Columbia University-ETP

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Hey everyone. I was just wondering who applied to Columbia University's ETP program.

I got an email today telling me to keep logging into the website where I applied to check on the status of my application. Has anyone else got this email? And does anyone know approximately when they begin to post decisions?

I'm nervous as this was my #2 school.

Also, i got an email abt supplies etc. How are we supposed to know which package and extras to buy?

i got the same msg; i plan on checking out the stethoscopes on the web for a comparison, as i'm planning to go with the most cost-efficient package with the best 'scope.

regarding the uniforms; last year's posters recommended buying 3-4 sets (skipping the skirt), and said that there would be uniforms to try on for size at visitor's day.

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yea I will probably get my supplies from all over the place. and thanx for the sizing tip. I'll wait until visiting day to order. If we do buy navy skirts do you know if we have to buy navy pantyhose & sneakers or do we have to wear white pantyhose & sneakers

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Does anyone know/have a breakdown of costs for the master's portion? Knowing this is crucial to figuring out total costs, but I'm having trouble getting a straight answer from Financial Aid.

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Well I assume that the fees/insurance/cost of living in NYC (20k reported by columbia) will be the same for the masters portion. The first year (summer, fall, spring) is 60 credits at a little over $1100 a credit, so for the first year of 60 credits, tuition is 66k, added with all other costs (personal, living, books,etc) it comes to 100k, so 34k for everything else.

For the masters portion the living expenses should be the same at 34k, the acute care program is 49 credits, so at $1,100 per credit is around 54k so 88k total for the masters section, although I'm not sure how the masters program is spread out year wise, since the entire program is 2.5 years.

I submitted my financial aid package letter to Oscar today pretty much accepting everything they were offering. I've been looking into applying for loans (since I believe you need to do it yourself) and have almost completed the loan application with wells fargo, but I held off from the total ok since Oscar said on the phone that you don't need to get it quite yet. I'm going to wait until visiting day to get all my questions answered regarding loans, living, uniforms, etc.

Did anyone get a good package from Columbia beyond what the rest of us got? The vast majority of us receiving 33k in Scholarship, 12500 in stafford (sub and unsub), 1-2k in Columbia loan, the rest in private loans.

I'm just curious.

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Thank you for the calculations! Every time I try to calculate these numbers, they just blow my mind!!

Does anyone know what the average amount of debt one graduates with after completing the ETP program?

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Tempest621 - I even got a worse package. Only $5500 in stafford. Can I ask you a question regarding private loan. How do we apply for it? Do I have to walk into a bank and talk to a rep persoanlly or I can just do it online? Also, when we apply, are we considering as an undergraduate or graduate student. Right now, I am searching crazy for loan, all those uncertainties are driving me crazy:uhoh3:

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planet612

You can apply for stafford loans here: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/pdfs/2008-2009_FedStafford_undergraduate.pdf

or private loans here:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/pdfs/2008-2009_undergrad_private_chart.pdf

Note that these are preferred lenders, which means that they don't unnecessarily give the best rates, but give kickbacks to the university for recommending them.

You can follow the links listed for the individual banks listed on the links i provided. From there you just fill out an application. I made it most of the way through Wells Fargo but opted not to complete the loan, as I called Oscar and he said you didn't need to yet and should shop around for rates and such. So I'm going to wait until visiting day to get more info before committing to a lender.

Hope this was helpful,

T

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I just got off the phone with Oscar now and he said that the 5,500 Stafford and 7,000 unsubsidized Stafford are the maximum.

He also said that if your rent expenses are more than what is written on the monthly expenses (1,300), you can calculate the difference and add it to the overall amount on the private student loan (mine is 65,102 + difference in rent), and be prepared to submit a copy of your lease to the private lender. You have to cross out the 65,102 or whatever your Private Student Loan amount is, write in your new amount, and circle Accept.

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Is there anywhere to see a picture of the uniforms? I am wondering what the skirt looks like.

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Remember in the masters portion the clinical hours are closer to $1300 per unit.... and i'm not sure how many of the 45 are clinic hours, but it does raise the price.

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A tip to those who chose WellsFargo but don't have cosigners and haven't already committed to something - the Collegiate Loan that the Columbia site links you to takes your income into account as well as your credit rating and debt history... so even if you have a clean, beautiful past and an 800 rating, if you're not racking in the dough right now, your interest rates will be higher. Since most of us seem to be getting the whole $100k covered by scholarship and loans, that probably means most of us fit into that category.

Anyway, as nursing students we should also qualify for MedCap loans, which do not take income into account. I was able to lower my interest rate by 3% just by switching loans. Worth a try! https://www.wellsfargo.com/student/undergrad/med_alter/

Another question for everyone, which I should also direct to Oscar - since technically this first year of loans is for our BSN, and we graduate from that in May, are we expected to start paying back 6 mos after May 2010? Or as full-time grad students will we be eligible to postpone some more? This is such a headache!

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As far as I know as long as one is in school be it bachelors, masters or PHD you do not need to pay back ANY loans until 6 months are you leave school. On top of that, many places will allow you to defer if you are going through a big life moment such as marriage, a birth...

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