Cornell's Financial Aid has Improved Drastically

<p>Many of you probably know Cornell has been stingy on financial aid. But now they are trying to phase out loans for any student whose family income is below $75,000 (like Princeton and Harvard). If your family makes more than $75,000 you still pay considerably less.</p>

<p>This is the first year this initiative has gone into effect. I am a continuing student and have seen my grant money on financial aid jump from $24,000 last year to $38,000 this year even though my family's income has remained mostly the same. Because of this, I am going to be loan free this year!!!!</p>

<p>Glad to hear.</p>

<p>Be sure to endow an undergraduate scholarship or two when you become rich and famous.</p>

<p>How much does your family make?</p>

<p>wait people have gotten their finAid already?</p>

<p>I believe notifications are posted/sent out on a sort of rolling basis. I was told not to expect mine for another two weeks.</p>

<p>yea, i think i remember cornell saying they're getting rid of loans completely. although people will get less financial aid overall, it will all be loan-free.</p>

<p>havn't gotten mine yet though... I turned it in a day late, I wonder if that matters.</p>

<p>I call the financial aid office and they said they mailed my fin aid package on Tuesday but I saw it when I looked at just the facts today.</p>

<p>Congrats TAWS. If you don't mind me asking, how much in loans were you getting before? Was your grant money increased even after they eliminated loans? I'm still anxious while I'm waiting on my package, and I would just like to know what I can expect. Thanks.</p>

<p>I have got a question to ask. I have checked out my financial aid, and it seemed to have decreased a little bit. And my foreign student financial aid xxxxx is under the Loan/Work Replacing Grant category. My family earns well below $60.000 a year, so how come do I see still see the word LOAN? </p>

<p>@ TAWS. Congrats! Did you see yours online or on paper? Because on jtf, there is no detailed info, but just some big numbers.</p>

<p>I recommend reading Cornell</a> Chronicle: Sweeping new financial aid initiative for more information about Cornell's new financial aid initiative. </p>

<p>Your financial aid information will be posted on JTF (make sure you go to the new website, not the old one) when it is available under the financial aid tab. If it says inquriy access denied, then it isn't posted yet, so keep checking!</p>

<p>Tsenguun: I don't know but I would suspect it's because aid for international students is treated differently.</p>

<p>Brown man1987: If your EFC (expected family contribution) remains about the same, your grant money should increase. Remember you can only get as much grant money as your financial need allows</p>

<p>Financial need = Cost of Attendance - EFC
A greater % of that financial need will be grants and not loans.</p>

<p>Cornell financial aid is horrible. I was given no aid for next year after my father has become ill and will never work again. I have supported myself for two years (working 60-70 hours per week) and currently help keep my parents financially afloat. I appealed my decision, but have not heard anything back yet. The office received my appeal on June 20 and told me I have two weeks until my decision. The system is not working...</p>

<p>worked for me though. sorry about your situation collegeforme123..</p>

<p>same, i received no aid from cornell. i also appealed my decision and have not heard back yet. i called and asked about the status and the woman said she was going to put a note on my file to expedite it....you should call in collegeforme and ask them to do the same.</p>

<p>i hate waiting and not knowing because every day that goes by makes it even more stressful for my dad... especially with the state of the economy. all of our finances are tied up in the market. that means, sell everything now for the money i need for cornell at a huge loss to my dad, or wait it out and have no money in the meantime. it isnt much of a choice.. :-(</p>