Columbia University ETP 2008

kevkev1986 · Feb 11, 2008

kevkev1986, did you receive your actual financial aid package yet from oscar via mail or email? If you haven't, maybe you should wait and see? I recently received mine and got the $20K in scholarships (the other $10K will come in the MSN portion). Good luck to you!

This was via email. I'll still wait and see, though, before I make the decision. I'll probably wait until sometime early March until I hear from Yale and UCSF. :)

Stef82 · Feb 11, 2008

Yikes Sorry to hear about the bad experiences you guys have been having with the financial aid office. I can't believe Oscar said they don't offer scholarships! I went to one of the info sessions last year and they made it clear that pretty much everyone would be getting that 30,000 scholarship. Hmm.

Well, another day of waiting for the mail for me. It would be nice to get my admission/rejection letter today. One can only hope... :yawn: I'm worn out from all the stressing out I did last week.

Asherah, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Well, another day of waiting for the mail for me. It would be nice to get my admission/rejection letter today. One can only hope... I'm worn out from all the stressing out I did last week.

You and me both, girl. I've already decided I'm taking a late lunch to drive home from work and check the stupid mail.

Sheesh! :rolleyes:

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Oscar is... Oscar. I don't really know how else to explain it. One of the main reasons I chose not to continue with the program is that the Neonatal track, which I was in, is ONLY offered part-time, and you have to take the summer and fall after passing the NCLEX off of school for work experience. This invalidates the financial aid agreement, thus screwing all NNP students out of the majority of the scholarship money we were promised. Oscar basically could not have cared less when I met with him. His answer was basically "Yep, that's how it is." Let me restate: The requirements of the program as offered invalidate the school's own financial aid policies. It's not like the school didn't know its own policies and requirements when the financial aid offer was made and it's not like they didn't know what track we were in when it was offered. We were LIED to. Flat out.

As for the "we don't offer scholarships" thing... I don't know what to say. Maybe one of Oscar's multiple personalities was in charge that day. You may not end up GETTING your scholarship, but as far as I know they offer them, unless someone drained the endowment or something in the last 18 months.

l-styx · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks Kevin!

That was exactly what I was looking for. It sounds tough, but getting out early on Fridays might make it more tolerable ;-)

Congrats on nearing the end of your first year!

Now for another question (for anyone with insight)-- what exactly is the tuition for the first year? I see the quote of ~$90k on the website, but that includes living expenses too. I'm completely confused and overwhelmed by all the intricacies of the fin.aid system and the apparently inept administration.

I want to understand exactly what I'm getting myself into financially....

PsychMaven · Feb 11, 2008

So I feel very disappointed with the way the Financial Aid Office at the Columbia SON is working.
I'm sure all of us are aware that attending a highly regarded educational institution such as Columbia is not going to be anywhere cheap. Before I applied to this program, I spent a good hour talking on the phone with the director of the financial aid regarding financial assistance as an incoming ETP student.
It is also stated on the FAQ part of the admissions page:
Is financial aid available?
Absolutely! The School of Nursing strives to provide students with sufficient resources to meet their needs and to distribute funds to eligible students in an equitable manner. Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities are available.
However, things aren't quite working that way. I emailed the very same person late last week to confirm that things are the same as he promised before I decided to apply for this program. I just now received the answer to my questions; it was a one, short sentence that totally showed his carelessness about these prospective students:
Hi, Sorry we do not offer scholarships.
Oh well ... I know Yale is sending out decision letters this week, along with the financial aid offers that they may have to offer me. I'm just hoping for the best.
Good luck, everybody!

I really don't understand him. Did you fill out your fafsa? Any financial aid package? Even without the scholarship, they should have emailed (or mailed regularly maybe) a package telling you how much things will cost and what you need to take out in private loans...it would be an email with a whole bunch of attachments. I hope that there was just some mix-up because that's plain ridiculous. Good luck!

PsychMaven · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks Kevin!
That was exactly what I was looking for. It sounds tough, but getting out early on Fridays might make it more tolerable ;-)
Congrats on nearing the end of your first year!
Now for another question (for anyone with insight)-- what exactly is the tuition for the first year? I see the quote of ~$90k on the website, but that includes living expenses too. I'm completely confused and overwhelmed by all the intricacies of the fin.aid system and the apparently inept administration.
I want to understand exactly what I'm getting myself into financially....

Hey, this is the cost outline for the first year...scary, but about 25K is projected for room/board and personal costs so it's not as bad as it seems at first glance. The 30K scholarship allows 20K to be used the first year, if it is offered, making things slightly more reasonable...mostly I just try not to think about it and remember that I am paying for what would otherwise take four years to complete in just one so it's bound to be more expensive. Plus, how often do you get accepted to Columbia?!

TUITION:

$64,746

ROOM/BOARD

21,412

TRANSP:

1,000

HEALTH FEE:

1,200

MEDICAL INSURANCE:

3,000

PERSONAL:

4,271

BOOKS:

1,800

STUDENT FEES

510

COST OF EDUCATION:

$97,939

Asherah, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Well alas I am in the elite 30% who did not get accepted...I guess my wild ride of anticipation regarding Columbia is over, but congrats to all those who are accepted and choose to take on the challenge! I hope you all enjoy NYC and what it has to offer...and give Oscar hell if he jerks you around!

Stef82 · Feb 12, 2008

Hey guys! I'm on the waitlist! I'm pretty happy about that

Anyone else have this experience now or in previous years???

LovetoTravel2001 · Feb 12, 2008

Hey guys, I don't know what's going on with financial aid, but I got an email today with my award letter and got the $30k scholarship so they definitely do still give it out... any one know when we find out more about housing?

smit1989 · Feb 12, 2008

I haven't received an email about financial aid...is anyone else in my boat? I filled out the FAFSA on time

jbazoola · Feb 12, 2008

I haven't received an email about financial aid...is anyone else in my boat? I filled out the FAFSA on time

yup me too. filled out the fafsa no problem. I think it will probably be staggered as far as when we get this stuff. i'm going to go ahead and not worry about it for now.