My daughter is currently a sophomore at BU and received merit aid of 10k/year based on the fact that she is a strong student, but not A+. She was a 3.68 GPA unweighted with 6 AP's and had about 2080 on SAT. Her ECs included strong leadership roles and a bunch of music related stuff (musicals, a cappella, all state etc.). My husband and I both have good jobs, but we're not ultra rich, so we were above obvious need, but in the ballpark for Dean's scholarship. If you're set on BU but don't get merit aid offer out of the chute, your son/daughter should write an appeal letter. My daughter wrote a letter herself explaining what she had done since the application deadline and they emailed by 2 days before May 1st to tell her she got it, so she suddenly was absolutely sure about BU and accepted on 4/29/09.
Based on friends' experiences and my own, good academic qualities coupled with some (but not necessarily super super high) need GENERALLY will get you good aid from BU. Of course, the standards do differ from one situation to the next. When you look at need and academics on their chart, it's usually right though. You do have to remember there is the subjective qualitative element to an application too. If BU wants you more, they will give you more aid. That's based on the whole package.
It's kind of a hit or miss situation here. I really think the academic weight benefits people more than not though.
BU gives merit aid. You have to fill out the FAFSA, etc in order to receive it. And the aid is guaranteed for 4 years, so you don't have to worry about it.
There will be a lot of people that will tell you xyz school only gives need based, or abc school doesn't award merit. Many times their child did not receive any aid, b/c their academics weren't strong enough. They did good enough to get accepted, but weren't at the top of the applicant pile. Just ignore them - every situation is unique.
You don't have to fill out the FAFSA to receive merit awards. Some merit awards require it, but not all. I also don't think the aid is necessarily guaranteed for 4 years....a student must maintain a certain GPA to keep the merit award.
My S applied to BU, got accepted (didn't go) and received a Presidential Scholarship of $10,000 per year. And this is not a need-based award. The above post is flat out wrong about merit aid being based on need. The site guidelines on GPA and SAT scores to be considered for scholarships is accurate for awards.
Hi, I'm a student from Russia, I'm graduating in 2013 and after that I'd like to enroll on the Teaching English as a Second Language program. What should I do to get financial aid? Do I have to pass TOEFL or write an essay?
