<p>So I applied to Cornell AEM as a transfer and got in!
My main concern is the cost and the ridiculously little financial aid I got.
My parent's FAFSA EFC was $0, but Cornell says it's $30k. It's really disheartening, because my parents told me if they try their hardest, they can pay up to 10k/year.
If I graduate from Cornell, at the very least I'd have 40-50k in debt, for just two years(total cost for both years would be around 75-80k, but parents+ work can help defray total cost).
Do you guys think I should do it, specifically if I want a career in finance?
Is Cornell notorious for giving bad financial aid to transfers? I tried appealing twice to no avail. I currently have a full scholarship at a local college, only expounding the difficulty of the decision...thanks.</p>
<p>My parent’s FAFSA EFC was $0, but Cornell says it’s $30k</p>
<p>Have they given any logical reason?</p>
<p>Cornell (and similar colleges) requires the CSS profile in addition to the FASFA, which allows them to use the Institutional Methodology for determining need based aid. CSS shows families assets. Good explanation here: [Institutional</a> Methodology (IM)](<a href=“http://www.financialaidjournal.com/archives/FAJIss6.php]Institutional”>http://www.financialaidjournal.com/archives/FAJIss6.php)</p>
<p>Basically my parents had income from a relatively rare source, and Cornell counted that as income, even though the FAFSA didn’t. Cornell’s official response is that they cannot yet evaluate my family’s financial situation because it is unique, so I should apply at the end of the year. Kind of ridiculous, honestly…any thoughts?</p>
<p>Given the level of sophistication that some parents will use to play the “aid game”, they require more areas of reporting. I am sure they have seen just about everything when it comes to hiding $ so then they can get more aid…not saying that you’re parents are doing this, but because some do it hurts everyone.</p>
<p>Understood.
Anyone with any thoughts regarding whether 50k is worth it at Cornell over a local honors college (much less prestigious)?
Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m going to put this simply: NO NO AND NO it is not worth it for you to go into that much debt for Cornell.</p>