Got Taken Off Columbia's Waitlist...But

[KAMALAGRAD]

So here's the thing, I just got taken off the waitlist for Columbia University graduate school, my dream school. However, there are two big problems I am confronted with.

1. The school requires a $1,000 upfront payment within 15 days (so by May 20). Right now I essentially have pocket change in my bank account. I do not mind going into debt for graduate school as I know pretty much anyone who goes to graduate school incurs some debt. However, I have no idea how I can get $1,000 in cash to give them. Although i obviously have some success in academia when it comes to the money side of things I am pretty inexperienced.

I am tempted just to go on Amazon and start selling whatever of mine that I can. However, I am hoping there is some easier way and one that resembles less of a desperate frenzy of a drug addict.

2. Columbia University was not the only school I applied to. I also was accepted to some other school including the University of Southern California. USC required me to sign an intent to enroll form about a week ago. From what I have been told by other graduate students/prospective graduate students, withdrawing an intent to enroll can be done, but it is frowned upon. Also, though USC did not require a commitment deposit, I am not sure if they will try to bill me in some other fashion now that they have received my intent to enroll form. Not, to mention i feel like a jerk after telling USC that I would go, but Columbia is my dream school and I am really surprised I actually made it in.

So there's my pickle. Anyone have any advice or tips to help?

[Jae B.]

Congratulations on Columbia, and good luck! I was hoping you'd get off the wait list!

I was stumped about the $1,000 fee, too...unfortunately, that's all I've got! The idea of zapping that from my savings account hurt, bad. If I'd planned to accept, I would have tried to talk Columbia into applying part of my scholarship to cover the fee for me. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done. Definitely write to admissions and financial aid now, so they can talk to you over the next few days. (I e-mailed them during a busy time, and two people wrote back to me within the two following days.) I'm sure they must have experience with other people having this problem with their epic $1,000 fee.

About USC: if you don't plan to apply for a PhD at USC or something, and Columbia really is your dream school, I don't think canceling USC now would hurt you as much as missing out on this opportunity with Columbia. That said, I don't know the actual consequences. Can you feel out an answer from someone in the administration?

Again, congratulations!

Edited May 6, 2010 by Jae B.

[bad breath]

my general advice, being a semi-seasoned graduate student: you gotta look out for number one. you're going to get screwed many times over by the machinations of academia, be they via bureaucratic, personal, professional, or whatever other else means. if you got into columbia (congrats!) and that's where you wanna be, don't think twice about telling USC you've changed your mind. guaranteed there are a dozen people ready to take your spot. again, kudos!

what does "frowned upon" mean? that you'll be inconveniencing some administrative personnel? or that they're going to bill you? i'd get that clarified first. because if it's the former, i really would not worry about it that much.

[2400]

I agree with Jae B -- definitely explain your financial situation and see if there is anything they can do to help. I believe some schools can waive certain fees in cases of financial hardship. Just ask what options might be available.

Also...I just wanted to tell you that I withdrew from an MA program on extremely short notice (for a legitimate reason). It may have inconvenienced the administrative staff...but I am sure they have long forgotten me by now. This was several years ago and I have never felt frowned upon. I'm not encouraging breaking your agreement to enroll, but personally, I feel that since its only been a week since you signed the form, it shouldn't be a big enough deal that you should compromise your dream of attending Columbia. Also...I used to work in the administrative office at a university, and my department accounted for a certain amount of confirmed MA students changing plans and not attending.

[nescafe]

As another seasoned grad student, I have to go with consensus here and say that you cannot sacrifice your dream school because USC might "frown" on you. Chances are that they have a wait-list of their own and will fill your spot without any trouble- and while admins might "frown" on reversals like this, everyone understands that students have to guard their own best interests... schools do the same and don't apologize for it!

As for the $1000, I would go either a private loan at your bank, or (shudders) a credit card loan if you need cash this quick. Bear in mind, though, that both options come with steep interest rates (usually about equivalent), and once the school year starts you will want to pay the loan back via either your Assistantship or Student Loans (which will carry a much lower rate) right away. I did this with some expenses incurred during the application process- and while it is less than ideal to shift money around like this, it will get the doposit paid.

But it is also very worth the trouble to chek and see if the school will advance the fees... couldn't hurt to ask.

And congrats!

[Yang]

You can't pay the $1000 on a credit card?

[KAMALAGRAD]

Congratulations on Columbia, and good luck! I was hoping you'd get off the wait list!

I was stumped about the $1,000 fee, too...unfortunately, that's all I've got! The idea of zapping that from my savings account hurt, bad. If I'd planned to accept, I would have tried to talk Columbia into applying part of my scholarship to cover the fee for me. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done. Definitely write to admissions and financial aid now, so they can talk to you over the next few days. (I e-mailed them during a busy time, and two people wrote back to me within the two following days.) I'm sure they must have experience with other people having this problem with their epic $1,000 fee.

About USC: if you don't plan to apply for a PhD at USC or something, and Columbia really is your dream school, I don't think canceling USC now would hurt you as much as missing out on this opportunity with Columbia. That said, I don't know the actual consequences. Can you feel out an answer from someone in the administration?

Again, congratulations!

Thanks for the replies so far everyone! I am still trying to figure out exactly what I will do on Monday when I have enough free time to hopefully get this thing solved. Anyway, some of you asked some questios so I'll address them below.

Hey Jae B.,

Thanks for the congrats and nice to see that you have decided on Berkeley. It is a great program and looks like they gave you a nice package!

Anyway, yes I will definitely try calling the financial aid office on Monday so hopefully they can help me out.

I can try to feel out an answer from USC, but not sure how much info I can get. I guess it is time to put those investigative skills to use lol. At any rate

if I go to Columbia then I plan on staying on the East Coast, so no worries about this affecting a hypothetical USC PhD.

For Bad Breath,

By "frowned upon" what I have heard is that its just inconveniencing administrative personnel so hopefully it ends there. I applied for financial aid a while back, but they have not distributed anything to me yet, so hopefully I can squash everything with them rather than being affected some way financially.

For Yang,

This is one possibility I will have to look into, if Columbia cannot help me out a better way.

Anyways, thanks again for everyone's feedback and I'll be sure to post an update.

[KAMALAGRAD]

I hate to double post, but I just wanted to post a quick update as I said I would (it may also be helpful for those who find themselves in a similar pickle). I e-mailed the Financial Aid Office and they said that they would allow it to be split up in installments of $500, which seems a lot more doable. They also advised to contact their Financial Planning Office after I inquired about possible waivers or loans to cover the payment. So, I'm still kind of on shaky ground, but things are definitely looking up!

[KAMALAGRAD]

Just wanted to post a quick update about my situation. One of my relatives actually helped me out with the $1,000 charge so I am all set there. I also talked to a USC admissions representative and was just told to e-mail the school with a written request to decline. I am still waiting for final confirmation, but I should be all set. I'm really looking forward to moving to NYC in August!

[Jae B.]

Congratulations! Very cool that it's all working out.