<p>I was recently accepted into CALS for fall 2011, and I'm from New York. My family doesn't make a lot, combined it's somewhere around $61,000 (on paper it's way more than we really have, money is stretched thin) so the discounted tuition would be helpful BUT I just got my financial aid package and Cornell wants my family to pay almost $3,500, and this is way more than we can afford, they did however waive my deposit fee. I will try to appeal this package, but even if I were to apply to more outside scholarships, Cornell still would not reduce this amount because it's not self help, but a family contribution. I really want to go to Cornell, but I don't want to go into debt. I was awarded great packages at Vanderbilt and Northwestern but they are quite far and I don't want to take a plane back and forth. I'm also upset that my counterparts, who are not as academically talented, got into Cornell on full rides through H/EOP. Cornell's supposed to make strides for families who make $60,000 and under but if I'm a little over we're treated as if we're able to pay way more than we truly can. :( this is truly unfair.</p>
<p>If your packages at Vanderbilt or Northwestern are far better than your Cornell package, then you can appeal your fin aid award and try to get more.</p>
<p>Cry me a river dude, $3500?!? Just take a Stafford loan, you wont even need the full $5500. $3500/year will NOT put you into debt, most people I know who don’t get FA leave with 10K-30K in loans. Jesus, you can make way more than 3500 at a summer job. </p>
<p>Do you know what’s really unfair? My parents are both teachers and we don’t get a single drop of that FA. That’s the thanks my middle class parents get for being fiscally responsible for 30 years and building my college fund. I guess they should’ve lived above their means like the rest of America and maybe then they wouldn’t have to pay $55000 per year. How ironic.</p>
<p>I’m getting NOTHING and it’s going to be a biiiiiigggggg stretch for my family. I think you should consider yourself lucky you’re getting that much money. I know I would.</p>
<p>When I read this I thought it was a joke. You should be grateful to be getting so much aid. 3.5K? Either take out a loan or just cut down on a small expense for a year and you’ll save more than that easily. This really irritated me because some epople have to pay all of the money. Stop being ungrateful, I almost have no words to describe how ****ed I am at this.</p>
<p>While it may seem like 3500 is a lot from your perspective, the unfortunate fact is that in the world of college tuition this is not much at all. Like others have said, take out a loan or two and you’ll still graduate with very little debt. Think of it this way: you’ll save some of that by choosing a school without plane fare costs home. Also, there’s always part-time work, summer jobs, and work study.</p>
<p>You guys are so jealous and petty. If his family can’t pay $3,500, then they can’t. And it’s going to cost him much more than just paying that - he still has to cover book, living expense, possibly health insurance, etc. In truth, Cornell’s financial aid for low-income students sucks. My EFC was zero and I’m graduating with 20K in debt thanks to Cornell. They fail to cover so many things that really add up quickly.</p>
<p>If one hustles and works over the summer, and carries a part-time job during the school year, this is DOABLE. Have your parents themselves said that they cannot contribute at all? IF they can scrape up $2000 you can make up the rest working summer.</p>
<p>Thank you psychmama, DarkIce, and sunnyflorida for your positive feedback. As for everyone else, I can’t help how you feel, but being bitter towards me for my feelings wil get you nowhere. I still plan to appeal this package, since my parents are paying $3,000 for my older sister and that has put a strain on our finances (besides covering my family’s basic needs (there’s 6 of us) most of my parents’ salary goes to helping their family members in our native country). I plan on getting a summer job whether my appeal is approved or not, and I will budget my money properly with my work-study so that I will have enough money for the school year. I have realized that getting an education from Cornell is worth this investment.</p>
<p>@ DarkIce. I could say the same to you. It’s not about whether his family can pay, becuase I’m sure many of these others’ parents, including mine cannot easily pay the amounts they will be given. Many of us have to cover those expenses and way more than 3.5K</p>
<p>And to restate 20K is still almost nothing compared to what others have to pay. If youre looking for sympathy, here is not the place to find it. I’m not being petty, I’m being honest and realistic. And the things they fail to cover does not apply only to you, it applies for EVERYONE. It’a a tough situation, but when someone is faced with 30K while someone is complaining about $3,ooo, it’s annoying.</p>
<p>@OP, I’m not trying to be unsympathetic, 'cause I understand, as do others, the financial constraints college causes, but once again, be happy with it. And as the person above said, a job can cover most, if not all, of it.</p>
<p>imi1928, no one asked for your sympathy, so save it. If someone has to pay 30K a year, they’re parents make more than enough to support them and give them a comfortable life. </p>
<p>I’m sorry, but you are not the god who dictates who can complain and what they complain about. You can say $3,000 seems small, but add on other fees and that’s like around $5,000 for the year. That’s not a paltry amount - there are MANY families who simply can’t come up with $5,000. Everyone has a different amount that seems insurmountable, and it’s none of your business to tell anyone to suck it up or choose at what point they are allowed to complain. For many upper-middle class students, they think “poor” is less than $100,000 family income. No one takes into account the students with families that live paycheck to paycheck, making less than $20,000 a year, unable to sometimes even meet basic needs. People like that can’t just “cut something out” and miraculously come up with $5,000. What should they cut out, imi, food? So truthfully, no one cares about your mostly ignorant opinion, so just keep it to yourself.</p>
<p>jadore317, you’re welcome. I hope you figure out how to pay for everything.</p>
Lol, jealous of what? Of barely qualified students who not only scrape into schools like Cornell but also get their way bankrolled by wealthier families (either via tuition or donations) and then on top of that feel entitled when the amount they’re required to pay is pocket change in the grand scheme of things? Nah bro, I already got in and I’m paid up. Not jealous, just bewildered.</p>
<p>Newsflash darkice: WE ALL have to deal with Cornell’s incidentals. You get no sympathy for graduating with only 20K in debt. If you weren’t such a puss, you’d realize how lucky you are. If you can’t stomach $5K, go to a state school. Your phony indignation is grating.</p>
<p>Barely qualified students who scrape into Cornell?</p>
<p>All I’m going to say is you sound like a pompous jerk. You have no right to make accusations about anyone’s intellectual abilities. You may not agree with me about financial aid, but your comments just make you sound like an idiot.</p>
<p>Also Cailleboy - don’t pretend like you’re paying for school. I saw somewhere else you said your parents pay $48,000 toward your schooling, meaning you’re comfortable financially and you aren’t paying for your own school costs.</p>
<p>So your opinion just lost all credibility. You can’t tell us not to complain about the costs we face when mommy and daddy are writing a check for 50K a year for you to go to school.</p>
<p>Ice ,
the 20,000 in loans should be easily repayable after graduation over 3 or 4 years. Im sure Cornell will prepare you extremely well. I am also sure you are all qualified to be at Cornell so why start that stuff. OP if you get better fin aid else where see if Cornell will match if not and you dont want any loans go where you get the best deal. Good luck!</p>
Uh Cornell costs 55K+, I still have over 20K+ in personal loans despite my parents paying so much. Only difference is, I realize how absurdly lucky I am that my parents saved so much given how most in our income bracket get the massive shaft.</p>
<p>Oh and “Cailleboy?” That’s the best you can do? Maybe if you didn’t scrape into Cornell, you’d be able to profer me something more nuanced and acerbic.</p>
<p>DarkIce. Now whos making assumptions and sounding bitter? Stop being ignorant. There are many cases that are, like the OP’s, specific to a family’s situation. A missing parent, a death, loss of a job, so shut up.
What you dont seem top understandis thos fees you are talking about apply to EVERYONE. So 3+2=5 but 30+2=32</p>