<p>I talked to this girl who goes to Yale and she told me that If I won't ask for Fin Aid I will have a much better chance of admission.
I want to go to GS, And from reading past threads I understand that the most important thing is the essay..
I'm from Israel and I never did an essay like that, Does anyone here, Who got accepted to GS and still has his essay, could please send it to me?</p>
<p>Just PM me and I will send my E-Mail address</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>this is something that i've always wondered about. and honestly, schools like columbia have a great endowmnet and have a record of meeting 100% need-based aid...so checking off 'yes' to financial aid really wouldn't matter..you definitely wouldn't get a "MUCH BETTER" chance of admission</p>
<p>
[quote]
this is something that i've always wondered about. and honestly, schools like columbia have a great endowmnet and have a record of meeting 100% need-based aid...so checking off 'yes' to financial aid really wouldn't matter..you definitely wouldn't get a "MUCH BETTER" chance of admission
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You're right for domestic applicants. OP is international. My understanding is that some of the Ivies, including CU, aren't need-blind for international. Someone know more?</p>
<p>Checking yes is BAD. Columbia does not look at your FAFSA when deciding whether to admit you or not. They do not care about your finances until you are in. Once you are in they claim to try to help you pay everything, and if you earn less than 50K/year you are good. If you are more middle class you start to get less money, and it may not be enough to pay for college in your eyes. If you fill out the form, even if you do not think you will get aid, you may still get some money.</p>
<p>Venkater,</p>
<p>You stated that: "Checking yes is BAD" and then said "hey do not care about your finances until you are in"</p>
<p>I don't really understand what do you mean..
could you restate your comment?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Columbia is NEED Blind as are all the Ivies including YALE. I can't stress enough that simply check off a box indicating you want Aid WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR CHANCES AT ALL (the exception being if ur international). IN fact, my adcom for Columbia said "I don't know why anyone won't check off the box".</p>
<p>I don't believe indicating you are applying for financial aid will affect your chances even if you are international.</p>
<p>The purpose of that box is strictly for document routing. They'll know to open a file for you over at Financial Aid, to have them expect papers, etc. Nobody evaluative looks at it - or if they do, they don't care. Columbia spends a LOT of money each year trying to get the VERY BEST students to come to their school. If you're someone they want to attend, they'll worry about the money later (or let you worry about it, really). With development cases excepted, your parents' finances are not on their list of desirable qualities.</p>