Financial Aid Question

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>On Cornell's financial aid form, it asks: "Write in the amount that you, the student’s parents, think you will be able to pay for the student’s 2006–07 college expenses. $___________.00"</p>

<p>I know its supposed to be need-blind, but I simply do not know how true this is. My dad wants to put down some ridiculous number like $4,000. But I am arguing with him because I feel that they will look at this number and laugh. However, when I asked my dad to put a more reasonable number ($20,000 for example) he told me No because then he will be expected to pay at least $20,000. This seems to be a lose-lose situation. What did you current cornellians or the future applicants write for this question on the financial aid form? How did you derive this number?</p>

2

<p>yea i was thinking to write down something like 5,000 (cuz thats actually what my mom can reasonably pitch in for my college tuition).. but that seems a bit too low. i have a feeling that this "need-blind" situtation isn't all that true.. there's a long chit-chat about this in another forum, ill try to find it</p>

3

<p>Yeap, I read it. A friend of mine brought up a good point. Let's say a college adcom has two applicants. Similar SATs, grades, ECs, essays, etc. The person who doesn't ask for financial aid will have the upperhand. The only way it would be truly need-blind is if there is no place where they ask if I want FA on the application that they see.</p>

<p>Please, anyone, tell me what you are doing/already did for this question.</p>

4

<p>yeah... dunnooooo.. even the financial aid stuff is stressing me out :(</p>

5

<p>we wrote 2,500 ;), my parents were going to write zero..of course our EFC was much higher than what they wrote</p>

6

<p>well how much financial aid did you end up getting?</p>

7

<p>efc is bs. Do they really go by this nonsense.</p>

8

<p>whats efc lol</p>

9

<p>estimated family contribution</p>

10

<p>...um...it's not exactly bs, it's actually how much your family needs to pay in order for you to go to college ;)</p>

<p>I got a lot of financial aid considering my familiy's income, we were pretty surprised</p>

11

<p>So what exactly did you put? Or if you applying this year, what exactly will you put?</p>

12

<p>Put down 100 grand and a donation of a million a year. that'll get you in.</p>

13

<p>That may have been a little unclear...I was referring to the final EFC the financial aid office assigned my family to pay for this year</p>