<p>I am almost afraid to get my financial aid package now</p>
<p>I think if you are looking to cover all expenses, including living and tuition, with loans/scholarships/grants it may be very challenging, and would require some private loans. However, for someone like myself who already has an apartment in NYC and a good part time job, attending seems to make sense. I really do think, of course, it’s all based on your particular situation. Going part time for the first year in an effort to get good grades and increase your Columbia scholarship for the next year also seems like a good plan. </p>
<p>Going part time for the first year in an effort to get good grades and increase your Columbia scholarship for the next year also seems like a good plan.</p>
<p>Yeah I am considering this option instead.</p>
<p>Where else were other people accepted? Did anyone apply for UPenn or NYU SPCS?</p>
<p>Yes, I was accepted at both Penn and Columbia. I have a pending appointment with the GS Financial Aid Office, but I have good reasons to not be optimistic about my financial aid package:</p>
<p><a href=“In the dark on financial aid, some GS students must drop out - Columbia Spectator”>http://columbiaspectator.com/2012/02/14/dark-financial-aid-some-gs-students-must-drop-out</a></p>
<p><a href=“Paying It Forward: Student Debt at GS - Bwog”>http://bwog.com/2013/05/18/paying-it-forward-student-debt-at-gs/</a></p>
<p>Columbia was my first choice, but I will probably end up going to Penn (unless by some divine miracle I’m awarded a PALS scholarship, which seems quite unlikely). I could take out a gargantuan loan to finance my four year degree at Columbia, but I’d rather save myself the headache of spending the next two decades in debt. I reckon many of you are in the same boat as I’m in: welcome to the party!</p>
<p>When the Admissions Office called to inform me of my acceptance, I had a brief moment of joy - all of my hard work during the past six years had paid off, I thought! Then my heart sank - I knew I had just gotten into a school I wouldn’t attend; idealism met reality, and the reality of the terrific cost of a Columbia education trumped the small bit of excitement I had initially felt.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, folks. I started this thread many months ago hoping to see all of you face-to-face in NYC, but I’ve come to the realization that some dreams are best left shelved away, especially if pursuing those dreams could potentially lead to bankruptcy.</p>
<p>Still, I count myself among the fortunate for receiving an offer denied to more than two thirds of the students who applied. And I’m exceptionally grateful that I have a loving family, supportive friends, and a great love of learning: I still have them, and I feel all the richer and happier for it.</p>
<p>I encourage everyone who is unsure about their ability to afford a GS education to meet with a financial aid counselor. While Columbia certainly isn’t cheap, there is some misinformation out there about the financial aid offered by GS. The best way to determine whether you can afford to go to school here is to speak to someone in the Financial Aid office. They will go over your aid package and help you determine whether attending GS is financially feasible, and they are very straightforward about the cost.</p>
<p>To schedule an appointment, contact the Financial Aid office at 212-854-5410.</p>
<p>Christina
GS Tour Guide</p>
<p>I got a chance to speak with Skip Bailey back when I visited Columbia, and I think he deserves a ton of credit for his honesty.</p>
<p>Almost everyone admitted to GS can technically go, but if you’re not a veteran, a rich person, or an exceptionally lucky person who qualifies for a special scholarship, be prepared to take out loans - and a gargantuan one at that if you plan on enrolling full time, at least for your first term. Columbia GS does NOT guarantee that it will meet 100% of your financial aid (not even close, IMHO) - that’s an offer extended to only incoming CC/SEAS freshmen.</p>
<p>Columbia to me is like that Prada shirt I’d love to wear but can’t buy. I’m not discouraging anyone from going, but please at least be mindful of the cost and the extremely limited aid at GS.</p>
<p>I know you should receive a call or email if you’ve gotten accepted, but how do we find whether we have ‘not’ been accepted? Are they still processing applications? </p>
<p>Best regards!</p>
<p>I would probably just call the office and ask directly to at least confirm the whole of your application has been received.</p>
<p>I called to verify this as soon as I noticed everything was received on the applicant page. They confirmed that my application was under review. However, this was around June 20th, nearly a month ago. </p>
<p>I will call again to re-verify. Thank you for the advice! Has anyone else been accepted since then?</p>
<p>yes, there have been several on this thread, myself included that have been accepted over the past month. I applied regular decision. </p>
<p>Yeah, I submitted my completed application on June 2nd, and was informed of my acceptance on June 24th.</p>
<p>By ‘completed’ do you mean that everything was already received, and review was started on June 2nd? I submit my application on June 2nd I believe, however I had to wait till the 20th for them to confirm that everything was received and under review. </p>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p>I just called GS Admissions and was notified that I should receive a decision in the mail by the end of this week. A trend I noticed with students who were accepted was that they received a phone call notifying them of the decision, and when I inquired about this, she said that’s not true for all students, so that still gives me hope (since I haven’t heard anything from CGS since I submit my app)! </p>
<p>Really hoping to be able spend the next four years with you all. Best of luck to the remaining applicants!</p>
<p>All my documents were submitted before June 2nd except my essay. On June 2nd I submitted my essay which completed my application. I was actually surprised I heard back so quickly. </p>
<p>I was notified over the phone. However, I have read a few people were notified via Email, and even one person that was only informed when they received their acceptance package.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My applications was turned in June 2nd but my supplemental materials came a week later. I was notified about three weeks later over the phone at the end of the week. Some applicants a notIfed via email. On my iphone it was under “unknown” so look for that! </p>
<p>Good luck as well. </p>
<p>I still have not received a decision. It was supposed to come in the mail by last Friday, so I’m going to call tomorrow and make sure it wasn’t lost. </p>
<p>@therealbzb, that is pretty strange, hopefully you receive some sort of confirmation soon. I would definitely call. Hell, I was calling only two weeks after my application was submitted. ha.</p>
<p>I agree. That does sound strange. Let us know what they say @therealbzb </p>
<p>Thank you for the support everyone. I called back again last Monday and was told that since I live on the west coast it might have taken longer to arrive to my house and that I should wait until Friday (the 1st). That has passed and I still have not received any email, package, or phone call. I feel like I’m annoying by the amount of times I’ve personally called compared to other applicants, but getting accepted would be a dream come true. Has everyone else received their decision already? </p>
<p>That’s ridiculous that you haven’t been notified. You should have been called or emailed. My packet came late but I was still notified beforehand via telephone.</p>
<p>I received a decision over three weeks ago. </p>
<p>@DianaPrince have you decided whether you’re attending? You’ve been awfully helpful these past few weeks. Update: I called again today, and was notified that they would email me my decision by tonight. I’m very nervous, but usually do my best work when stressed like this. Time to find me a project to work on! I wish everyone the best. </p>
<p>Kindest regards</p>