Hi,
I’m an international and I’ve just been accepted into Columbia as a transfer student. However, I was told that I will not be able to receive any financial aid. This puts me in a difficult situation because my parents won’t be able to afford the $65k+ tuition and living expenses. Upon checking, I don’t see any grants/scholarships available at Columbia. So I was wondering, how do other international families afford Columbia? Do most students resort to student loans? I really want to attend Columbia but as of now, I don’t think I can find a way to pay for the tuition fee + other costs of attendance.
^^how is a student supposed to raise 60k in a job, fool?
There not too many schools that provide internationals with aid. It is too bad you got nothing, though. Like with all purchases in life, there is always something nice that you can’t afford unless you are well off. So I don’t see a difficult situation, it is a pretty easy decision when you can’t afford it and it isn’t even close.
Most international transfers don’t receive much in financial aid.
Did you not read that part in the “paying for your education” section on the school’s website?
From their website:
“As an international student, the process for finding available scholarships can take time and wherewithal. Many of the fellowships listed on this website are limited to students with American citizenship. For you, as an international student, the best source for fellowships may very well be through your own national government or through private philanthropies. We encourage you to check for fellowships through your home country’s consulate here in New York or embassy in Washington, D.C., as well as through other private groups, especially ones interested in promoting international educational exchange.”
http://www.college.columbia.edu/students/fellowships/international
Believe it or not, lots of families can and are prepared to pay 65k+ tuition per year
Yup, as you read here, internationals are not given much aid, and thus come from wealthy families where they can afford the tuition. If not, they see it as an investment in their education and take out private loans. However, I seriously would not recommend taking out 65k in private loans for an undergraduate degree. If you are set on being a student in the US, I think you should consider public schools or other private universities that you have a shot at merit-based aid.