FAFSA Questions - 2nd Degree, Certificate, ??? - Hunter College & Columbia Univ.

[eedoctor]

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Hello,

I'm applying to post bacc pre med programs at CUNY - City College, and CUNY - Hunter College, and Columbia Univ.

I only need to take 1 year of Organic Chemisty and Biology.

I need financial aid - Stafford Loans.


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In regards to Admission, do I:

Hunter - apply as Transfer (2nd degree) student, or as Non-Degree student

City College - apply as Transfer (2nd degree) student, or as Non-Degree student

Columbia - apply for Post-Bacc certificate program or Continuing Education program

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In regards to FAFSA, do I:

What degree or certificate will the student be working on during 2006 - 2007 (question 23)?

A.) 2nd Bachelor's degree
B.) Certificate/diploma for less than 2 yr. program
C.) Certificate/diploma for at least 2 yr. program
D.) Graduate/professional degree
E.) Other/undecided

What will be the student's grade level when he/she begins the 2006-2007 school year (question 24)?

A.) 5th yr./ other undergraduate
B.) 1st yr. graduate/professional
C.) Continuing graduate/professional or beyond

 

[Shawny]

I Have The Exact Questions, Please Help!!

 

[HippocratesX]

Your best reliable source of information on financial aid topics is most likely going to be from the particular schoo's Financial Aid office. Though, I think as a non-degree student, you cannot get federal loans. You have to take out private loans to pay for tuition, unless you're some sort of degree-seeking applicant. And also, there is a limit to how much (loans) you can borrow as an undergraduate, so if you have already surpassed that in your first bachelors degree, then they won't give them to you now. So it all depends on your particular case. I would go see an adviser and see what they say.

 

[HippocratesX]

Your best reliable source of information on financial aid topics is most likely going to be from the particular schoo's Financial Aid office. Though, I think as a non-degree student, you cannot get federal loans. You have to take out private loans to pay for tuition, unless you're some sort of degree-seeking applicant. And also, there is a limit to how much (loans) you can borrow as an undergraduate, so if you have already surpassed that in your first bachelors degree, then they won't give them to you now. So it all depends on your particular case. I would go see an adviser and see what they say.

 

[eedoctor]

I forgot that I posted this:


The answer goes as follows:

IN ORDER to be eligible for federal financial aid (STAFFORD subsidized and unsubsidized), you must be a DEGREE-SEEKING student.

That is, you CANNOT be a non-degree student.


I went to HUNTER COLLEGE, and I applied as a 2nd Degree Transfer student. This allowed me to be eligible for federal aid.

Other people applied as a non-degree student, and thus, are not eligible for financial aid.

Therefore, FOR HUNTER COLLEGE, the answer my above question would be:

A.) 2nd Bachelor's degree

A.) 5th yr./ other undergraduate



Also, there is a limit to the amount of Federal loan that you can receive.
Click here for an explanation:

http://www.salliemae.com/get_studen...nt_loan/federal_student_loans/stafford_loans/

 

[oneandonlylo]

I'm at Columbia and while I have not yet applied for a loan, I am pretty sure that we were told that there is limited funding available via stafford loans -- 5000$ a year I think. I'm pretty sure we count as non-degree students, however I would agree with the suggestion to contact financial aid

 

[eedoctor]

$10,500 per year (2 semesters) for an undergraduate independent student is the limit for (unsubsidized + subsidized) Stafford loans.

The program is very flexible, friendly, and professional (and expensive) at Columbia. After being accepted, I was simply told to speak with a financial aid advisor and make sure that my status is a degree-seeking student (and thus, be eligible for federal aid).

However, $10,500 is a small fraction of the tuition bill at Columbia. If your parents aren't footing the bill, you'll have to seek private loans (e.g. Access Group).

If you don't have the cash flow for Columbia, seek a research assistant position somewhere in the university, and then you can take classes for FREE!!! (although there is a limit of credits per semester).

Seriously, what's up with private schools in the U.S? I mean, even Oxford and Cambridge University are public schools. ZOINKS!!!!




If you decide to go to Hunter, pls read my post here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=359175






After reading my first post, the answers to my questions would be:



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In regards to Admission, do I:

Hunter - apply as Transfer (2nd degree) student, or as Non-Degree student

ANSWER: Transfer (2nd degree) student

City College - apply as Transfer (2nd degree) student, or as Non-Degree student

ANSWER: Transfer (2nd degree) student

Columbia - apply for Post-Bacc certificate program or Continuing Education program

ANSWER: Post-Bacc certificate program (Although I only need Bio and Orgo, Columbia will accept my previous classes towards its certificate program; Talk with financial aid about securing Federal Aid)


*****************************

In regards to FAFSA, do I:

What degree or certificate will the student be working on during 2006 - 2007 (question 23)?

A.) 2nd Bachelor's degree
B.) Certificate/diploma for less than 2 yr. program
C.) Certificate/diploma for at least 2 yr. program
D.) Graduate/professional degree
E.) Other/undecided


ANSWER: 2nd Bachelor's degree (for CUNY schools; 99% sure that Columbia wants this, but check)

What will be the student's grade level when he/she begins the 2006-2007 school year (question 24)?

A.) 5th yr./ other undergraduate
B.) 1st yr. graduate/professional
C.) Continuing graduate/professional or beyond

ANSWER: 5th yr./ other undergraduate (for CUNY schools; 99% sure that Columbia wants this, but check)



YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR FAFSA AFTER YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED!!!!!!

Speak with Financial Aid at the school of your choice. However, you must be a DEGREE-SEEKING Student to recieve Federal Aid (NO EXCEPTIONS). Good luck!