forms anyway. It's worth a try. If you've already been accepted, you don't have a lot to lose.

[NorCalBruin]

Some things I learned--for what it's worth--for those of you who haven't applied for financial aid or are waiting:

1.) Yes, you do need your taxes and your parents taxes (at least if you want to be considered for a scholarship and not just loans), BUT if they haven't filed them yet (like most people), you can just give Cornell a copy of the 2009 taxes, and fax them the 2010 ones when they are finished.

2.) Applying for financial aid at Cornell is kind of a bitch. The Need Access parent's form kind of sucks. Getting W-2 copies sucks. I had to call / visit my parents accountant a few times. Especially because my dad owns his own business so I also had to do the farm / supplement worksheet. BUT...

3.) Cornell probably has the nicest financial aid office of any law school. (I'm looking at you Kelly). AND...

4.) Most people get something. And honestly, I think because it takes so much effort to apply for financial aid at Cornell, the people who don't get money are mostly the people who didn't take the time to apply.

just my 2 cents

[FiveSermon]

Some things I learned--for what it's worth--for those of you who haven't applied for financial aid or are waiting:

1.) Yes, you do need your taxes and your parents taxes (at least if you want to be considered for a scholarship and not just loans), BUT if they haven't filed them yet (like most people), you can just give Cornell a copy of the 2009 taxes, and fax them the 2010 ones when they are finished.

2.) Applying for financial aid at Cornell is kind of a bitch. The Need Access parent's form kind of sucks. Getting W-2 copies sucks. I had to call / visit my parents accountant a few times. Especially because my dad owns his own business so I also had to do the farm / supplement worksheet. BUT...

3.) Cornell probably has the nicest financial aid office of any law school. (I'm looking at you Kelly). AND...

4.) Most people get something. And honestly, I think because it takes so much effort to apply for financial aid at Cornell, the people who don't get money are mostly the people who didn't take the time to apply.

just my 2 cents

In the Cornell packet it said around 40% of students receive some kind of grants (which you don't have to pay back right)?

[PinkCow]

Some things I learned--for what it's worth--for those of you who haven't applied for financial aid or are waiting:

1.) Yes, you do need your taxes and your parents taxes (at least if you want to be considered for a scholarship and not just loans), BUT if they haven't filed them yet (like most people), you can just give Cornell a copy of the 2009 taxes, and fax them the 2010 ones when they are finished.

2.) Applying for financial aid at Cornell is kind of a bitch. The Need Access parent's form kind of sucks. Getting W-2 copies sucks. I had to call / visit my parents accountant a few times. Especially because my dad owns his own business so I also had to do the farm / supplement worksheet. BUT...

3.) Cornell probably has the nicest financial aid office of any law school. (I'm looking at you Kelly). AND...

4.) Most people get something. And honestly, I think because it takes so much effort to apply for financial aid at Cornell, the people who don't get money are mostly the people who didn't take the time to apply.

just my 2 cents

In the Cornell packet it said around 40% of students receive some kind of grants (which you don't have to pay back right)?

Well you don't have to. But there was some sort of spiel in the Fin Aid packet along the lines of "you have a moral obligation to pay this back someday if you can". So...

[FiveSermon]

Some things I learned--for what it's worth--for those of you who haven't applied for financial aid or are waiting:

1.) Yes, you do need your taxes and your parents taxes (at least if you want to be considered for a scholarship and not just loans), BUT if they haven't filed them yet (like most people), you can just give Cornell a copy of the 2009 taxes, and fax them the 2010 ones when they are finished.

2.) Applying for financial aid at Cornell is kind of a bitch. The Need Access parent's form kind of sucks. Getting W-2 copies sucks. I had to call / visit my parents accountant a few times. Especially because my dad owns his own business so I also had to do the farm / supplement worksheet. BUT...

3.) Cornell probably has the nicest financial aid office of any law school. (I'm looking at you Kelly). AND...

4.) Most people get something. And honestly, I think because it takes so much effort to apply for financial aid at Cornell, the people who don't get money are mostly the people who didn't take the time to apply.

just my 2 cents

In the Cornell packet it said around 40% of students receive some kind of grants (which you don't have to pay back right)?

Well you don't have to. But there was some sort of spiel in the Fin Aid packet along the lines of "you have a moral obligation to pay this back someday if you can". So...

Oh I so it's the grants that you have to pay back. Still thinking in terms of undergrad =/