<p>I have been accepted to Columbia SEAS as an international (Canadian)... However, the amount of aid they are willing to give is not sufficient.. my parents just sold the house so it looks like we have a lot of saving. in the likelihood that they're buying a new house in the near future, they will not be able to pay for my first year tuition, support themselves and my sister...</p>
<p>does columbia have an appeal process for financial aid? any suggestions on how i should approach this problem?</p>
<p>Columbia is needblind for Canadians... so even though i'm considered international in the admissions process, i'm not really "international" in terms of aid.</p>
<p>You need to call a financial aid officer to explain your situation, especially as regards the house sale. Follow up immediately with a fax so that you have a record of what you said, include tax documents from previous years to buttress your case regarding the true level of income of your family. If you have other siblings, mention that as well. Do it as soon as possible because Columbia will need time to revise figures if it is willing to do so.</p>
<p>I think if they do buy a new house quickly, they will work with you. Until then, the money they pulled out of the house is savings. Ouch, this can happen so easily (and did to a secretary in my office)!</p>
<p>Thatsme: My recollection is that there are at least two differences, financially, in buying a house, from the US - or at least there used to be when I last spoke with my Canadian friends on this topic.</p>
<p>One was that in Canada mortgage interest was not tax-deductible; the other was that you had to make a larger down payment than was typical in the US. If these are still true, then a larger amount of the proceeds from the sale of your house may have to be put into the new house than might be the typical case in the US.</p>
<p>Whomever is going to speak with the financial aid office should check into this first. Otherwise they will be dealing with a person who has an unconscious different perspective than you will have.</p>