peacecorpsp

Hi! I´m a current Peace Corps volunteer set to get out right at August 2010. I was planning on going to grad school 2011, but maybe the unemployment rate has me a little scared, plus I´m excited to go, so I think I want to apply this year.

Only I need to decide. I have a 3.8 GPA from University of Florida in Journalism. My SAT scores (old system) were 1280.

I want to go for fiction, and I´d really need to hussle to get some work together. Plus the cost. It´s a lot.

Does anyone have any ideas of my chances of getting in?

Also, what about financial aid? Momma is broke as a joke.

Thanks! -P

admissionsgeek

hard pressed to find a lot of folks to help out.

what i know about the program is that it is very boutique and probably one of the most competitive to get into at columbia overall.

it is arguably top 3 for fiction next to jhu and iowa, so you get tons of applicants often with little talent, so if you got some don't be scared by the admit percentages. but how plausible, i don't know that.

re: finaid from the site "Financial Aid

The School of the Arts Office of Student Affairs, in conjunction with Columbia University Student Financial Planning, helps qualifying students arrange for financial aid, including loans and work-study programs. Entering students are considered for Program fellowships based on merit. A Program award is for one year, divided between the two semesters, and applied toward tuition charges. During the second year, students are eligible for merit fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and Program fellowships. The majority of Program financial aid is awarded to second-year students. To be eligible for Program aid and loans, a student must be registered for at least 12 points each semester. For more information see the sections of this bulletin titled Financial Aid." i had a teacher in university writing that was an mfa 1st year, so that is available.

and from what i hear the portfolio is the biggest part of the app process.