Columbia Early Decision Financial Aid Question

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I'm applying to Columbia ED but had a question about its financial aid policy. If I get it in, I understand that I'd have to withdraw all my applications and accept Columbia's offer. However, if their financial aid package isn't enough, do I find out about my other early applications, namely MIT and UChicago?</p>

<p>In summation, if Columbia releases me for financial reasons from the Early Decision agreement, can I find out my results for other schools or does an acceptance to Columbia completely restrict me from finding out anything about the others?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>"If you are admitted under the Early Decision program, you are obligated to accept Columbia’s offer of admission. Once you accept Columbia’s offer of admission, you may file no further college applications and must withdraw any other applications that have already been submitted. Only students who (after consultation with the Financial Aid Office) cite financial reasons for not attending will be released from the Early Decision agreement. </p>

<p>According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling guidelines, “while pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions, but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time.” While Columbia does not necessarily encourage the filing of both Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) applications, we do not prohibit candidates from doing so. However, candidates should be aware that Columbia’s Early Decision program is a binding agreement and a candidate will be expected to enroll, regardless of any pending applications (early or otherwise). </p>

<p>If you are offered admission under the Early Decision plan, we expect that you will maintain a rigorous course load and a strong academic performance for the remainder of your senior year. Any non-elective course changes to take place after admission must be discussed and approved in advance by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. You must submit the Mid-Year School Report and eventually a final transcript. Your academic performance will be monitored and evaluated through the end of the senior year."</p>

<p>The above is right off of the Columbia website. </p>

<p>It looks like you could receive admission decisions for all three schools mid-December. It also looks like your financial aid materials are due for Columbia and U of Chicago by November 1. HOWEVER, the financial aid deadline for ALL MIT students is February. </p>

<p>It is very possible that you will not receive the Chicago financial aid package with your EA acceptance (if you are accepted). It seems very unlikely that you will have a financial aid offer from MIT (since their deadline for applications for aid is in February even for EA students).</p>

<p>If you ACCEPT Columbia’s offer of admission, you will be REQUIRED to withdraw any pending applications and all other acceptances immediately upon accepting that offer of admission. You cannot accept that offer, and then wait to hear from Chicago and MIT. Those applications and acceptances will need to be withdrawn.</p>

<p>If you turn down Columbia’s offer, you are DONE with Columbia, and then would move on to the remaining schools on your list. </p>

<p>If you are accepted at Columbia, you will be given a VERY short window of time to decide if columbia’s aid offer is sufficient. You might not have the others in hand by the time you need to decide whether to accept Columbia’s offer…or not. They clearly state they expect you to enroll if accepted ED. My guess is their window for acceptance will be a small one.</p>

3

<p>You question is exactly why you should not apply ED; you wan to compare packages and ED does not allow for comparing packages. Did you run your numbers through the net price calculator? If yes, are your parents comfortable with what they are expected to pay?</p>

<p>The whole concept behind ED is that in exchange for an Early decision, if admitted you will attend. Ed does not give you the luxury of seeing what MIT/Chicago gave you if accepted, you have committed to attend, theoretically making their offers moot.</p>

4

<p>I suggest you call UCh financial aid and Admissions as soon as you get an accept and let them know that you NEED a fin aid estimate ASAP or you have to turn down their acceptance offer. If you can at least compare UC and C, you can get some idea as to what kinds of packages you might get. If UC cannot get you a package before C"s deadline for Early Decison agreements to become binding, you have to make the decision without that info. Unless you get an official release from ED from C, a number of your schools may get the notice that you were accepted ED, and they will drop your applications from consideration automatically. So you need to be on top of all of this. C is not likely to be sympathetic that you are awaiting a competing offer. It’s a take it or leave it with their fin aid estimate when it comes to ED, not “can I do better?” It’s “can I swing the cost?” . </p>

<p>I knew someone who found herself in a mess trying to burn the ED candle at both ends, and she ended up losing her acceptances to two schools, at least due to this, so do be careful.</p>