frustrated with financial aid

<p>wow
I know I was really disappointed when I came to this country and found that the streets * weren't * paved with gold, that if there was a chicken in every pot I had to work to put it there & that the car in my driveway, I couldn't afford to fill the tank.</p>

<p>However- I am staying the course & I will let you know how things are going once I get back from my medical trip to Germany, I hear anyone can get health care, at a much lower price than in US ;)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Right now, I'm in a very difficult situation. I got rejected by all other colleges I applied to (except for Trinity University: waitlisted).
I think it is very unfair that - although decision are NOT need-blind - they raise someones hopes just to tell him some time later that he won't be able to afford it. I think that everyone should have the possibilty to go to his/her dream school irrespective of financial issues.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Why didn't you do research? Why would you think your situation would be different from student B?</p>

<p>"I will let you know how things are going once I get back from my medical trip to Germany"</p>

<p>emeraldkitty: I hope nothing is serious, and best wishes.</p>

<p>
[quote]
There's gotta be plenty of schools in Germany that are just as prestigious as Cornell and just as much fun.

[/quote]

If you are a fan of big lectures, German universities are great. You can easily get your Bachelor's degree without saying a single sentence throughout your undergraduate years and no one would notice.</p>

<p>then how come Germany produces so many bright engineers and scientists?</p>

<p>Well, this doesn't mean that exams are easy...</p>

<p>and you think the exams would be easy @ Cornell?</p>

<p>I don't understand the question since it has nothing to do with my post.</p>

<p>I said that there are many bright scientist although lectures are very crowded because it is still demanding.
But I didn't say that this would be a problem for me...</p>

<p>simba, at my German university 45% of about 200 math majors failed the linear algebra final last semester which was said to be pretty good (usually 50-60% fail). In some fields of study the drop-out rate is as high as 70%.</p>

<p>How many kids usually fail their classes at Cornell?</p>

<p>[</p>

<p>international students reading this thread may also want to read this one](<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=151609"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=151609&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>when you are upset about a school who admits you, but expects you to pay your own bills, you will have lots of company crying in your beer alongside the US citizens in the same situation.</p>

<p>Which could be why there are so many threads on merit aid for those who are trying to prevent a limiting of choices.</p>

<p>Many international students attend community colleges to save money, as do many citizens.</p>

<p>You do have a lot of options- or you did, its unfortunate that it appears that you have been accepted at Cornell and waitlisted at Trinity, and deferred everywhere else.
Did you not apply anywhere that you could afford?
Always students should have a good fit, both for academics and for affordability.
I would check into community colleges, if you still want to attend school in this country.</p>

<p>"Always students should have a good fit, both for academics and for affordability."</p>

<p>I agree. But this applies rather to US than to international students. I think that for most international students, it's cheaper to stay where they are. That covers your affordability option. </p>

<p>What concerns community colleges, I think it is quite comprehensible that I won't chose to pay for an education when I could get a better education here for free. I don't want to say anything against community colleges but they are not comparable to European Universities, they are much more like "Fachhochschulen".</p>

<p>"What concerns community colleges, I think it is quite comprehensible that I won't chose to pay for an education when I could get a better education here for free."</p>

<p>The bottom line is you wanted something for 'FREE'. You are whining because you did not get.</p>

<p>Do me a favor. Visit this thread after a week or so and see how rediculous you come accross.</p>

<p>It sounds like some of your options are:</p>

<p>1) Appeal to Cornell for more aid</p>

<p>2) Aggressively pursue the waitlist at Trinity (not sure how fin aid is for waitlist--here often the money is gone by then)</p>

<p>3) Reapply next year to schools that give better aid to intl students. (Oberlin is one top US college that is supposedly generous with finanicial aid to international students). If you got into Cornell, you'd have a good chance at Oberlin.I believe about 10 % of intl applicants are admitted, but I could be wrong. </p>

<p>4) Go to school in Germany</p>

<p>I know it is disappointing. But would you have rathered they didn't accept you because you couldn't afford it? (Maybe you would...I don't know.) Lots of kids are disappointed right now...either not getting into their dream school, or not being able to afford it. It isn't unique to either US or international students here...it is supply and demand...and a school's philosophy of where they want their funds to go. Years ago, I was accepted to a top school here without a dime. I went to a lesser school on a big scholarship and got a great education. There is always another door...but no harm in trying to get more from Cornell. My brother went there by the way...undergrad and grad...absolutely loved it. Ithaca is a great town. Good luck ! I had some grad students from Germany in my international dorm in grad school--we had people from everywhere--it was an awesome experience.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do me a favor. Visit this thread after a week or so and see how rediculous you come accross.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sulipro has gotta be pulling our collective legs.</p>

<p>Thank you summerbreeze, I'll follow your adivce exactly in that order. </p>

<p>@simba: Totally wrong. Please re-read my first post and you'll notice your mistake. "For free" was related to Germany. If I wanted something for free, I could stay here.
BTW, I think it's you who seems to be ridiculous.</p>

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<p>This comment isn't even true for U.S. citizens who apply to colleges. Not every student who is accepted to colleges here gets "some aid". </p>

<p>As I said earlier...try to think "out of the box". Perhaps a couple of years at a German university, and transfer here (although tranfer internationals typically don't get any aid at all). Or think of completing undergrad studies in Germany. Then try to get a job with an international company with offices in the US. Then take graduate courses here. Some companies will even pay for a portion of your graduate studies.</p>

<p>We tried to get more aid at Cornell. No luck. Daughter went elsewhere.
(We are from NY by the way.)</p>

<p>Sulipro-
I have empathy for your disappointment. BUT your situation is VERY common.
You seem surprised at your situation, as though you are the lone person this has ever happened to.</p>

<p>MANY students who are US citizens cannot afford to attend their 'dream school'. I know first hand, because my son is one. Acceptance to the school does not guarantee that you can attend. It's sad but true.</p>

<p>You must have great credentials to have been admitted to Cornell.
There are many schools that would welcome you that you might be able to afford. Create a new dream!</p>

<p>Sulipro, unfortunately, I have no sympathy for your situation. Germany has many excellent colleges. I would rather see the finacial aid going to someome from Africa. If they return to their country with a cornell education, they could be able to make a significant impact. Germany is a rich country and it should be able to educate its students.</p>

<p>Sorry, I agree, quit whining. I am a U.S. citizen with excellent credentials and I got $0 aid. I, most likely will not attend my first choice, among the schools I was accepted to, because I simply cannot afford it. My mom has offered to sell the house and move to a condo but that seems wrong. There is no guarantee when you apply that you will be able to afford the school. You should have done a better job of researching schools who give substantial aid to internationals. There are many very good LAC's that are very generous. I do believe internationals add to the flavor of a campus, however, I do not believe that should automatically qualify them for aid.</p>