<p>Brandeis is a super school so first congrats on that. But I know what you mean with this Fordham financial aid. I have no idea what they are going to give me (maybe an estimate would have been nice with our acceptances), and thus no idea if I can attend. I anticipate having to do an appeal as I doubt they will give me all my neccessary aid, and this delays that process even more so. Hopefully they get it out sometime next week. All my documents have also been received and reviewed according to the My Fordham portal. Best of luck where ever you end up though!</p>
<p>Thanks! I was planning on sending an appeal as well because I’m pretty sure Fordham’s finaid isn’t going to match up to Brandeis’s, but Fordham is my first choice. So I was hoping that I can get the time to send in my Brandeis finaid in hopes that they can at least match it or even do better. But for me, it’s been a month since I’ve finished the whole finaid process and received my acceptance letter. I truthfully find it absurd that it takes Fordham a month to finish what other schools finish in week.</p>
<p>BUT I did just log on to my.fordham.edu and it looks like my finaid package has been completed? There’s a few new things that have been added under the finaid section. For the documents tab they added the ‘Federal Staffard Loan Entrance Interview’ and the ‘Direct Stafford Loan Promissory Note’ which are used to complete finaid to receive loans. And for the messages tab, there’s now a message about the Loyola Scholarship, which you’ll probably receive as well since it’s based on GPA. But then again, the Loyola Scholarship is only up to $8,000 so that’s nothing compared to Fordham’s tuition.</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>Edit: Okay, so Fordham’s Financial Services is definitely unprofessional and unreliable. I just called, and now they’re telling me end of NEXT week. That’s the 3 week they’ve pushed it back by a week. I asked them why it’s taking so long and the guy replied with “well, there’s just so much to do in so little time.” That’s not a valid excuse. Do they not want students to come or something? Argh it just really frustrates me.</p>
<p>You may be at risk of annoying them. I am sorry its taking so long and I don’t have an answer for that, but there may be internal reasons and there may be reasons related to your application. </p>
<p>All you can do is sit tight and wait. If Fordham is your number one, then see what they give you. In the end its not a good idea to obsess about any school for any reason. If Brandeis gives you more money, and makes it affordable, then go there.</p>
<p>I am very surprised that Fordham is not being prompt with your fin aid information. You’re right, it’s not very professional. </p>
<p>But, I think that this may be related to the incoming freshman class. Apparently, more students than planned decided to enroll, so now Fordham has a very large freshmen class it needs to handle. Because this was relatively unplanned, Fordham may be having greater difficulties accommodating transfer applicants when so many of its resources are being consumed by such a large freshmen class.</p>
<p>Weird. I just checked it and under the message tab there is information regarding an entrence interview for loans and stuff about federal staford/ford loans. Nothing about a scholarship though. I would rather not complete the loan interview stuff before I know my package though.</p>
<p>Be careful about relying on myfordham until after you have received written hard copy offers of financial assistance.</p>
<p>@ghostbuster: I’m not obsessing about Fordham, I just feel as if it’s the school that fits me better. And for Brandeis, I already received my finaid, and it’s a great package. I just want to wait for Fordham’s so I can compare them. The finaid package is what’s going to make it or break it for me since I’m paying for my tuition on my own.</p>
<p>@yenrod: That’s a good point about the whole freshmen thing, but at the same time, it shouldn’t make a difference especially since finaid should be complete for all freshmen. It just frustrates me especially since I know exactly how finaid works after working 2 years at the finaid office at my current school. </p>
<p>@Matt1234: Yeah same here. I don’t think anyone would want to…</p>
<p>I am a transfer student as well…
Do u know if they can give notifications of deniance thru email or just admittance? I too have a specific admission person that contacts me thru email I wonder if she will let me know if I get denied thru email…I don’t want to wait for snail mail!! Lol I’m so anxious…
What about over the phone? Can they tell u ur decision over the phone?</p>
<p>@citygirl1018: I found out through snail mail. I really doubt that they’ll tell you through email or the phone. I’m sure they try to be fair for everyone.</p>
<p>@Matt1234: Financial aid awards is finally out. I had to call in order for them to put them online. If you get a guy counselor, hang up and try again because he’s unwilling to help and extremely rude (I don’t remember his name). All last week he told me that mine wasn’t done yet, but I spoke to a Susan today, and she told me that they had finished mine last week… This whole issue on counselors not knowing what they’re doing is once again unprofessional, and I can’t believe I waited for so long to get basically no aid. This is very frustrating… </p>
<p>I hope everything works out for you and you get enough aid to attend!</p>
<p>I guess over the phone is highly unlikely but I have heard of many replies being sent thru email…in fact I just called today and they said transfers find out thru email and snail mail</p>
<p>I don’t know how true that is… I have yet to receive anything from Fordham through email. I’ve just been getting snail mail from them the whole time. When did you put your app in? They tend to go through the apps pretty fast. I got a letter from them in 3 weeks.</p>
<p>I put in my app in january but they have been waiting for my spring grades which they jus received Tuesday. I applied soooo long ago I’m like about to die of anticipation lol!!! Won’t be long now tho…hopefully I hear from them by next week who knows maybe even by Friday cuz I was told the admission board is already reviewing my spring transcript. It shouldn’t take long just to review a transcript right?
