<p>Hello fellow Cornellians,</p>
<p>I was contemplating different ways to save money at Cornell and I was hoping some people could tell me if my ideas seem valid.</p>
<p>I have 11 AP Exams that I have taken (The one's with question marks indicate that I've taken them this year)</p>
<p>AP Psychology - 5
AP World History - 4
AP Physics B - 4
AP Physics C - 4
AP Calculus BC - 5
AP American History - 3
AP English Comp - 4
AP Computer Science A - 5
AP Statistics - ?
AP Biology - ?
AP Chemistry - ?</p>
<p>I was wondering If I can take fewer courses during the first year to lower tuition (Because tuition is really just the amount of classes you take right?). Maybe I would use Psychology or something to reduce tuition. I'm in the College of Engineering and I don't think I plan on using any engineering courses because I want a pure Cornell Education.</p>
<p>short answer is no... as a full time student, you pay the same tuition whether you are taking 12 credits (the minimum) or 30 credits.</p>
<p>The only way you can save money is by graduating early. I graduated a semester early because I used over 20 AP credits, most of them history and english credits (I was a bio major).</p>
<p>I also have 4000 dollars in scholarships. Can I take out loans and use my scholarships to pay for them? I have no loans but I'm looking for a way to reduce my high EFC of 13,500 dollars. I will make about 2000 dollars by end of summer taking care of my student contribution. that leaves my parents with around 11,500 dollars. I want to reduce that. Is there any trick or any way I can do this?</p>
<p>You can take out a loan to cover the EFC...either Parent PLUS or private loan</p>
<p>How many credits are required for a semester?</p>
<p>are they outside scholarships? If they are, then a "trick" would be to not report the scholarships to cornell and then just deposit them in your own bank account. When you get your bursar bill, write cornell a personal check for 4000 dollars. They won't know that the money came from scholarships, but you are really "not supposed to" do this.</p>
<p>However, if the scholarships are made out to Cornell or cornell finaid already knows about them, they will probably reduce some of your (students) loans, but this will not reduce your parent's EFC.</p>
<p>You have to take at least 12 credits a semester</p>
<p>If you are not a full time student you may also not be eligible for your parents health insurance.</p>