I am interested in the 4+2 Combined Plan at Columbia University

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

Hi,

I am a current rising senior at a mediocre LAC studying Math/Econ.

I am looking into the 4+2 combined plan at Columbia University to study Operations Research.

I am pretty sure that I will get admitted to the program because I have all A’s and A-'s for all the requirement courses so far. I am also sure that I will get a minimum B for all the requirement courses that I am going to take in my senior year.

My only concern is of financial aid. I already have a lot of student loans from my current college and do not really want to accumulate them even more by attending two extra years at columbia. I do have a green card so I am pretty sure I can get some form of aid from columbia. I also do realize that it varies from individual to individual, but has anyone decided not to attend columbia combined plan because of the lack of aid or something similar? Does anyone know if columbia is generous for their combined plan students’ financial aid?

Any input would be very appreciated.

2

I’m not 100% sure, but I think the financial aid for the combined plan is the same as the aid for a regular undergrad applicant. Which is very generous.

3

Thanks very much. I hope that’s true haha. My parents cannot afford a very expensive private college like Columbia, which means that I have to get a student loan. The problem is that I already have a lot of student loans to pay back and do not want to accumulate them even more.

As far as I know, the financial aid for the combined plan is the same for regular students. One difference is that for regular students whose parents’ income is less than 60000, they do not need to pay ANY of their assets, but this does not apply for the combined plan.

Have you seen any combined plan students who had problems financially?

4

Unfortunately the only combined plan students I know personally are still in the first portion of it (have not yet transferred) so I don’t know.

5

International students do not get the same financial aid as others. They kinda get screwed.

Other students receive the same (quite generous) financial aid as anyone else at Columbia, as far as I know, though I suppose I can’t be certain of that – I got more aid than my previous school.

I haven’t heard of anyone complain about the financial aid package (except for international students).

6

Thank you very much for your reply on “I am interested in the 4+2 Combined Plan at Columbia University”.
Are you a current combined plan student? May I ask you more questions please? I am VERY interested in the program and have a bunch of questions, but I do not really know anyone who’s in the program. It would be a GREAT opportunity for me to learn more about the program.

Thank you very much!!!

7

Yeah post 'em. I haven’t been checking here lately, but i’ll try to be responsive

8

Thanks very much. I will PM you.