<p>I need help with my fin. aid appeal letter.</p>
<p>Columbia shtuked me with a yearly personal contribution of $20,000, compared with $0 at my current school.
I can't even use my outside merit scholarships, which amount to $10,000, to cover this expense.</p>
<p>I really want to attend Columbia, but I do not want to take out loans for >$40,000 over the next two years. I have the fin aid officer's email address, and I will compose an appeal letter today.</p>
<p>Do you have any advice as to how I could best write this appeal?</p>
<p>Here's some relevant info:
I'm still waiting to hear from Duke and Penn.
My parents only make 75 combined per year</p>
<p>There will be some expectation that you contribute to your own education. $0 student contribution is rare. However, the $20,000 seems awfully high. Do you have investments? If this figure is correct, it is because Columbia won’t let you get away with keeping trust funds or investments & receiving need based aid in lieu of spending them. If you don’t have any assets, though, I think a call to the Columbia financial aid office is in order. Just nicely explain that you are surprised by the student contribution & you would like to make sure that it is indeed correct. If they say yes, politely ask how they came up with that figure. Be nice, but you certainly have a right to know how they are coming up with this — keeping in mind that it might just be an honest mistake. Many colleges are really bad about giving transfer students money, but I didn’t think Columbia would gap like that.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your response.
I just found out that I’m in at Duke as well, so do you think it would be wise to tell Columbia that I really want to attend, but if Duke gives me a sweeter deal, I will not be able to do so?
I have yet to hear from Penn, btw.</p>
<p>Oo - and I do have ~8,000 in investments because I made some money from summer research and merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Yes, definitely ask Columbia to reevaluate your FA if Duke gives you a better offer. They are peer schools so you might have some success.</p>
<p>I agree with entomom. Personally, I wouldn’t want to take on $40,000 of debt. If you could go to Duke for less, you will have that option even if Columbia says no to matching Duke. Either way, you can’t lose! </p>
<p>First, call & ask Columbia if they made a mistake. You may be getting double-dipped on the money you saved - they might assume you’ll make it again next year, plus they expect you to spend it (I think 70%). Even with that, though, you aren’t at $20k personal income/savings to be able to contribute. So try the mistake angle first. Then, if it’s not a mistake, write a letter requesting a review of your package. Let them know that you would really, really like to attend Columbia … but Duke has offered you XYZ. Perhaps they might reconsider your situation? It’s worth a try. If they say no, Duke is a great school. If they say yes, you’ll be glad you asked. :)</p>
<p>agree with entomom and kelsmom.
personally i think you need to figure out if you really have the ability to afford the $40,000 debt.And ask yourself is that worth that much.Telling them the information about Duke is helpful,i believe.
btw, why can’t you use your outside merit scholarships?</p>
<p>Sorry, this question must be irrelevant, but what exactly is college-funded financial aid? Do you need to pay back after graduation, or is it a $gift that you can decide how to use it? Wikipedia doesn’t provide much info on this.</p>
<p>Financial aid can come in the form of grants (doesn’t have to be paid back), loans (must be paid back) and/or work study. There are a few schools that give only grant aid , others will give a mixture. </p>
<p>A good website to find out about financial aid is finaid.com</p>
<p>Thanks, entomom :)</p>