What state do you live in?
Do you have acceptances to affordable instate choices?
If your state offers state grants for low income students, you might get that too.
Ther has to be more to this story than the OP is telling us.
@lookingforward I find the dataset I linked to be the best tool estimating aid when there are no additional financial details available. It’s not perfect, obviously, and some do better or worse than the averages shown. In this case, it clearly shows that expecting an automatic full ride for low income is definitely not realistic.
I live in Massachusetts; WPI offered me a 5K scholarship, and a merit scholarship worth 114k for 4 years with >28K per year
Forget the scholarship levels. What will it cost for you in loans and income to attend each year? That’s really what you need to know. Did you apply to any UMass?
You can’t go to BU. I suggest you very humbly write a letter to the FA office and explain that you incorrectly assumed you would get enough aid, and would they PLEASE consider refunding your deposit. Tell them that your family cannot afford to lose $650. Tell them that you need to submit a deposit to your affordable option, and that your family really can’t afford two deposits. Do it TODAY. The clock is ticking.
Most BU financial aid notifications came out 5 weeks ago. Why was yours delayed?
Can you afford WPI? COA for first year is just over $67k. If you subtract $5k and $28.5k that leaves $33.5k for first year. Unless the $5k is for study abroad that they have been adding to packages, then it would be $38k. Even with full Pell loan of $6k that still leaves $32k. With a FAFSA EFC of $0 that might be hard for your parents to pay.
Do you have an affordable offer at UMass - either Lowell or Amherst?
@LucasF08, do you see a Pell Grant on any of your packages? If your FAFSA EFC is $0, you should have gotten a ~$5900 Pell Grant.
What are your stats? If your GPA and SAT/ACT are high enough you may qualify for some merit.
Can your parents contribute anything? If not, your budget is the Pell Grant + the ~$5500/year federal student loan. Are there any college’s within commuting distance of your home?
Look at a thread called " I messed up" about a student who was exactly in your situation… couldn’t afford his first choice …but on top of it had NO affordable choice. It’s still ongoing.
What are your stats?
What major or field are you thinking of?
Do you have any savings?
@MYOS1634 OP started a new thread about what happens if you go to a school you can’t pay for.
Are you going to answer my other questions?
You are a Massachusetts resident. Did you apply to UMass Lowell or UMass Dartmouth?
Is there a Massachusetts public college or community no college you can commute to for a year or two?
BU…is not going to be affordable. WPI probably won’t be either. Where are you going to get the money to pay your share at WPI?
With a $0 EFC, you should have gotten a $6000 or so Pell Grant and a $5500 Direct Loan. Were either of those things in your financial aid packages? If not…it’s very possible you did something that needs to be corrected or clarified on your FAFSA form.
And again I ask…what “maximum aid” did you expect from Boston University.