Calling ALL Admitted CBS Folks - Class of 2018

Hi guys!! Looking forward to meeting you all next year!!
I have a few questions regarding the to-do list on the admitted student website. I've noticed that some items on the to-do list (honors code, health insurance, etc.) have deadline of July/August 2015. Is it just me or do you guys have the same? Hmm Not sure if we will get new links for those items later or should I ignore the deadline and still use the current links.

Hey, I don't have anything for health insurance or honor code, so not sure about those, but all of mine have deadlines in 2016.

I have that too, I just assumed that they were from last year.

Ya I just don't think they are ready yet for 2018 grads for all the activities.

Hello, folks. Not admitted yet, but thought this is a better forum for this. A few questions to the admitted international folks:

0. Any of you planning to borrow in the US to finance your MBA?

1. AFAIK, Columbia does not have any offerings that allow internationals to borrow without a US co-signer. How do you plan to get around this issue?

2. Is the ED still binding if (god forbid) you cannot finance your MBA on your own?

Seriously considering going to NYC in December to catch the reception, visit campus and start settling in the idea that I'll be living in Manhattan for the next two years.

Airline tickets are not crazy expensive and AirBnB could help me find cheap stays. We'll see!

1. Prodigy Finance allows you to borrow with a US co-signer.
2. Depends on what you mean by "binding" -- you are still bound in the sense that you committed to attending the school regardless of your financial status but AFAIK, there are no actual repercussions to refusing acceptance or pulling out of enrollment i.e. Columbia is not going to sue you over this.

You should make the trip.. It's early so the amount of admits will probably be relatively low, but there will certainly be a number of us and it should be a good time.

I'll make a serious effort!

Wish I could make it. Unfortunately I will be travelling starting Dec 5th, hope you all have a great time!

Wouldn't the J-term applicants be at this reception? I would assume there would be many more people then?

Does anyone know where/when we're able to apply for financial aid through CBS?

It's not until like March that all that is due, I believe. I'm probably going private loans, though.

Don't private loans all have interest rates? Does CBS not provide need based financial aid? Wouldn't you rather get free money before turning to loans that you need to pay back plus interest?

Yes - they give need based to roughly half the students but the amounts are usually pretty small. I'll absolutely apply for them (is due March 1st) but most of my education (and most of my peers at CBS) will be funded through loans. After I figure out that award is (they send your financial aid package around april) I'll likely forego their loans/federal loans (which have pretty high interest rates) and go private loans instead (which will likely be lower interest rates).

Don't private loans all have interest rates? Does CBS not provide need based financial aid? Wouldn't you rather get free money before turning to loans that you need to pay back plus interest?[/quote]
Yes - they give need based to roughly half the students but the amounts are usually pretty small. I'll absolutely apply for them (is due March 1st) but most of my education (and most of my peers at CBS) will be funded through loans. After I figure out that award is (they send your financial aid package around april) I'll likely forego their loans/federal loans (which have pretty high interest rates) and go private loans instead (which will likely be lower interest rates).[/quote]

Thanks for the info! Is there a place on the CBS site to file a FAFSA?

To all admitted folks (especially J-Term folks):

-Do you have a background check as a thing on your to-do list? I only see submitting official transcripts and GMAT scores.
-Was a background check/verification of employment etc. stated anywhere on your acceptance letter?

If you don't mind, how did you get everything sorted out?

I was accepted on 11/23 and as you can imagine I have been eagerly awaiting word on access to the admitted students website. I know it's a holiday week, so I'm not too worried, but it would be nice to know if there is anything else I need to do to get access/login info.

Thank you!

I was also admitted in 11/23 and haven't heard anything, so my guess is exactly what you suspect - it's because it's a holiday week.