<p>I have a huge problem ,. my parents wont let me apply ED to columbia because they think i will get a horrible financial aid package. </p>
<p>is it true or how can i prove financial aid will be the same?!</p>
<p>If you (1) apply ED, (2) get in, (3) don’t like/can’t afford your financial aid package, (4) apply RD to other schools, (5) get in there with a BETTER financial aid package, (6) go in and talk to the financial aid officers, AND (7) are unsatisfied with what they’re willing to do for you, then you are usually allowed to withdraw your ED application and take one of your other offers.</p>
<p>Every year, 2-4 ED admits don’t attend, almost always because of financial reasons. It’s also important to not do step 4 UNLESS step 3 is true, because you sign a statement about not applying elsewhere as part of the ED app.</p>
<p>To answer your question:</p>
<p>You can prove to your parents that your financial aid will be the same ED vs RD because Columbia doesn’t offer merit aid, i.e. it won’t think it’s trying to “compete” with your other schools in the RD round, vs having you as a “captive audience” in the ED round. Aid is based on your family’s income and assets, and that of you yourself. There is sometimes some negotiating room - ask use Vesalvay on this very forum. He’s an international student (i.e., no federal student aid, and little leverage), and he sweet-talked something like $10,000 out of FinAid nonetheless.</p>
<p>It’s the job of FinAid officers to make sure that no one whom Admissions admits, chooses not to attend Columbia due to financial reasons. That’s really their whole reason for existence.</p>
<p>Now, if your parents make $200k, your leverage will be less because your believability will be less. And if they make under $60k, you can tell them that you’re guaranteed a free ride anyway, due to Columbia’s new policies. Between there, there’s a lot of gray area.</p>
<p>lets say they make around 180k but there are some extenuating circumstances like a family business barely staying afloat will i get some aid like 10-20 k/year</p>
<p>brown14, it is really tough to know because what your parents tell you is a tough time, doesn’t really say how much they actually hold as assets, which could be significant. so i think you should know that the whole story is a lot more complex than what they first lead on. also that finaid at these schools are not meant to be your financial planners, in every family there will be tough decisions about what to do, where to save, where to spend. the one thing to know is that education is one of the few places where families are still willing to spend, it is an investment in your future, and honestly there are some universities and colleges out there that prepare you differently for the world ahead that are worth the investment (only half of the equation is how hard you work at said university). of course i hope you are admitted to columbia and that financial aid is not a problem, but just in case there are things you should do to make sure that money is not a problem.</p>
<p>so i think the first thing to know is maybe to use one of the calculators out there, and to get some advice from professionals out there. the one place that might not answer your questions would be a financial aid office because they don’t want to push you in the wrong direction, or promise you something. but there are some guidance folks and others like check out and email the guy from the Choice blog of the NY Times that know info honestly i don’t know. see if you can figure out if any of them have a suggestion on how to figure out what your finaid will be.</p>
<p>things to know - columbia will offer one of the best finaid packages out there, so if you don’t get it from columbia, it is unlikely you are gonna get a better deal from someone else using need-based aid. </p>
<p>as you finish your college list, i think you should also consider schools that give out heavy merit scholarships (even though personally i am against the way they favor middle-income families and short thrift need based policies, as a reality they are a good option). if you are ivy-caliber than more than likely you will be admitted to those schools with nice merit packages that give your family some support without worrying about the financials. but know that columbia may not compare to a merit package.</p>
<p>and to break down some misconceptions, i went to columbia and received significant aid with a family income +200k but with 2 other siblings in college. so if you have siblings in school or coming through, your aid will change each year to reflect that.</p>
<p>thanks for the amazing post! i will definitely follow up with the guy at the nytimes</p>
<p>Denzera,
I am going to have to interject here and make something clear because i don’t think brown14 quite understood what you wrote, and I have seen bad posts about this in the past.</p>
<p>CU or any school will not do ‘whatever it takes’ to retain a kid. Yes they will try and work with the family as they did with mine to see what could be ethically done. I think the idea that you can go in and demand more money is just a ridiculous thing. I know the kids who did that, I hosted a few as an undergrad, and I know from talking to my financial aid officer how upsetting it was when that happened.</p>
<p>I think you used the write word ‘wiggle room,’ but that can easily be misconstrued as you can argue your way to more money. You can honestly put your hands up and say wow that is still too much, but it doesn’t mean Columbia will budge (or should budge) just because you were admitted. If they can change something because they can change the numbers, they will, but that is more of an exception than the rule.</p>
<p>Whatever anyone does, don’t be jerks because you got into Columbia. It doesn’t give you a license to go into anyone’s office and demand anything. Treat folks with respect and they will try and help you out.</p>