<p>Hey everyone, I was wondering about when new admits are supposed to receive the financial aid info package. I got my call on the 17th and package on the 19th and my three week deadline is nearing. The deposit is ready to go...but I'm on the fence about taking the year deferment to save up money (and do other worthwhile things) or just packing up and heading out in August. </p>
<p>I've talked to Campaigner about it a bit, and another friend who graduated from the CC and is deferring her GS acceptance currently, and I feel if I could just see the numbers I'd feel my decision is a lot more solid. </p>
<p>So, when is/was this separate package supposed to arrive?
FYI this is what it says when I log into Financial Aid:</p>
<p>Free Application for Federal Student Aid Disbursement Received 4/17/2012
Planned Enrollment Form Packaging Received 4/23/2012
General Studies Scholarship Application Packaging Received 3/1/2012</p>
<p>Should I call and ask for an extension until the package info arrives?</p>
<p>@afazchas: Last fall, I deferred for a year because of FA. I’m still waiting to get my FA award for this fall, and this is what Daniel from FA said in an email on 5/1:</p>
<p>“We should be determining financial aid awards for new students in
approximately one to two weeks (perhaps even less).”</p>
<p>“Please let our office know if you need to make a decisions about other
institutions so that we may try to expedite the award process.”</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Regards,
Daniel J. Rodriguez
Associate Director, Educational Financing</p>
<p>On another note, one of the admissions managers told me that the deposit time frame was a formality and they wanted us to be sure that we will be attending/deferring before sending it in. That said, you should contact them directly. :)</p>
<p>If you are interested, though FA awards do vary between students, I have the award letter they gave me for 2011-2012 if you’d like to take a look! LMK.</p>
<p>looks like some movement on the financial aid front…system is showing me pending promissory notes and entrance interviews with a status of yesterday now.</p>
<p>Also has info in the messages tab about loans, scholarship & work study.</p>
<p>Yes, it sounds like it. I’m not sure about the special - it may indicate you’ve received a named scholarship or something similar, but regardless that’s it.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that Daniel is one of the nicest, most knowledgeable folks you will run into here at Columbia. He was always such a huge help to me with all my questions.</p>
<p>Hey Fox, I wanted to update this. I did get my package but I decided to defer for a semester and work to save up some cash. I sent the deposit in and haven’t heard anything though. The FA report has about $28k for the year unaccounted for: [Community</a> to Ivy](<a href=“http://cctoivyleague.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-could-be-problem.html]Community”>Community to Ivy) So I’m not sure what’s next. I’m going to take a temp job here, since quite a few are paying over $13/hour and move back in with my grandmother for the interim. That’s the quickest way to save anything at the moment.</p>
<p>Afazchas: My FA is pretty identical to yours except for the tuition part. I’m not sure exactly why (at 12 credits/semester) they’re charging me $40,712. Good luck with your deferment plans. I took a year long deferment to decide if I could afford it, also. I know many great community college transfers that would thrive in the CU environment, but because the FA is a huge barrier to entry, they won’t even apply. Keep us updated! Hope to see you on campus in the future!</p>