<p>I got accepted into an MA program at Teachers College, Columbia University for this upcoming fall. Recently, I got my financial award letter and I am very disappointed. The estimated cost of attendance is: $63,000/yr (per their website), but all I have been awarded is student loans totaling $40,500 for the year. I'm not sure how I am expected to come up w/ the remaining $22,500. I only made $21,950 last year. Plus, I haven't even been working since late December because of a medical condition with my spine so I all my savings for school has been depleted.
Does anyone know if it is possible to have one's financial award reviewed due to circumstances such as mine? I have seen some schools' Financial Aid Office websites showing a process for a review, but nothing on TC/Columbia's site so far. </p>
<p>One other question:
I should see a departmental scholarship, tuition waiver, or grant on my financial aid award letter if I had been offered any correct? I assume so, however, the application for scholarships/financial assistance isn't even due until April 15th. One would think they would have to wait until all applications came in before deciding on how to distribute any departmental funding/scholarships. So, I'm kinda hoping that maybe there is a chance that I will be offered something else after 4/15. Does this seem possible? Or, would it have definitely shown up on my financial award letter that I got this week?</p>
<p>You can try…but keep in mind that MANY grad students have no appreciable income from the previous year…many are going to grad school directly out of undergrad school.</p>
<p>Financial aid for grad school does not work the same way as for undergrad. There are no Pell grants, no “meets full need based on EFC” schools. Typically financial aid for grad school is based on merit…things that make you a highly sought after candidate for a program. And I’ll venture another thing…many teacher masters programs do not have significant financial aid attached to them.</p>
<p>Financial aid for grad school can be school grants, loans, assistantships, fellowships, scholarships. Departmental scholarships are typically merit based…and that means that the strength of your application would determine if you are awarded such aid. They do not need to wait…they can award this when they review each application. </p>
<p>You can talk to them to see if there is anything else they can offer you.</p>
<p>The other option would be to get your masters at a different school that is more affordable than Columbia. Part of that $62K cost of attendance is the cost of housing in NYC…very expensive.</p>
<p>I know that Teachers College offers some very specific programs that are very appealing to some educators.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I don’t really expect much, but I will push forward with talking to the financial aid office at CU. Maybe there is tutoring or ESL position that would come with a partial tuition waiver or something. </p>
<p>As far as a less expensive school is concerned, I do have options. So far, I’ve been accepted at San Diego State as well. Haven’t heard back yet from Boston University or my local in-state tuition school either. Hopefully, I will get a better aid package from SDSU or BU if accepted. Worst case scenario, I can get my MA in-state for super cheap, but the program is not really focused on my areas of interest. 4th tier state school too. Not going to do a lot to prop me up for a solid doctorate application to an Ivy. </p>
<p>Ok, well, if anybody else has any experience with ‘appealing’ a financial aid award package, please let me know. Any information is greatly appreciated!</p>