Columbia Funding?

[derbydan]

Hi Grad Cafe!

So what do you think...

I was accepted to Columbia and at this point (other than a wait list at my top school) it is my only acceptance. I am 70% sure I should reapply to schools next year because the tuition is 50k a year without funding (which I did not get). I'm trying though to figure out a solution because it seems where there is a will, there is a way! I am not eligible for need-base financial aid and I could partially afford the tuition because I've worked for some years since college; I just really believe, with so many fully funded MFAs, one should not spend so much on the experience. Medical School is different, of course, because the funded route doesn't exist. Well, any ideas about how to fund part of my tuition at Columbia?

Or there's always write a lot this year and reapply with a better portfolio...

Thanks for any advice you have!

[cathaea]

Personally, I don't think that any school--even Columbia!--is worth paying full tuition. Professional programs like med school, law, etc. are different because the job prospects are higher and they aren't usually funded anyway, but as you said, with so many MFA programs that are fully-funded, I would save the money and re-apply to different schools next year. But that's just my two cents!

[delight]

I was accepted to Columbia too; my solution was to desperately seek donations from family / extended family members; this might not help your case. You can also negotiate. I didn't receive funding at first, so I sent a letter to the department detailing my case - how I received generous funding elsewhere and I didn't see how I could make it at Columbia, living in New York City, without funding - and they applied tuition credit to my account. Private schools can be negotiated with better than public ones.

[Eclectic4]

I was accepted to Columbia too; my solution was to desperately seek donations from family / extended family members; this might not help your case. You can also negotiate. I didn't receive funding at first, so I sent a letter to the department detailing my case - how I received generous funding elsewhere and I didn't see how I could make it at Columbia, living in New York City, without funding - and they applied tuition credit to my account. Private schools can be negotiated with better than public ones.

Wow, this sounds great. You sent a letter to Columbia and received some tuition? Which department if you don't mind me asking?