Columbia University Huge Loan for Undergrad
Hi, I recently got admitted to Columbia University: School of General Studies, as a transfer from a community college. The only problem I have with the school is the lack of financial aid, because of this upon graduation, I estimate that I will leave with about 100-105k in loans after interest.
My Background: First person to attend college in my family. minority: latin. Family's total income is about 40k.
Do you guys think it may be worth it for me to attend Columbia or that it might be financially wise to hold of and wait to hear back from the other schools I applied to (Lehigh, Cornell, Duke, Amherst, and NYU), or just attend Baruch and graduate debt free?
Just letting you guys know I'm interested in pursuing a career in sales and trading.
Assuming you don't have to decide right now, I would wait to see what the other schools come back with for financial aid offers. If you got into Columbia, I would assume you'll get into at least a few more of the ones you listed.
100% agree with gpck. I'm surprised Columbia isn't need-blind, but I expect that if you got in there that you can get into one of the others and that they'll give you some/lots of financial aid loans and/or grants (assuming you're an American citizen, since many colleges don't offer aid to internationals). That being said, if your choices at the end of it are between Columbia and community college, I think you should probably take the debt.
I know Columbia doesn't meet full need for transfers but it's a bit ridiculous that a school with its resources didn't give you anything. If you get into the rest with more aid then I would go there (especially Cornell or Duke) but you should be able to place somewhere in IB from all with varying amounts of work if that's your goal. $100-105k of debt is a lot of money.
Also may be worth reaching out to Columbias fin aid department if you get more acceptances.
Wait to hear from the others and then decide, Cornell, Duke, NYU, and Amherst are all great schools. Any of those with significant money will be better than Colombia and 100k in debt in my opinion.
Vitae repellendus consequuntur a. Nulla autem consequatur et commodi sint possimus saepe modi. Praesentium dolor voluptates ut voluptatem aut. Saepe enim quas iure atque rerum itaque.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...