So I have the GI bill so I didn’t apply for need based aid anywhere. I got 15k from Chicago and withdrew from NYU before an aid offer. I actually got held at Columbia and withdrew, but other people around my numbers got that half scholarship.
A lot of high number people got held and asked to submit a letter of continued interest. I don’t know why, but I didn’t submit one because I had already been accepted to a couple schools i strictly preferred over Columbia.
In the interview I also admitted never having been to New York and talked about my plans for public interest. God only knows what actually did it.