Columbia Class of 2020 Forum

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

+1 also did most people email their tax forms in? I submitted my questionnaire that way and never got a response.

[AFtoLawschool]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

+1 also did most people email their tax forms in? I submitted my questionnaire that way and never got a response.

You have to do the entire grant application for non-named merit aid. They combine need/merit into one application.

I mailed paperwork through snail mail, but that was weeks ago. You could always fax or email.

[dwall1121]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

+1 also did most people email their tax forms in? I submitted my questionnaire that way and never got a response.

You have to do the entire grant application for non-named merit aid. They combine need/merit into one application.

I mailed paperwork through snail mail, but that was weeks ago. You could always fax or email.

By entire grant application is that just the tax forms, CSS, and financial aid questionnaire, or is FAFSA required to receive non named merit aid too?

[AFtoLawschool]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

That's a great question, I would call them and see what they say.

[Thelaw23]

Good morning fam, everybody excited for the ASP this week?

[2020Hopeful]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

[Leliana]

Previous years seem to indicate that you have to submit all the financial aid paperwork to be considered for any sort of aid, unfortunately. It can't hurt to call and ask though.

[Thelaw23]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

[d39524s]

How long did it take to fill out all the financial aid forms? I'm clearly a bit behind the 8 ball here

[Thelaw23]

How long did it take to fill out all the financial aid forms? I'm clearly a bit behind the 8 ball here

FAQ - 15 minutes. FAFSA is honestly not that long, maybe 30 minutes - an hour. CSS kills you, though. It asks for really detailed information about companies/businesses your parents are associated with. That one is probably 1 - 2 hours. It all really depends on your and your parents tax returns.
Then it also takes a while to collect all the income tax returns/W-2's and send it in to CLS.

I sent them W-2 Summary which is at the end of my tax returns, I'm not sure if that will work and if they will ask me for the actual W-2s.

[confusia]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

My understanding was that all merit aid decisions were made at the time of admission, and that all applications now are for need-based aid. At least, that's what the woman who answered my call at the Financial Aid office led me to believe...

Does someone want to correct me? Concerned now because I gave up on the apps since I figured I didn't stand a chance for need-based aid.

[Thelaw23]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

My understanding was that all merit aid decisions were made at the time of admission, and that all applications now are for need-based aid. At least, that's what the woman who answered my call at the Financial Aid office led me to believe...

Does someone want to correct me? Concerned now because I gave up on the apps since I figured I didn't stand a chance for need-based aid.

The thing is, the only scholarships that I have heard people got at the time of admission have been named scholarships: Butler/Hammy. I am pretty sure the school is also supposed to offer other scholarship offers which don't fall into those categories.

[anrf1225]

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[Thelaw23]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

My understanding was that all merit aid decisions were made at the time of admission, and that all applications now are for need-based aid. At least, that's what the woman who answered my call at the Financial Aid office led me to believe...

Does someone want to correct me? Concerned now because I gave up on the apps since I figured I didn't stand a chance for need-based aid.

The thing is, the only scholarships that I have heard people got at the time of admission have been named scholarships: Butler/Hammy. I am pretty sure the school is also supposed to offer other scholarship offers which don't fall into those categories.

ive heard that even though they say its technically need based aid, its much more correlated with gpa/lsat than it is with actual need

The irony in the fact that they're one of the only schools to ask for so much in-detail tax information (all the tax documents faxed to them)

[jackstraw92]

does anyone know whether it's better to wait for an initial aid offer before beginning negotiations or to send other offer letters now? I got my award from NYU this weekend and don't know if I should send it to Columbia's financial aid office yet. Based on past years it looks like Columbia doesn't make non-named aid offers until around April..

[dwall1121]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

My understanding was that all merit aid decisions were made at the time of admission, and that all applications now are for need-based aid. At least, that's what the woman who answered my call at the Financial Aid office led me to believe...

Does someone want to correct me? Concerned now because I gave up on the apps since I figured I didn't stand a chance for need-based aid.