Well anyways hypnotiq have u decided on Fordham or are u still undecided on other schools…</p>
<p>hypnotiq: use of the term “unprofessional” is rather strong and misapplied here I think. Its also somewhat rude. You are asking Fordham to give you money, which they are under no legal obligation to do. Be careful.</p>
<p>Fordham is a large school overall. They employ work study students to help them. Some of them may not have all the facts. </p>
<p>I am sorry that you get different responses from different people. I make no excuses for that. We too have been frustrated with issues at times and its infuriating. But its the norm at most schools, particularly schools of any size and bureaucracy.</p>
<p>Fordham does not send out financial aid by email. They send out snail mail hard copy and otherwise post it on your myfordham when/if you have been accepted and offered a package. </p>
<p>They aren’t just working for you. They had over 27,000 applications. They admitted 49%. They had an over acceptance (higher yield than expected, causing a housing shortage). Then they have transfer students who frankly are not their top priority. Nor should they be. Its just reality.</p>
<p>I am glad Fordham is your number one choice and you have a strong desire to attend Fordham, even over Brandeis and their apparently generous offer to you. I hope Fordham is able to provide the aid you need for you last two years of college. But please be patient and less accusatory and demanding. Its frustrating for all but its still only June 3, a full three months until classes begin. </p>
<p>Like a triage unit in the ER they have to prioritize the issues and problems, and all the students seeking reviews of their awards for more money. </p>
<p>Nobody here on CC has the power to change things, though Fordham Admissions peruses here periodically. </p>
<p>But Welcome to Fordham and welcome to the world of bureaucratic “stuff.” No school is perfect and Fordham is far from perfect.</p>
<p>I mean, I think “unprofessional” is an accurate characterization of Fordham’s behavior.</p>
<p>Just remember, once you are at Fordham, you don’t have to deal with admissions anymore. And from my experience, the other departments here are far more professional.</p>
<p>^^^^ you are a student. You don’t have any idea what “professional” means because you have never been a professional, nor from what I can glean, worked in admissions. But tell me if I am incorrect in that statement.</p>
<p>I think “unprofessional” is a very strong word and can be a serious charge. Simply failing to respond to a transfer students time demands for an answer on funds he is seeking from the University, is not “unprofessional”. Annoying and frustrating, perhaps. Unprofessional means someone is derelict in their duty rising to a level of egregious behavior that would be grounds for dismissal and/or legal action. </p>
<p>I appreciate the frustration. Been there, done that. I am not painting them as saints and Red Cross workers. I am saying they employ part time students to help them who may have incorrect or incomplete information. </p>
<p>But we are barking at the moon here. I suspect this will be resolved or has been resolved already. Best of luck to hypnotiq. If not, then he/she can head up to Brandeis.</p>
<p>@ghostbuster: I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I wasn’t saying that Fordham is “unprofessional” because they didn’t give me enough aid. I realize that they don’t have to give me aid at all… I just think they’re unprofessional because imo, they’re failing to do their job when I call and they have no idea what I’m talking about especially when they push back everything saying things such as “oh, it’ll be finalized next week” then the following week I get a “nevermind, how about next week” response. It’s happened numerous times, and when I ask why it’s taking so long, they tell me they just don’t have the time. Now in a professional setting. If you told your boss that “you just didn’t have enough time to finish a project” and that you’ll finish it “maybe the next week? or the following” wouldn’t that be considered unprofessional? And each time I spoke with an actual counselor, and not a student btw.</p>
<p>I currently go to a school with about 20,000 students and I work for the financial aid department, so I know the expectations and how things work, but Fordham just doesn’t meet up to them. And it’s not just financial aid… I’ve been having trouble with contacting the transfer dean and they’re not willing to schedule me to meet with the dean unless I pay the deposit. To me that doesn’t make any sense. I’m willing to pay out of my pocket to fly out to NY, but they still won’t schedule me unless I pay the deposit? </p>
<p>But you’re right it doesn’t matter.
I committed with Brandeis.</p>
<p>I have actually just found out of my acceptance thru email!!! So yes they are sending out replies thru email along with a packet in the mail. So check ur emails ppl!!!</p>
<p>Yeah I received the email today. FINALLY. I’ve been stressing. I just hope they post my FA Award information soon or else I’ll burst.</p>
<p>^ Call financial services for your FA award. Some of the counselors are willing to post the information so you can see it earlier.</p>