<p>My family made 90k last year, but this year it bumped up to 115k but only because of the buyout my dad received when he retired. So we are worried that we won't get much aid. We can only afford to contribute 10k max (I have two siblings in college). I still haven't received my financial aid so I don't know how much I will get.
Assuming it's not enough, has anybody appealed and received more than the initial aid that was given? I would feel assured if I heard some stories of people who have been in the same boat as I.</p>
<p>The financial aid office is pretty good. I was not in your position, but I did have a situation where I needed more money because my family wasn’t able to contribute and they found a way to increase my aid. I did it in person at the FA Office, but I’m sure they’ll but just as helpful over the phone.</p>
<p>Thanks DarkIce, that makes me feel a little better. After examining my choices I chose Cornell a while back and have been falling in love with it ever since, but I just don’t want to have my dreams crushed if the aid isn’t enough and I can’t attend. Good to know they gave you more though.</p>
<p>My family is having trouble coming up with what the financial aid office is giving us, so we’re sending in an appeal form today. There hasn’t been any changes in family situations or income/jobs, but we’re just trying to get it across that what they expect us to pay is TOO MUCH 
over the phone, they simply told us that what we got in the financial aid letter was practically final, so perhaps going to their office in person would be more effective.
it sucks cause I can’t imagine myself anywhere but Cornell</p>
<p>sk8erboi, would you mind sharing your family’s income and how much aid you received? I still haven’t received my package and would like to get an idea of how much I will get.
I hope things work out well for you!</p>
<p>If there hasn’t been any significant change in your family’s financial situation, then there is virtually no chance of getting any more money from Cornell.</p>
<p>I was in the same situation as you guys in January (accepted ED to college of engineering) and I was forced to withdraw my acceptance because i didnt get enough financial aid… it was pretty rough. </p>
<p>But I got over it. Best advice I can give is to not get too attached to Cornell and begin focusing on your other options if Cornell doesn’t look likely. I was pretty sad for awhile but I got a huge scholarship from Rensselaer and I’m already enrolled and very happy about going there :). Don’t forget- there is always grad school!</p>
<p>I have not received the financial aid award letter and I am getting worried. Have most of you received your package?</p>
<p>I don’t understand this. Cornell meets everything but your EFC…I know this from first hand experience. I had an EFC of 0 and paid nothing. They still do this, right? How could people NOT be able to get full aid?</p>
<p>@DarkIce Some people’s EFCs are overinflated and then Cornell expects you to pay that. When in reality the family only has enough to pay a fraction of what the EFC is. I am hoping that we can show them that our income was inflated this year, if not my parents may need to take out loans in hope that next year, when our income drops back down to 90k, I will receive much more aid. And we have 3 kids in college.</p>
<p>It might not be the best idea to attend cornell under the hope you will get more aid next year. It is not guaranteed and if you dont get the needed aid, you will find yourself seriously in debt after graduating.</p>
<p>I feel like you’ll be okay if you didnt apply ED. I just got fin aid from cornell and they were pretty generous considering my family’s income. It really sealed the deal for me. 
i hope to see you next year and wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>wait kiwiksomething, why did you say if i didn’t apply ED? Does RD get more aid or something? I’m a little confused…</p>
<p>Its harder for ED students to get decent financial aid. Not IMPOSSIBLE or GUARANTEED to be less, but it is harder because colleges assume they are your top choice and that they can squeeze you for more. Again, this is not guaranteed and I feel like colleges will still try their best to match your need if possible.</p>
<p>I just don’t get it. The EFC takes into account kids in college, etc. I always only had to pay exactly my EFC and nothing more, and I think this is what Cornell does for everyone. If your EFC is overinflated, and goes down next year, you WILL get more aid. They meet all but your EFC.</p>
<p>I feel like this is true but EFC is kind of unpredictable. If it was so simple, then colleges would have similar EFCs for all candidates, no? But for CMU, my EFC was 40k and for cornell it was 20k. Not even close. I guess I just feel like colleges sometimes do things a little eratically and consider things we cannot even really imagine.</p>
<p>B</p>
<p>Not all candidates… The SAME candidates. Sorry lol. :3</p>
<p>Btw, my family income last year was about 200k+… so i think the OP will be okay, but like I said… Its hard to predict I guess.</p>
<p>thanks kiwi for the insight. It sorta makes sense.
DarkIce, EFC is different for everyone at different colleges. It doesn’t take everything into account. My EFC could say 10k for example, but my parents just couldn’t afford it, even though that’s what my EFC says they can afford. Yes, it’s true that Cornell meets all but your EFC. What I was trying to say is what if a person’s EFC is too high.</p>
<p>Hm…I didn’t know the colleges made the EFC’s on their own, I guess that’s where I was confused. I received my EFC when I filled out the FAFSA - it was one federally calculated EFC that all colleges used.</p>
<p>Kiwik must have some extenuating cirumstance because my family makes exactly $200,000 a year (about a thousand or so higher) and I got 0 from Cornell. So unless you have many siblings in college at the same time, don’t expect any financial aid if you make that much.</p>
<p>@cortana </p>
<p>That really sucks, cornell was really stingy with your case then. although I don’t really know how extenuating my circumstances are although I can say we really aren’t that rich. My family has been poor for most of our time in america (below 40k a year… Used to get free/reduced lunch) and only started making ‘money’ a couple years ago. Do they consider that? Maybe they do because even carnegie gave me 20k. I still think that the OP will get some financial aid though and not 0. Even the example on the website lists a family making approx. 130k a year getting at least 20k. </p>
<p>But I guess all you can conclude is that you never know what college will give you how much. Really wishing you the best of luck, financial aid kind of sucks because of how unpredictable it is. EDIT: oh sorry, i hope you dont mind me saying so cortana, but you applied ED. I think that played a role in your fin aid unfortunately.</p>
<p>Ps. I have no siblings.</p>