Columbia 2011!
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 5:24 pm
Just submitted my application to Columbia. Here's hoping it's not 11 months before I find out if I'm in or not. Who's with me!
FAQ:
Q: What is the final stage of the Columbia status checker?
A: Complete. There is no "under review" status, nor is there a "decision letter mailed" status. Once you're complete, one day a letter is just going to show up in your mailbox.
Q: When do decisions come out?
A: Yesterday. Panic.
Q: Does Columbia give merit based aid outside of the named scholarships on the basis of negotiations?
A: (from Lem37) There is non-named merit aid given out with financial aid packages. It's technically considered "need aid," however, and will only be awarded after you fill out and submit your FAFSA. It's also largely given out to those who leverage their scholarships from other schools - basically, send PDFs of your other scholarship letters to CLS's FinAid e-mail address ASAP. Columbia has been very good about providing some money to those with awards from other schools. Don't wait to start leveraging, especially since CLS has a limited amount of FinAid to distribute, and leveraged $$ will count as need-based regardless of your financial status. Fill out your financial aid application forms ASAP (you must do this even if you're certain that you won't qualify for need-based aid). After you submit that, send CLS's FinAid office an email briefly outlining your situation, how CLS is your top choice but money is a factor, and you received scholarship offers from X-schools, etc. Importantly, ATTACH PDFs of your other scholly offer letters to that email.
Information for people who did Early Decision:
Historical Dates the First ED Decision was Released
2010 - November 30th, Monday
2009 - December 1st, Tuesday
2008 - November 26th, Thursday
2007 - November 28th, Wednesday
2006 - December 4th, Monday
2005 - December 12th, Monday
2004 - December 8th, Wednesday
Release Dates in 2010
So far decisions have been released on:
- November 30th, 2010 (Monday)
- December 6th, 2010 (Monday) [Only 1 or 2]
- December 7th, 2010 (Tuesday) [~3]
- December 13th, 2010 (Monday) [Only 1 - 3:45PM]
- December 14th, 2010 (Tuesday) [Only 1 - 3:45PM]
- December 23rd, 2010 (Thursday)
Almost all decisions have come out between 3:30PM and 4:30PM besides a few released in the morning. All decisions up to December 13th were acceptances.
Grade Requests
Many, MANY people have received grade requests. I'd have to guess in the area of 15 people have reported receiving them. According to last year's data receiving a grade request is a good sign and is very often followed up with an acceptance. However, grade requests DO give you the option of backing out of your ED contract.
FAQ:
Q: What is the final stage of the Columbia status checker?
A: Complete. There is no "under review" status, nor is there a "decision letter mailed" status. Once you're complete, one day a letter is just going to show up in your mailbox.
Q: When do decisions come out?
A: Yesterday. Panic.
Q: Does Columbia give merit based aid outside of the named scholarships on the basis of negotiations?
A: (from Lem37) There is non-named merit aid given out with financial aid packages. It's technically considered "need aid," however, and will only be awarded after you fill out and submit your FAFSA. It's also largely given out to those who leverage their scholarships from other schools - basically, send PDFs of your other scholarship letters to CLS's FinAid e-mail address ASAP. Columbia has been very good about providing some money to those with awards from other schools. Don't wait to start leveraging, especially since CLS has a limited amount of FinAid to distribute, and leveraged $$ will count as need-based regardless of your financial status. Fill out your financial aid application forms ASAP (you must do this even if you're certain that you won't qualify for need-based aid). After you submit that, send CLS's FinAid office an email briefly outlining your situation, how CLS is your top choice but money is a factor, and you received scholarship offers from X-schools, etc. Importantly, ATTACH PDFs of your other scholly offer letters to that email.
Information for people who did Early Decision:
Historical Dates the First ED Decision was Released
2010 - November 30th, Monday
2009 - December 1st, Tuesday
2008 - November 26th, Thursday
2007 - November 28th, Wednesday
2006 - December 4th, Monday
2005 - December 12th, Monday
2004 - December 8th, Wednesday
Release Dates in 2010
So far decisions have been released on:
- November 30th, 2010 (Monday)
- December 6th, 2010 (Monday) [Only 1 or 2]
- December 7th, 2010 (Tuesday) [~3]
- December 13th, 2010 (Monday) [Only 1 - 3:45PM]
- December 14th, 2010 (Tuesday) [Only 1 - 3:45PM]
- December 23rd, 2010 (Thursday)
Almost all decisions have come out between 3:30PM and 4:30PM besides a few released in the morning. All decisions up to December 13th were acceptances.
Grade Requests
Many, MANY people have received grade requests. I'd have to guess in the area of 15 people have reported receiving them. According to last year's data receiving a grade request is a good sign and is very often followed up with an acceptance. However, grade requests DO give you the option of backing out of your ED contract.
. I'm still "completion pending." You? It just has an asterisk that says if you're ED then it won't go complete until they receive the contract. *squirms*