collegecraze24

Do you think that there's any chance BC will jump on the ivy new financial aid policy boat in the next few years?

It's killing me. Had I know about this, I definately would have applied to a few more reach schools for the heck of it. But all of the school I've applied and been accepted to so far have increased their tuition!!
Anyone feel the same?

miragemage

I don't really like the idea of a tuition hike every year, but I guess the purpose is it offset inflation. There was an article in the BC Heights (newspaper) which an article that dealt with financial aid. BC cannot match the financial aid policy of the ivy leagues, because it simply doesn't have enough money to do so. Instead, BC is going to stick to its current plan by offering aid to the less fortunate.

scottj

Dear collegecraze24 : At last report, BC's endowment was $1.6 Billion - which happens to be the approximate costs of the ten year reinvestment plan just announced for campus infrastructure. While BC announced these internal upgrades to take that final step into the top echelon of schools in the US once and for all, the Ivy League schools were announcing tuition cut plans for lower income families.

Reddune

Although BC's endowment is very impressive, it's not enough to help to fork the bill. BC is entering the big league which has A LOT of traditionally well endowed universities and colleges. To compete, it has to build build (of course, its competitor is build build build too). Although BC is spending 25 cents of every dollar of tuition it collects on financial aid, it frankly is not enough.
http://www.bc.edu/publications/factb..._fact_book.pdf
(page 71)

I honestly think, however, that students would rather go to a good school they can afford rather than go to a brand spanking, state-of-the-art school and owing a mounting of debt. If I was father Leahy, it would moderate my expansion plan (meaning less fancy buildings), invest in more professors and teaching quality, actively recruit highly motivated students and give them a good financial aid that they can live with. And develops programs to prepare those students for competitive academic fellowships and cutting-edge careers. In the long run we will benefit by crops of talented alumni who would build our reputation from the ground up. And with the generous financial aid they received from their alma mater, they would be motivated to give back to their school. If I was an alumnus who still owed $160k years after I graduated and is forced in to a career in order to pay for my debt instead of one that I genuinely can contribute, I would think twice about donating to BC.

Sure, if we follow my plan, we won't have 50 Nobel laureates hanging around Hillside posing for our college brochure, but we will have a very dedicated and grateful group of alumni who can spread the "gospel" of BC.

pamplemousse25

This is possibly in the wrong thread, but for my BC financial aid status, it says they're still waiting for my 1040 tax return form (I don't file any tax returns). Do I just ignore it?

Reddune

^No, DON'T ignore it. Contact BC and ask what's up. I had a missing file last year and I ignored it for most of the semester because I didn't think it was essential. Big mistake! I didn't get my financial aid cleared up until late August. It was a big pain!

pamplemousse25

Oh, okay, thanks. I tried calling right after I read your message, but forgot about the time-zone difference (west coast vs east coast). I'll try again tomorrow. Hopefully all will work out.

miragemage

I had the same issue last year. I was told to just write a letter explained to BC why you dont have the materials submitted. In this case, tell them that you were not required to send it in.

collegecraze24

Thanks for the imput everyone. I absolutely love the school, but it's a bitttt up there in cost. Personally, I second Reddune's plan. I had completely forgotten the renovations even though I just visited.