No financial aid at Cornell??!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I am an international student and I got into Cornell's class of 2015 to study architecture. I was superhappy because this is my dream school and its architecture program is one of the best in the country.</p>

<p>So yesterday I got this e-mail that said they were unable to offer me ANY financial aid. Quote from the letter:</p>

<p>"Given limited funds, we can make only a few financial aid awards for international students each year and the awards are apportioned among the undergraduate colleges and schools. Criteria for selection include financial need, academic strength, geographic diversity, and potential for contribution to the Cornell community as a whole. Unfortunately, because our resources are very limited, many worthy candidates are not funded. We realize that in many cases this means that students with much to contribute will not be able to attend Cornell.</p>

<p>Based on the above information, we must emphasize that you will need to make a decision regarding whether or not to enroll at Cornell with the knowledge that you will not receive financial aid from Cornell University this year or in future years."</p>

<p>On my finaid application I indicated that my family could contribute 13k for my studies. It is kind of low, considering my family's above average salary in our country. I think if really necessary they could afford about 15-17k. Perhaps I was being too close-fisted on the finaid app? I thought they were going to require a SLIGHTLY higher family contribution anyway. But not ~60k. </p>

<p>Still, why does the school even admit me if it knows I have no way of raising ~60k to pay for the costs? It literally wants me to indicate that I have the necessary funds for the next 5 years (which is in total about 340k dollars) and to have the signatures of all sponsors by May 1st. So I have less than a month to do that. I mean are they crazy? And how can they claim that I'll get no finaid "this year or in future years"? If it's determined by factors like "academic strength, geographic diversity, and potential for contribution to the Cornell community as a whole" then I might improve over time. No?</p>

<p>Just a thought: do you think it would be possible to defer my entry for one year and try to arrange the funds within that time? Yeah, I know, even if they allow that where would I get the money...</p>

<p>Another (more absurd) thought: I've heard that people often "bargain" after receiving their finaid offers. E.g. request for more grants and less loans. Would it make sense to bargain for finaid although they said I would get 0?</p>

<p>Anyway it sucks and I was immensely disappointed that my euphoria for getting into a dream college is crushed for economic reasons. I probably will now have to go to more modest schools in the UK, either Edinburgh or Liverpool. </p>

<p>Any ideas, tips, advices are welcome.</p>

2

<p>If you think that you will be in a better place financially you should be able to defer your start a year. Admissions and financial need are completely separate so when admitted they have no idea of your finances. good luck</p>

3

<p>Are you sure, ceresma? Because Cornell isn’t need-blind. I thought that’s what non-need-blind means - they DO consider your financial situation on acceptance. That’s why it makes no sense for me that they know that I can pay only a quarter of the costs and still admit me…</p>

4

<p>Im sure Cornell is need blind</p>

5

<p>kripps see the following but in short Cornell is need blind for all applicants.<br>
[International</a> admission, financial aid, and Early Decision | Cornell Engineering Admissions](<a href=“http://blogs.cornell.edu/engradmissions/2010/10/21/international-admission-financial-aid-and-early-decision/]International”>http://blogs.cornell.edu/engradmissions/2010/10/21/international-admission-financial-aid-and-early-decision/)</p>

<p>this is an engineering faq but the id policy is for all cornell</p>

6

<p>Thanks. From somewhere I remembered that Cornell wasn’t need-blind, but I guess I confused it with Columbia. </p>

<p>Still, it is a pity that their funds are so limited for international students. My parents have a rather high salary but we don’t have much savings, and I also have a brother in college. In theory they could pay for Cornell but it would take about a half of our total income and thus be extremely difficult for all the family members.</p>

7

<p>It’s hard for international students to get financial aid at Cornell. They’ve even placed canadians into international category a few years ago. I also got into architecture at Cornell but they’re not giving me any money. Guess i can’t afford it :/</p>

8

<p>DID ANYONE GET the fin aid packet to cornell yet? I still havent gotten mine… i got the official acceptance 2 days ago i think</p>

9

<p>Same here. I didn’t get any packet of financial aid. I just received an e-mail saying that I will receive no fin aid. So there probably won’t be an additional packet confirming that, will there?</p>

10

<p>How much does your family make in US dollars? jw</p>

11

<p>I would say around 120k. I also have a brother in college and my parents pay around 13k for him. Think I was being too tight-fisted? It’s just not a tradition here to put most of your wealth into college studies.</p>

12

<p>where are you from? just curious…</p>

13

<p>Eastern Europe</p>

14

<p>hey, im pretty interested in applying for cornell architecutre too. </p>

<p>what were your grades like?
sat?
gpa?
please answer meee im really curiouss</p>

15

<p>To aquawarriorr:</p>

<p>Didn’t have too much time to practise for them, so my SATs are quite low.</p>

<p>SATI: 1910
SATII: mathI 720, mathII 680, chem 680
gpa: they don’t calculate gpa here. My IB predicted grades were pretty solid though: 43/45 (probably not gonna get that high in reality)</p>

<p>So the objective data is nothing special really. I think my strong edges were the essays I wrote about architecture (Cornell supplement essay + interview essay). I’m pretty passionate about the subject so it was quite nice to write about it. </p>

<p>And the portfolio has to be good, of course. Hope that helped:)</p>

16

<p>So getting into Cornell through early decision round does not really guarantee accepted students with full financial support? </p>

<p>But isn’t Cornell need blind like HYP ?? </p>

<p>I’m confused.</p>

17

<p>there is a difference between full-need for financial aid and need-blind which refers to admission. Cornell is both- for US students. International applicants are need-blind for admission but Cornell’s website clearly states that financial aid is very limited for int’l students - </p>

<p>acceptance of someone who can’t pay just proves that admissions is need-blind - meaning that admissions officers don’t consider whether you are able to afford the costs, only that you are a qualified candidate.</p>

18

<p>lol i think after they admit you they tell the admission office to really make your package. i got a personalized email from cornells financial aid office that asked for minute details. then i got accepted lol</p>

19

<p>kripps,
I was in the exact same situation this year! I’m Canadian, and got into the college of arts and sciences (ED), for biology. I was so happy for that one day before I got my finaid email, which said that they aren’t giving me any aid! (I completely qualify for aid, it’s just that I didn’t know they didn’t guarantee aid to those who got in). I was devastated, because it meant that I couldn’t go. I withdrew, and now I’m going to a more affordable public school in Canada next year (though not nearly as awesome as Cornell). Still pretty bitter about that, really.</p>

20

<p>Cornell is supporting 213 international undergraduate students with $8,013.493.</p>