Actual Financial Aid Figures

<p>ladyelizabeth, from your other posts, it appears you entered AU planning from the get go to transfer to Cornell ILR under their guaranteed delayed admission program for waitlisted applicants–so why say it was actually inadequate FA that made you leave, especially when you enrolled with full knowledge of your FA package? In any case, best of luck at Cornell (though I have to warn you that many of the AU elements you highlighted as objectionable in another thread–liberals, “flamboyant” gays, and an excessively large rich, white and Jewish population–will be found there in great numbers as well.)</p>

<p>I had the transfer option for Cornell but I also applied as a transfer to other colleges, taking into account any worst-case scenarios and to provide myself with more options just in case. I considered staying at AU since I liked the professors but after some cost-benefit analysis, eventually I decided that it would be the best option if I left should I get a better financial offer. I also took into account the fact that AU doesn’t ask for the CSS Profile after freshman year and only relies on FAFSA after that. Cornell eventually came through with so much better aid than AU could ever give me and after visiting the campus a few months ago, I was certain of my decision. In my opinion, Cornell has a more diverse population than AU, especially when it comes to students of different socioeconomic backgrounds (to be fair though, Cornell gets a much better endowment than AU). AU also tends to be very polarized between SIS and poli sci majors. I don’t mind individual backgrounds themselves, it’s the collective homogeneity of it I find tiresome. That works for some people but it doesn’t for me. And with an estimate of around 40K in total debt for four years, I decided it wasn’t worth it.</p>