<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>Some questions about moolah! On the financial aid application, the amount my parents gave as the one they felt they could contribute for the year was $10 000 Canadian. The family contribution given in my financial aid package is $15 000 (which translates to almost $17 600 CAD). I knew that ED seriously disadvantaged us for financial aid, but... with considerations for the meal plan, living expenses, and other things, I'm really not sure that I'll be able to attend next year. I work 10 hours a week at minimum wage, but most of the money goes toward paying for my brother's school and tennis fees. The company my mom works for has just been sold, and there's a high chance that she'll be laid off within the next several months. I'm applying for outside scholarships, but of course cannot guarantee I will get them! I love Columbia and would love more than almost anything to go - but robbing my parents' retirement nest egg or putting my brother's financial prospects for college (he's five years younger than I am) in danger feels like a despicable thing to do.</p>
<p>My questions are: How are you all dealing with paying for Columbia? Do you know any students who have pulled out of ED for financial reasons? Do you have any advice for me? WHAT CAN I DO. D: </p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>You could try a student loan...</p>
<p>It sucks. You're not alone. Don't blame it on ED. Most top colleges have a different conception of "need" than what parents feel like they need. There's always those parent loans.</p>
<p>o yeah. you asked how my parents were dealing with it. They are taking a loan out.</p>
<p>My advice:
First contact the financial aid office as soon as possible. Set up a meeting and discuss these problems. Detail your troubles specifically, and emphatically negotiate a higher grant.
After that, take student loans if you know that you will have a relatively decent job (or, more accurate, if you know that you will will major in something relatively practical.) My parents, who had no money whatsoever upon immigrating to America, and who, on top of college and living expenses, had to pay for much of their parents' living expenses, were both able to pay for 4 years of NYU. If you REALLY, really want to come to Columbia, and you don't want to burden your parents, you could work hard to pay off your student loans.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>The problem with loans is that you're limited in the amount of student loans that you can take. Columbia doesn't want kids graduating with $100K in loans, and I think you can only get like 5K in student loans each year. If you want more loans, you'll have to get your parents to take out parent loans.</p>
<p>Columbia is notoriously stingy with financial aid. Don't be afraid to talk to your financial aid advisor, and don't be intimidated. I got 0 Fin Aid when I applied and when I first visited the office and hinted that I had significant scholarships at the other schools I got into (I got in RD), my officer started mentioning how those are all wonderful schools as well that she was sure I'd like (implying that if I didn't like CU's offer, tough). This freaked me out of course, but my Dad took an appointment and went over all the number with her to show that no, we didn't have millions tucked away in offshore accounts somewhere. And so they coughed up some money. Not nearly enough IMO, but enough to allow me to go. Remember, Columbia wants YOU, so play hardball and see what happens!</p>
<p>Like Confucian, I was lowballed by Columbia RD. My parents didn't "hint" at anything; they actually faxed over Cornell's finaid letter offering like 10K more. Columbia actually matched it plus significantly more!</p>
<p>The problem with this is that you don't have any leverage if you apply ED. Also, some people don't have parents who are good negotiators / pushy / etc.</p>
<p>Yup, 2002, I practically had to push my parents to ask for more, they thought Columbia might do something underganded about my acceptance if I pushed too hard, haha. I wish I could've pulled the Cornell move, but all I had was a bunch of merit scholarships (I got dinged at the other ivies I applied to, which ensured that I ended up at the perfect one for me :-D)</p>
<p>ConfucianNemesis, Columbia2002, suburbamania - just wanted to thank you for responding! I really appreciate your comments. We've arranged to talk to my finaid officer after she gets back from vacation... let the smackdown begin. (joking, joking...) Thanks again.</p>