Opt4theBest

I will be declining NYU today or tomorrow. I've decided to commit to the University of Michigan. I truly hope one of you gets my spot and I wish you all the very best. I'll still linger around on this thread because you all have been very supportive and kind during this process.

I was surprised it took 10 days too! I got a decent amount of money and am making the 9 hour drive next week to check out the campus!

I've decided to decline NYU's offer and accept Columbia's

Why solely the Ivy League?

Just to update all. My appeal has been granted and as a result I am awarded $3K extra.

Thank you KmmAlaska! This really helps. I think I'll mail my check in either today or early next week.

@SW2016 Hey there! I was accepted into the advanced standing program and was offered $12,000 for the year. I appealed and they said I would hear back tomorrow, actually, so I'll update then if they offer me more. My undergrad GPA was a 3.5 and I'm fresh out of undergrad. I'm 22 and have very little experience yet a lot of experience for my age. I've presented my own work at a few national research conferences, taught English to refugees, completed a one year internship with an LGBTQ advocacy organization, and currently work with a foster care agency. I don't have much experience overall, but I think I have quite a bit for my age. I would say they look at your GPA and the overall strength of your application. I don't see why GPA would = more money. I think each part of the application holds weight. 

Hi Opt4theBest, congrats on your acceptance by the way!  I submitted my Intent to Enroll today and I also saw that they only accept mailed deposits, so I stuck mine in the mail today.  Mine should arrive in less than one week, which won't be a problem for the April deadline, and I'm from Alaska.  Hope that helps.  

Finally, I got into Columbia's 2 yr program! Yahoo! 

No problem! Sorry - I'm just seeing this now. The regular loans have a significantly reduced interest rate compared to the Grad Plus Loans too. I forgot to mention that! 

Thank you so much Bschaefer. Yes, I am qualified for regular loans. 

@ft-grad2016 I understand where you're coming from but I also think it is important for programs to realize that the admissions office and financial aid staff are often the first face of the institution students come in contact with. I think social work is full of lessons but I don't believe my experience with admissions was a lesson in social work but only my experience in visiting. Like I said my visit with the field learning faculty was great. Pros and cons to the visit just like any other. Ultimately it's about the program but for me both programs are great. It could be the welcoming feeling that makes the difference. 

I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just received my acceptance email for the two year program at NYU!!!! 
Thanks to everyone for your support throughout the waiting, and good luck to all who are waiting still!

Thank you tudor!

I'll message you right now with some tips and advice for your interview. 

Just got my decision letter (at 7.48pm) and I am in!!! For those who are still waiting, do not loose hope. Your letters are coming.

I'm definitely leaning toward Michigan right now. I should hear back regarding the GSSA position within 2 weeks, so then I'll know for sure.

@alyssak112 @tudor3x8
Hey guys, 
What you need to do is email silver.financialaid@nyu.edu and say that you would like to appeal for more scholarship money. They will reply to you with an appeal form and you'll fill that out and submit it. The appeal form they send you is a link, so it takes no more than 5-10 minutes. 

Thank you FT-Grad2016. You're so kind. I will remain positive. However, to be honest, at this point I only want to hear the decisions so that I can move on and only focus on the school where I have been admitted.

They estimate 6-7 weeks' processing time, so you should be hearing back soon!  I received an email first and then the portal was updated, but it sounds like not everyone saw an update on the portal.  If you call the school, they can give you your application status over the phone as well.
For those of you who have been accepted, how long did it take between receiving your acceptance email and receiving scholarship information by mail?

I completely understand the feeling. I already accepted the NYU offer as it was my first choice. I practically gave up on waiting for Fordham. The horrendous part is my application should have been completed the first week of February. However, they didn't upload my final document until 2 weeks after, and I only got the "your application is complete" email last week. So by the time Fordham renders any decision it will probably be the middle of March or early April! 
Since I already accepted NYU it would be very hard for me to change my mind (and lose the deposit!) to switch to Fordham. I like both programs... but unless Fordham offered me 20K+ a year scholarship (renewable) and a GA position it would not be worth it to me. 

Congrats ! I'm so happy for you  when did you receive the email?

You should qualify to take out regular loans before the graduate Plus loans. At least I had that choice. I would check to see what is available and go from there. Otherwise, I would also see if there are funding opportunities in your dept. or other depts. because you will rack up immense debt living in the Bronx/NYC Lincoln center area (Sorry I can't remember which campus houses which). 

Hi! Sorry about the late update. I received an email about updated app status, and I was able to check my decision status in the portal. And yes, I am an intl student. I expect to have no financial aid/grant from columbia..

Sorry, it's taken me a while to respond! They send out waves of acceptances (what AMcCoy is saying) so hopefully the first was Feb 15th, and then the next week and so on. From what I understand they start from the pool of those that applied during the normal application period and then they move on to later apps (extended deadline), but I'm not positive about that! Good luck!!