<p>hey guys, I have a dilemma. I'm an international student who would give anything to go to columbia university. it's just that i don't have the money and need to apply for financial aid.
however, if that were to happen my chances of getting into columbia will drop. my stats are up there, so that won't be a problem. If i were to not apply for financial aid, then my chances of getting into columbia will be higher and I would look for other options such as scholarships. What should I do? Should I apply for FA? btw, i'm considering ED.</p>
<p>*If i were to not apply for financial aid, then my chances of getting into columbia will be higher and I would look for other options such as scholarships. What should I do? Should I apply for FA? btw, i’m considering ED. *</p>
<p>WHERE would you possibly get scholarships that would pay for the $200k+ for Columbia??? From your own country? For all 4 years??? That is a crazy strategy unless your country is known for giving such big scholarships.</p>
<p>Is Columbia “need aware” for int’ls?</p>
<p>In the end, you just won’t be able to go if you don’t get aid, so apply.</p>
<p>Apply for aid, otherwise you might end up having an acceptance letter in your hands from Columbia which you have to refuse, and that is a a terrible feeling. If you have the stats you might actually get in with some aid; there are many international students there who are on FA. So, definitely apply for aid, thats the only way it could happen.</p>
<p>And yes, Columbia is need aware for internationals.</p>
<p>thnx for the suggestions! I guess I will apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>Apply for the financial aid. Don’t apply ED.</p>
<p>You have indicated that you must have financial aid in order to attend Columbia. That being the case, an acceptance without aid will do you no good at all.</p>
<p>However, I will say…if your need for aid is significant, you might want to be able to compare offers from multiple schools to see where your costs will be the most favorable. You can’t do this with an ED offer…you’ll just have that one offer to review. It might be your best offer…but then again…might not have been (if you applied RD to other schools along with Columbia).</p>