<p>I’m a high school junior who is interested in BU</p>
<li><p>What are my chances of getting in? I have a 3.1 GPA uw and a 4.1 weighted, but it will definitely raise after this year. (A C in chem honors completely screwed me over sophomore year…but I have no interest in going into a scientific field.) I’m in all honors and AP classes; have been since freshman year and next year, I’m taking 3-4 AP classes. Also, I’ve been on my schools varsity track team/cross country for the past 3 years, marching band, concert band, the fall play, Model UN (i won two awards at my first conference), academic team (i’m vice president), junior statesmen (i’m VP), mock trial and stage crew. I’m also a writer on my school paper and will most likely be an editor next year. Outside of school for the past two summers, I’ve worked as an intern. The first one was a month long at a theater day camp where I was a secretary/stage manager for the kids’ show. Last summer I was an intern at our town’s television station for about a month or so. This summer, I might be interning at the county prosecutor’s office, which is a five week long program. I think I have a pretty good chance, but I’m not completely sure. </p></li>
<li><p>What is the communications program at BU like? </p></li>
<li><p>My parents make about $140k a year, but they have to send both myself and my younger sister (2 years younger) to college. We aren’t rich at all…but we own an apartment in NYC that my parents have owned for the last 20 years. (We rent it to friends) Will I get any aid?</p></li>
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<p>GPA does not matter, well, it does but a 3.1 can be overlooked if you give them reason enough. Here is the hard part (if you’re not a brilliant test taker) the SATs. As unimportant as people and counselors might make them sound they can’t. I don’t see how they might reject you if you had a 2000 or higher. So if you care about your standings - you will work to get above that to redeem yourself for your 3.1. A C doesn’t matter much. Control what you can now. </p>
<p>Aid is enough. They give better packages to smarter students, so work hard at your SAT.</p>
<p>You almost certainly won’t get need-based aid with that sort of income. The only exception would be for years that both you and your sibling are in college. During those years, you will most likely get some need-based aid to help you out. Merit-based is a completely different story. If you apply and have a great GPA or SAT, or both, you stand a solid chance of some merit awards.</p>
<p>I can tell you also that owning an income apartment in NYC will be counted heavily by every school because it can be leveraged. I don’t see you getting financial aid from any school and note that most kids posting about aid are from families making well under $100k. Since your sister is younger, that you would both be in school might change things then - or it might only change what is offered to her. At that point, the system makes you report what she gets so your family doesn’t get double benefit from her being in college too. </p>
<p>This is the way it is. It’s not a comment on how wealthy you are or aren’t. </p>
<p>If you do well on the SAT, then you have a good chance at BU, either to CAS or to CGS.</p>
<p>Devilsrule, that’s not true. My parents make about 140k a year, and I recieved a $13,000 grant plus some loans in financial aid. In a recent NYTimes article, BU stated that they aren’t “talent-blind” when looking for financial aid. I guess this means that when someone does apply for financial aid, they’ll also look at that applicants GPA, SATs, ECs, etc. </p>
<p>So anyway, to the originally question, you have a decent chance of getting in if you raise your GPA. Also, I’ve heard that communications at BU is top-notch.</p>
<p>sak09, thats not what devilsrule meant. it’s that if your parents make $140k a year, you’re not going to come here for free or only half price, unless u get a ton of merit aid. according to bu, ledzeppole does not have any need, and won’t get need-based aid. my fam makes less than $100k and they said i had no need; yet i got the dean’s scholarship for merit which is $10k per year. that’s what we mean; ledzeppole should not expect to go anywhere for cheap unless he gets amazing merit aid, which would only be accomplished by getting good sat’s and increasing his gpa.</p>
<p>My parents make 140 K a year and I got 28,000 a year in grants. My SAT 2100, GPA 3.9 Only problem is that I got at least as much in scolarships at American University and Catholic University in DC. Guarenteed for 4 years as long as I maintain a good GPA. I like BU better-but could my grants go down, along with the economy?</p>
<p>you’ll have to call and ask to be sure because everyone is different. But usually nothing is guaranteed, especially if there is a change in your family’s income or situation</p>
<p>Well at BU I know of someone who had a full ride - except room and board- and lost their scholarship because their GPA was too low. Financial aid, however, helped and the total money my parents paid and the scholarships were made up for in grants, which is why my dad loves BU. They’re consistent from our experience, but I am only a rising freshman as well - so not quite sure, but I doubt they would change anything drastic.</p>
<p>I’m surprised - and I admit it - that kids get BU grants with that level of income. I don’t know the balance sheet or other circumstances - like more kids in school, etc. That level doesn’t qualify for federal grants or loans. </p>
<p>Now the grant may be a merit award - BU calls them grants but they’re really merit awards or scholarships if you prefer. If they are - and I suggest you check the list over to make sure - then as noted they remain in place if you meet the minimum GPA reqs.</p>
<p>They are grants and need to be applied for each year. They are not solely need based. There is a strong merit component. Someone with greater need but lower GPA and SAT’s may get very little grant. They look at your EFC and academic profile together.</p>
<p>If they’re even partially need-based, however, they can take them away without a drop in gpa. My scholarships are the same way; I was told I was given the most they legally could with my merit and need combined. But if my mom’s income ever went up or my brother left college, they could go down.</p>