Rejected from MIT and admitted to ND with a likely letter. I’m just hoping Ivy Day isn’t disastrous.
@bosnian If you don’t mind me asking, what else was in the package?
I highly recommend reading it. I read it a few years ago (I believe my sophomore year) and it inspired me to do my current research. Oliver Sacks’ writing is impeccable.
@bosnian I didn’t get Musicophilia but they did send me a signed copy of Ignorance: How it Drives Science. Maybe what they sent us is somewhat related to our major?
@schroscat it had some information about setting up travel to columbia’s admitted student’s weekend (which i can’t go to rip) and then a pamphlet about oliver sacks (i guess i should read that first maybe that’ll explain it) and then some information about studying foreign languages at columbia (which i’m guessing is unique to me because my essays were all pretty much about studying foreign languages in some way or another) and some more information about the humanities and columbia’s core curriculum.
I got my early estimate of financial aid last night and it was really bad. Did anyone else receive a financial aid estimate that seemed unreasonable?
@bosnian That’s actually…really…nice of them to do. Woah. Good job, Columbia. Is your major cognition/psychology/neuro related? His books tend to lean toward studying the brain and its capacities.
@schroscat i think i’m considered undeclared but i put linguistics (idk how it works since linguistics is only offered as a concentration at columbia) so it kind of falls into that category, which is probably why they sent it to me then.
@bosnian That makes sense! Congrats on the likely! Are you set on Columbia?
@hershey2010 mine wasn’t fantastic either, but still theoretically affordable
@schroscat um i honestly have no idea. columbia was like a super reach for me, and i was expecting to be rejected, so i kind of researched other schools so i wouldn’t be heartbroken with a rejection. i got into ucla which i had considered my top choice until i got a likely letter from columbia and now i’m not sure.
i’m leaning towards columbia but i literally change my mind every half hour so who knows. i’ll probably flip a coin or something lol
@hershey2010 How and where did you find out about your financial aid? Are you either a LL receiver or ED admit?
@bosnian Have you ever visited?
@debate4ever Mine is just not feasible. I’m thinking they could possibly have missed considering some major factors, so I am going to call and talk to them if possible. Does anyone know much about how flexible they are with their financial offers? I am dying to attend Columbia but I can’t even consider my current EFC.
@gongtd1 I am a likely Science Research Fellow. I received my aid estimate by email through the early estimate process
I also got a copy of Musicophilia and Columbia College Today (a magazine? haven’t even checked it out). My essays are about language and culture.
I just read like 20 pages but the book is amazing.
@Vanskelig If you ever get the chance, read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Such an amazing book!
Man, I haven’t gotten my book yet. Hope it arrives soon- this sounds so cool! 
@schroscat i wish!!! it looks so beautiful, but i live in california so flying all the way out to new york isn’t really feasible unless we wanted to take a longer trip. the admitted students’ weekend would have been perfect for me since it’s free but unfortunately i have a really big rehearsal for the show i’m in right now and can’t really miss that rip
i’ve visited ucla though, and it’s gorgeous! i think the main problem with columbia is that it would be a complete culture shock for me (which i guess can be a good and a bad thing) whereas at least i’ll know my way around the city and culture at ucla.
idk man, idk
@Vanskelig i got Columbia College Today too! i didn’t really look at it carefully though and since i just saw oliver sack’s face on the cover i assumed it was a pamphlet about him lmao
I also got Ignorance: How it Drives Science! I’m an intended Neuroscience and Behavior, and the author is a professor for some Neuroscience courses.
@bosnian I’m going to give you my personal experience that I’ve had from Columbia. (Take my advice with a grain of salt, I’m a complete stranger to you, haha)
I live in NY, so I’ve had my fair share of visiting Columbia. Location wise: abSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. It’s enough uptown that you won’t have to deal with the insanity of Midtown tourists, but not so uptown that you’re in the middle of nowhere. From campus, you can see Central Park, so you can take a break from the insanity of college and relax in quite possibly one of the most beautiful parts of Manhattan. The campus itself is beautiful. I had the chance to tour one of the libraries, and it REEKS of intellectualism and wonderful-ness. Like, I’d spend HOURS studying there and be a happy peanut. As far as I’ve heard, the dorms are nice, and hey, you’re living in the city for a great price. You’re also given free access to 30+ museums in the city, which is an AMAZING deal…because some museums are pretty pricey for a student. The opportunities to expand your mind both culturally and intellectually are insane. (I’d also like to add that there’s the Strand Bookstore downtown near Union Square, and it is quite possibly one of the most miraculous places to exist)
I went sophomore year for a journalism event, and the classes that I sat through were extremely enjoyable and fun. I don’t know what your stance is for the core program, but they sold it really well during the tour. Of course, this is your choice, but don’t be afraid of NYC. It’s seriously a wonderful place, and you would definitely find a home somewhere. Also, there’s a Starbucks on every street corner for the most part…so you’ll have enough coffee for your sleep-deprived student self!