Did anyone have any large differences in the actual financial aid awarded?
I just got the notice but it says estimated financial award letter?
When does it get finalized?
I was worried about this last year and was told it wouldn’t change unless there was a significant difference in our income (D applied ED). They did not define"significant". We got our final package in early July and they ended up increasing our aid a little (even though our income was slightly higher) to compensate for the higher cost of the single dorm room she got, since double room was her first choice. So, hang in there. …I believe in most cases the estimated is the same as the final award.
Thanks. So do you think that I should give them my final 2014’s since it shows about 4,000 less then what we estimated?
Also her father doesn’t file taxes because he doesn’t have to because he doesn’t make any money. Why would they still be asking for his taxes when he filed the non-filer form on IDOC and we resubmitted to Cornell because he incorrectly filled it out and that’s what brought up the red flag for his 2014’s.
I don’t know what to tell them, I keep emailing them he doesn’t have to file. He sent in a letter and so did his charity organization that he was getting assistance from. But it’s still stating that.
Try calling the financial aid office and speak with them directly.
Call the financial aid office tomorrow. They should be able to answer your questions.
Renomamma, you said your actual income was slightly higher. Can I ask you how much higher?
I just submitted the css profile to Cornell last week for my son’s ED application. Now I realized my estimate for our 2015 income would be about $7000 off. Do you think that will be “significant” so they will change the award in spring based on the actual number, or the December’s estimate award will be the final?
I know it’s still very early to think about this, but I want to be proactive. Thank you in advance for any help!
@universe123 ours was 2 or 3 times higher than that and they didn’t deem it significant. Maybe a percentage is more important than the dollar amount, but I doubt 7k will change it. …just based on my experience.
They will adjust when your FAFSA is final and you use the DTR. Meanwhile you could run the NPC for the 2 income levels. Or your could inform them of a correction to your figures, but I don’t think that is big enough to bother.
Last year, our income was slightly lower (self employed/business owners) from the 2014 info we sent in and Cornell adjusted our aid in our favor. Not by a lot, but every bit helps!
Thanks Renomamma, Brownparent and TiggyB62 for all your input.
TiggyB62, did Cornell automatically make the adjustment for you when you sent in your 2014 info, or you needed to contact them personally?
Also, how accurate is the Net Price Calculator? Does the amount of the grant stay exactly the same for all 4 years, or it changes a little year to year?
Ours was accurate. Zero. I was hoping for maybe a little bit of Perkins loan or subsidized loan but nope, not even that.
@universe123 yes, when we got our final aid package in the summer, the adjustment had been made.
And for us, the Net Price Calculator was accurate.
If your income changes a lot after the first year, will the aid package reflect that?
@darktoform31 yes, it might. That’s why you need to give your 2015 tax return and update your FAFSA with your family’s current info
My son has just got accepted to Cornell 
and now he wants to start a part time job (he didn’t have any income last year). Will his income affect his next year’s financial award?