Finacial aid at columbia is based on need. I emailed the columbia admissions director saying that I needed a decision within two weeks as I had a deadline for another school and I recieved a admission response within 1 week. Asking about the status of your application will not influnce your admission decision.
I got 10.5 per yr and I think they only offer up to 12 and I think the scholarships are need based. Columbia will have a higher cost of living than most schools. In comparison to Chicago I think it is almost 4 k more a year.
Check your online profile because they updated mine with the acceptance letter and finacial aid package the same day. I got a letter in the mail from them 4 days after that.
I got 13.5/yr from Penn. I had a 3.7 gpa, 3 years of professional organizing experience and strong essays.
In comparison I got 19/yr from Chicago, 15/yr from WashU and I got into columbia but have not heard about scholarship.
I think I may be headed to uchicago.