farthistory

Yes, I was "invited" to submit a financial aid request letter too, which I did. When I called to confirm that they received it, the conversation went something like this: Me: "Hi, I'm wondering if you received my request for financial aid." Them: "Yes, we received it." Me: "So how does this work - when will I find out if I have funding, and when should I accept to the university?" Them: "Oh you haven't accepted yet?" Me: "Well I'm waiting to find out about funding." Them: "Oh, so your acceptance depends on funding?" (sounding surprised!?) Me: "Um... well, yes." Them: "Oh. Well, yes you should definitely accept your offer." Me: "Oh. So I should accept my offer even without knowing about funding? Them: "Yes." Me: "What if I'm not offered funding after I accept?" Them: "You can always just cancel after accepting." WHAT!? Does this sound fishy to anyone else? I just can't believe this is *actually* their process. But this was the program officer of the department, who is in charge of department funding, so I guess that's their policy. Could someone edify me on if this is kosher? Anyone familiar with the ways of CUNY out there?

What is the "crazy funding situation" I'm a little confused by their funding situation. They told me to accept admittance first, THEN they would tell me what my funding is - that doesn't sound right... Anyone else know something about this?

It seemed like a regular state university - lots of average seeming college undergrads in sports wear and book bags - the graduate students in the department I applied to seemed older, more mature, and frankly more interesting. I heard the campus is dead on the weekends because it's mainly a commuter school.

I live near the Nostrand Stop in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn - further East than than the Flatbush stop. With one quick change over at the Jamaica stop, it's 1.5 hours, however I don't know if it's do-able for an every day commute.

Has anyone received their rejection letter from Columbia? I can't believe they still haven't sent them out. I haven't received anything yet, though at this point I'm certain it's a no, but come on! Can't they just let us know!? I called today and the "person responsible for AH admissions" was out...

hey i'm curious too. i live in brooklyn, and i did visit the campus. from brooklyn it took about 1 1/2 hours on the lirr. i found the lirr *very* convenient. there is a station near my house in brooklyn, and it was nice to see that the train literally drops you on the stony brook campus. i read online and heard from faculty and students on my visit that a lot of people commute, or leave on the weekends. i was even considering keeping my place in brooklyn, and staying on campus on the week days and coming back to brooklyn on the weekends. i thought the look of the campus was ok. not amazing, not terrible. its a state university which means it looks like a stereotype of a university from movies. big sports fields, big brick buildings. it was fine. some of the facilities are really fancy and modern and nice, and i thought that was impressive. i thought it seemed pretty nice overall - not the most beautiful place ever by any stretch of the imagination - but not oppressive or horrible either. i'm curious to learn more about the village and getting around. if you live on campus can't you walk to the village and to the store and stuff - do you really need a car - isn't a bike enough?

For those of you who have gotten in to programs - if it's not too personal - I was wondering what kind of fellowship/ tuition remission offers you have gotten. You don't have to say what school or anything, just to give me an idea... I got offered full tuition remission + $15,500 for 4 years, but that seems kind of low. Anyone else get such offers that I could compare this to? Any suggestions on external funding sources/ scholarships to apply for?

Has anyone gotten rejection letters from Columbia yet?

Don't you kind of feel like if Columbia hasn't contact us yet, it's a rejection? I feel like they would have already called/ emailed acceptees in late Feb., and now they're just bureaucratically organizing the mass mailing of rejects. I'm not at all informed on this matter, just speaking from neurotic intuition... anyone who is knowledgeable on this - and/ or who already got in out there? what do you think?

Where else did you apply? Just curious! I wonder how many acceptances Stony Brook gave out of how many applicants.

I'm depressed that I did not get into CUNY - got my meager tiny envelope today. Not sure why - I have a MA, perfect grades, good GRE, met with faculty - they seemed positive... The only thing I can think of is I submitted one week after the Financial Aid deadline, but I didn't even get in at all, even without financial aid. Anyone know how many got in out of how many applicants? I got wait listed for the Visual Studies Program at Rochester, and I got in with funding to SUNY Stony brook, but it was my last choice. Anyone have any thoughts on the reputation of Stony Brook? Still waiting for Columbia, but I seriously doubt I got in. I feel like if I can't even get into to CUNY, there's no way I'll get into Columbia. I just want to know either way with Columbia so I can make a decision. When is Columbia going post decisions!?!?