Do I qualify for a full-ride

thumper1
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:48:20 +0000

unless it’s one of those schools like BU that considers more then just need when awarding supposedly need based aid



Please clarify this. BU considers need when awarding many of its MERIT aid awards…but what exactly do you mean that they consider “more than just need” when awarding need based aid.

BU does not…and never has guaranteed to meet full need…but then MOST universities do NOT guarantee to meet full need.

Re: the OP…your GPA right now is smack in the middle of those for the school in which you hope to enroll. Typically, merit aid awards are given to students who are well above that mark…the top students enrolling for that school year.

Re: need based aid…unless the school meets full need, you will likely find yourself with a gap between what the school costs and financial aid plus family contribution. And you also may find that some of your financial aid comes in the form of loans and work study which are not grants.

You need to look carefully at the Common Data Set and information regarding the awarding of financial aid at this school. Do they guarantee to meet full need? If so, that is one thing. If not, you need to realize that the averages of financial aid awards are just that…averages. Your award could exceed that average or fall well below that amount.

In any event…if your EFC is $0, you would qualify for the maximum federal aid, but typically that is only a fraction of the total cost of attendance at a four year residential college.

Folks here might be able to give you more specific information if you are willing to give the name of the college.