<p>Hi,
I'm sorta confused about the financial aid thing for ED admits. Are we finding out this week exactly how much Cornell is going to give us?</p>
<p>nvm it came today! cornell is very generous</p>
<p>^Congratulations. I am happy for you.</p>
<p>My story is actually quite the opposite. My S received his fin aid offer on Mon, and we were very disappointed. It was considerably less generous than Cornell’s own Fin Aid Calculator had indicated we would receive. Also, we have similar (if not lower) income and home equity numbers than one of the examples Cornell gives on its website, yet their EFC was significantly lower than ours. At the current offer, it doesn’t look like we can afford to send my son. </p>
<p>How would other CCers recommend I handle this? How should I approach the Fin Aid office?</p>
<p>We haven’t even submitted a CSS profile since the Cornell’s Fin Aid Calculator clearly stated that we should not expect any FA. Now, after reading up some info online, I wonder whether we should have applied anyway.</p>
<p>Does anyone know whether not applying for FA as a freshmen would automatically disqualify my DD from ever getting FA in the future? Just in case our financial circumstances change (in present day economy everything is possible, you know).</p>
<p>I am planning to call FA Office anyway, but thought I would ask my fellow CCers first. Any input is highly appreciated.</p>
<p>To ProudNJdad - I would definitely call FA Office and ask for clarification. I think you have pretty valid questions. I would also bring up the example from the Cornell website. I would point out that you are very happy that your S has been accepted and that Cornell has always been his #1 choice, however you have concerns related to the FA offer he received. I don’t think they would react negatively to a polite inquiry. According to the Cornell website (FA page) there is also an appeal process - another option you may have to consider. </p>
<p>I wish you luck and hope that Cornell and you can work out something that would allow your S to attend his dream school.</p>
<p>To Newstudentmom - Thanks for your advice.</p>
<p>I believe that you can still submit the FAFSA after Jan 1 (even if you haven’t submitted CSS) if only to be eligible for Federal loans. Also, I’m pretty sure that the fin aid process is a year-by-year thing and everyone will need to resubmit the forms(s) each year, so I would guess that you can start the process next year. Check with the fin aid office just to be sure.</p>
<p>It’s not too late to apply this year. Fill out the CSS form and send in your tax returns ASAP.</p>
<p>I called Cornell FA office. They were super-nice on the phone, and told me that it is not late to submit CSS profile and last year tax return. They said that the calculator is not very accurate and if I submit everything this week, they would get back to me with official letter by Dec 24th.</p>
<p>I am putting down this information in case someone else needs it.</p>
<p>Hopefully “not very accurate” in it gives a considerably higher prediction of aid than what is actually given, as was the case with proudnjdad</p>
<p>cornell financial aid is really good, and their office is really flexible. </p>
<p>In case you don’t end up with aid you want, you can appeal that decision if you have plausible argument as to which why their fin aid isn’t large enough.</p>
<p>For me personally, attending cornell was cheaper than attending my state flagship. I am very grateful that I got a Cornell education for quite a price discount. Congrats to all ED admits, and best of luck!</p>
<p>I think it all depends on the individual’s circumstances. If the family income is on the low end, then Cornell, just like other Ivies, would be very generous. I think with the family income under 60K you would be getting essentially a free ride, with income up to 100K it would be 10% of the family income, so yes, you will end up paying close or less then what your state flagship would charge. On the other hand, if you are good enough to be accepted by Cornell, you’d probably get some kind of merit award in the state U, which Cornell does not provide.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there is no correction factor in the formula that would take factor in the cost of living in your home state or even county, which could be VERY different.</p>
<p>I did not receive a generous financial aid package, and even though our income may look high, my family is not in the position to pay for what Cornell believes is our EFC. We called Fin Aid, and they said that because technically our circumstances have not changed, our Fin Aid package will not change either. Any advice?</p>
<p>^I’m in the same position. I and my parents are pretty sure Cornell won’t give us enough aid, despite us not nearly having the capabilities to pay $50,000 a year. @jerseygirlg, I think you should talk to the financial aid further and tell them exactly how much more you need. If it’s not that much more, then hopefully cornell will be nice and will grant you that extra aid.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Fill out fin aid appeal application form, and see how it pans out. I appealed my fin aid decision twice while at Cornell, and the fin aid office was willing to work with me and hear my family’s story and incorporate those factors. </p>
<p>If it doesn’t work out and Cornell is too pricey to attend, I am afraid to say you might be better suited to attend a different institution that may be more affordable.</p>
<p>Also, as great as Cornell is, no college in my honest opinion is worth it to attend paying 50k a year. If you have the stats to get into Cornell, chances are you will be offered competitive merit scholarship moneys from some of the state schools. I would consider those options carefully.</p>
<p>I think every year I attended Cornell my parents had to make multiple calls to financial aid to get it adjusted and with perseverance, it always happened. I applied ED as well and that didn’t seem to affect the aid I was given, despite the myth; and I was a NYer in CAS (not one of the state subsidized colleges). Also, my mom retired my senior year and my family’s expected contribution dropped considerably. </p>
<p>If you attempt to work with financial aid, I believe they will make Cornell affordable and it also might be worth consulting with a personal financial advisor regarding college expenses.</p>
<p>are all students given at least the minimum of 2500 for expected student contribution?</p>
<p>The student contribution is just that…student contribution. You are expected to pay it every year. Even if you were to get all tuition paid by grant money you would still have that payment to make. It goes up every year and you could find exactly how much on line. I actually think it is a great idea because students who have tapped out parent resources know that they have skin in the game and must work in the summer or during the year to pay this. If you are working in a lab during the summer as many 2cd and 3rd year students do, you can discuss the summer earnings with FA. If I am not mistaken there are situations regarding types of lab work that will consider the SC. </p>
<p>It really isn’t a big deal for a Cornell student to earn the expected student contribution. It may get a bit more difficult entering senior year but that is what campus jobs are for during the year. I guess my viewpoint is that young people should be working on breaks. Also consider this, the most attractive feature of a graduating student other than his GPA is his work experience. So let this be a motivator in finding the great summer internships that Cornell students are known for.</p>
<p>By the way many families pay the SC.</p>
<p>when are we supposed to receive our financial aid packages? I sent in all the forms at the beginning of November so I know I’m not missing anything… I just didn’t think it’d take this long to hear from them.</p>
<p>^ I already got mine.</p>
<p>Does it come by mail or email?</p>