Financial Aid help, please I'm very new to this process

Hi, I’m currently a High School student living in Bolivia but I’m an American Citizen (I was born in New York). I’m applying ED to Columbia (who are “need-blind” for American Citizens) and for financial aid. Is there a chance that the school offers me a place but doesn’t meet my financial aid needs? Or they will only admit me if they can meet my financial needs?

Columbia will meet your financial need as they calculate it to be. That doesn’t mean they will give you all the money you think you should be getting.

I believe Columbia is need blind for admissions…so admissions won’t know your financial need when reviewing your application. If you are accepted, the financial aid office will use the info on the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine your eligibility for need based aid…and will award according to the school calculation.

Since you live abroad, the net price calculators probably won’t be as accurate as if you lived here…but you can use the net price calculator to get a rough estimate of your aid should you get accepted (no guarantees there).

Need based aid is primarily based on parent income and assets. Have your parents indicated how much they can pay annually for you to attend college?

Have you done your FAFSA yet? If so, what was your EFC?

And if you have the stats to really be a competitive applicant to Columbia, have you also looked at schools with significant merit aid.

Why ED? You sound like you need significant aid.