<p>I just checked my financial aid award online and it said that I will be only getting $5000 in financial aid (from TAP program and nowhere else).
I can’t help but panic because Columbia College costs like $50K and there’s no way I can afford that.
I got my financial aid package from Duke as well, and they’re giving me ~$45K so I’m a bit confuzzled.</p>
<p>I was selected for verification and just sent in my verification papers, so the award amount will change after they review them, right?</p>
<p>Also, does verification affect the amount of aid I recieve? And how does the verification process go?</p>
<p>Thanks all. </p>
<p>I’m very worried. Oh gosh, I REALLY want/need/MUST to go to Columbia. Hopefully, the measly $5K award isn’t final.</p>
<p>that’s ridiculous!</p>
<p>you should really talk to Columbia and figure out how they calculate your EFC and stuff</p>
<p>Don’t wait. Call the FA office. You need to know ASAP whether this might change.</p>
<p>have your parents write a diplomatic letter to Columbia, attach a copy of the pkg from Duke, tell them if they can match it or come close you will def attend, it is your first choice
and do it now and fax it to Columbia
good luck!</p>
<p>i am in the EXACT same situation!
dartmouth gave me 10k
vassar gave me 35k??
i’m doing the exact same thing</p>
<p>btw, DARTMOUTH is where i’m super aiming for</p>
<p>This scares me…Clark gave me 20K but I need 5K more if I want it to even be an option…what if Bard gives me even less!!! Ugh.</p>
<p>What is “dirt poor”? I’m assuming that you submitted the FAFSA. What is your EFC? Sometimes students end up not being able to go to college because their parents refuse to part with their savings or take out loans. In this case, there’s nothing you can do.</p>
<p>It’s entirely possible that Columbia offered you a grant from one source that will be included in a financial aid package but which is separate from the FA office itself. The fact that you have an online award only may suggest this.</p>
<p>Again, call Columbia tomorrow to see if you should expect a more reasonable FA package in the mail.</p>
<p>Dirt poor as in having a $16K annual income. Usually it below $15K but this year I got a better job. My EFC is zero so I’m definately eligible for a lot more, right?
Plus, my dad just got out of the hospital yesterday and I’m not sure he’ll be physically able to continue his job (which is heavy duty construction work).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for replying and I hope this situation plays out well. Gosh, I really want to go to Columbia. =(</p>
<p>Let’s just pray I find a lottery ticket on the sidewalk tomorrow. =)</p>
<p>“I can’t help but panic because Columbia College costs like $50K and there’s no way I can afford that.” </p>
<p>I’m thinking that someone who wanted to go there so badly would know the actual name of the college, Columbia University.</p>
<p>Somehow I feel that your award is not complete . You can not be eligible for TAP ( New York State’s ultimate limit for an efc of 0 ) without also getting the full amopunt for PELL ( add $4300 ) – and maybe some FSEOG ( about a $1000 ) if you filed your FAFSA early --and perhaps some subsidized loans . </p>
<p>There must be a computer error --and your FAFSA info has not caught up with Columbia .</p>
<p>^I agree. A student eligible for TAP would not be left without anything else from a full-need school. Check to make sure there are no missing documents at Columbia. And first thing Monday, call them up. The people in the FA office are extrremely nice and helpful.</p>
<p>wow thanks everyone. That makes me feel so much better! =)
I’ve been worrying all weekend but I am definately calling first thing tomorrow morning.</p>
<p>and in response to linkinpark, i said Columbia “College” because I wanted to clarify that it was Columbia College not Columbia SEAS. :)</p>
<p>alrighty then! I’ll update later about how things went.
Once again, thanks so much!</p>