Help FGLI Barnard Student of Color Pay for Tuition

Hi everyone! My close friend is a Black, first-generation rising sophomore at Barnard, who, because of a lapse of communication from the financial aid office, has an outstanding bill that is far above what she can afford ($21,000). At Barnard, she's been pursuing neuroscience and also pre-med. She and her family were very excited about this opportunity and what it could mean for them. She is involved in the arts and hopes to join the EMS at her college. She lives in Queens, in a low-income household, in which her parents rent. With the increase in tuition for this coming year, they wouldn’t be able to afford their housing. Her parents have helped her with the situation by filling out forms and contacting the financial aid department, however, they are still stuck in this predicament. Their appeals thus far have not been successful, and with the school year right around the corner, she is unsure of what to do.

Barnard has billed her family $21,000 because they did not receive tuition remission for this past spring semester from her dad’s job as an affiliate of Columbia ($10,000). She attended Barnard because private college is too expensive, and it was the most affordable option for her, but now that remission did not come through, it is no longer affordable. She really believed this was the best, and most affordable, option. She is stuck between a rock and a hard place and does not qualify for many loans based on her family's low income, and it is too late for her to transfer to another school to get the financial aid that would cover her needs. Her family did not receive a bill last semester, only credit, and now her dad’s job is refusing to award the remission benefit because the semester has passed. Now, the fall bill has been released and the family contribution is roughly $12,000, making a total of $32,000 due as family contribution for the Fall 2021 semester. Her family is unable to pay this amount, and they would have to take out a loan of $10,000 to $20,000 dollars, so the only option that exists right now for her seems to be withdrawal. The tuition is due August 6th, 2021.

Any contribution would be greatly appreciated!