Outside Scholarship Distribution

Colleges & Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Let's say you won enough scholarships to cover your loans and work study. What goes next? Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or the Columbia Grants? Well, I decided to call the financial aid office. The lady said that outside scholarships replace family contribution before columbia grants. HOWEVER, I sent an e-mail and this is what they said...</p>

<p>"We are sending an outside scholarship notification form to all students in June which will help us determine how the outside scholarships will affect your award. We will reduce the self-help first--Loans and work-study."</p>

<p>I hope I didn't just lose $1000 by telling a scholarship company to go ahead and write the check to Columbia!</p>

2

<p>"The lady said that outside scholarships replace family contribution before columbia grants."</p>

<p>I have heard different people and written materials tell me opposite things on this. So far the count is 3-2 in favor of reducing grants before family contribution, instead of the reverse. Unfortunately, my individual financial aid advisor is one of those three.</p>