The thing is, the only scholarships that I have heard people got at the time of admission have been named scholarships: Butler/Hammy. I am pretty sure the school is also supposed to offer other scholarship offers which don't fall into those categories.

ive heard that even though they say its technically need based aid, its much more correlated with gpa/lsat than it is with actual need

This also might be the dumbest question on this whole forum (but better safe than sorry to ask); does filling out these forms or not have any impact on my admission? Like if I don't get them in can they pull my offer? I'm still in undergrad and my parents are traveling out of the country for the week so I'm just thinking it might be next to impossible to gather all of these forms and get them in myself in the next few days haha

[Thelaw23]

hi everyone! just got accepted last thursday (woo!!) but am a little late to the financial aid forms game. If I dont qualify for need based aid because of my parents or whatever and wont be taking out any loans do I still have to fill in all those forms and send in all the tax stuff? Was unclear if that all was required to receive merit aid as well or if that was only for need aid. Sorry if this is a really dumb question, but I am a little lost with all of this!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

also interested in knowing the answer, I emailed the financial aid office asking this a few days ago but they haven't gotten back to me yet

I have heard and read that you need to fill out all the forms for an offer. Also, I would recommend calling the Financial Aid Office instead of emailing them. It takes them a really long time to get back to you.

My understanding was that all merit aid decisions were made at the time of admission, and that all applications now are for need-based aid. At least, that's what the woman who answered my call at the Financial Aid office led me to believe...

Does someone want to correct me? Concerned now because I gave up on the apps since I figured I didn't stand a chance for need-based aid.

The thing is, the only scholarships that I have heard people got at the time of admission have been named scholarships: Butler/Hammy. I am pretty sure the school is also supposed to offer other scholarship offers which don't fall into those categories.

ive heard that even though they say its technically need based aid, its much more correlated with gpa/lsat than it is with actual need

This also might be the dumbest question on this whole forum (but better safe than sorry to ask); does filling out these forms or not have any impact on my admission? Like if I don't get them in can they pull my offer? I'm still in undergrad and my parents are traveling out of the country for the week so I'm just thinking it might be next to impossible to gather all of these forms and get them in myself in the next few days haha

I would call and talk to them, but I think it is highly unlikely. Worst case scenario is, if you miss several deadlines and troll with these forms they might make you pay sticker and not allow you to take out any loans/grants. But seriously, just call the Financial Aid Office and tell them this. They will probably tell you to send in and complete what you can and send in the other stuff whenever you can.

Edit: I don't remember if I said this or not, but congrats!!!

[2020Hopeful]

What are people wearing to ASP (specifically women)? Are the reception in the evening nicer? I'm assuming I don't need to wear a suit just to go to mock classes....

[Thelaw23]

What are people wearing to ASP (specifically women)? Are the reception in the evening nicer? I'm assuming I don't need to wear a suit just to go to mock classes....

I mean are you planning on changing between the reception and the classes?

I'm wearing blazer/jean/button down - guy.

I also hope they have an open bar at the reception again hehehe

[Leliana]

What are people wearing to ASP (specifically women)? Are the reception in the evening nicer? I'm assuming I don't need to wear a suit just to go to mock classes....

I was planning on wearing black jeans with a nicer top, or a dress, with flats or low booties. Something comfortable but not jeans-and-a-t-shirt level of casual.

Though I just checked the weather and it's supposed to thunderstorm Wednesday so I might break out the rain boots.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

Did anyone figure out where the columbia Id is? I sent mine in without it and wrote a note asking about it but never got a response.

[NotAGolfer]

Did anyone figure out where the columbia Id is? I sent mine in without it and wrote a note asking about it but never got a response.

I was told we don't need it since first year applicants don't need to fill out page 3.

[jjcorvino]

I am planning on wearing nicer jeans, button down and sport coat for the first day (because of the reception) and the second day just wear whatever I want.

Anyone else in section 1?

[Leliana]

Anyone else in section 1?

I'm section 3

[Thelaw23]

Section 4 here.

If anybody wants to kick it during the reception or has any questions about NYC (I lived here my whole life), shoot me a PM.

Excited for tomorrow! My mock class professor is a former AUSA and teaches Federal Criminal Law (which coincides with my dream goals).