<p>I got a quite generous package (University Scholarship + 10,700 in grant)= 26,500 in grant. But 15,500+ misc expenses is still very expensive.
I haven’t gotten my Finaid from cornell yet, get it in the mail monday or tuesday and if I get a better package I plan to call up BU and ask them if they’ll match it. I really would rather go to BU than Cornell.
My stats are
1480/800/750/730
3.8UW/5.3W
7 AP’s taken so far, all 5’s and a 4
etc.
Not to sound arrogant but I think they want me so im hoping they’ll negotiate, and I really want to go there.
Can anyone tell me if they had any luck with negotiating BU?</p>
<p>A competetive student with a better package in hand from school B ,who declares that they will attend school A if they can match it, is common and can often work. I have heard ADCOMs say you should fax the letter from Cornell to BU with a note stating that you will absolutely choose school B (BU in your case)then follow up with a phone call or do this in reverse order. Naturally this all depends on Cornell actually offering you more aid. One thing to keep in mind about Cornell is that it is notorious, see college books, for taking an extra semester or two to complete your degree. Hence the saying "easiest ivy to get in to, hardest to get out of". So factor in those costs as well just in case you are in a major where completing the requirements can typically take longer.There is no gurantee but your chances should be high particularily since you are choosing BU over Cornell-- not a state school. BTW, the good thing about the Univ. Schoilarship from BU is that it is half tuition so it follows the cost as it goes up so something worth 16K this year will likely be 20K or more by your Senior year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, I've heard cornell is ridiculously tough once, I'm going to be a History/Poli Sci area major, so its not as bad as engineering or anything but i'd rather go to BU(mainly because of Boston vs. Ithaca factor.)</p>
<p>With your stats you'll likely be invited into the Honors Program too. Our S was considering Cornell and despite having one of the most beautiful campuses in the area he too was strongly influenced by copmparing Ithaca to Boston even with the Cornell Snowboarding hill neraby. So if the type of city is important than your choice of Boston sounds like a good one. Good luck.</p>
<p>i was invited into the honors program, but the powers that be in my family are still pressuring for cornell, they will pay for BU i've gotten that pledge but they don't want to. If i can get higher aid from BU though they will be more positive about it and that is what i'm looking for.</p>
<p>It can be dangerous for parents to have such a strong opinion. Its your choice and if you went with theirs and things didn't work out or you were unhappy your parents would feel terrible. Remind them that as an Honors Program student you will have opportunities for advanced classes, projects, lectures, research, internships and other experiences. It will surprise me if Cornell can beat the BU package but anythings possible in these times. Where do you live? Does that factor in to yoiur parent's preferences?</p>
<p>I live in Florida, so they are both equally farther and colder.
I was looking through the undergrad bulletin at BU this morning and my AP credit meets every graduation requirement except my major requirements at BU. I think i've got them convinced, im just afraid cornell will offer me 30+ and if BU won't match it, everyones going to want me at cornell.</p>
<p>At Boston University's Office of Financial Assistance, we do not care about other school's financial aid offerings. People tend to forget all schools have limited funds, and all schools don't have the same amount of limited funds. At Boston University, we strongly stand by our decision NOT to match any other school's offering or to increase our offering based on any other school's offer. However, if you have high need or any type of expenses that were not covered on the FAFSA or PROFILE, then you can try and appeal for a better package. Your statistics as a good student are only revealed to the admissions office to get you in. After that, they become insignificant (not to sound harsh). If you can prove that you have a higher need than was determined, then you should try and appeal but you have to provide things like medical bills or other major expenses that you may think should be taken into consideration. However, just because one may think that they are more deserving of funds from the university does not cut it. I hope that was helpful...:)</p>
<p>brandon, my package came up about 7k short of my EFC, but my stats are about average. plus the EFC went down once the actually tax return came in. might an appeal work?</p>
<p>Brandon, I think we heard from you late in the ED process--when you told us that if we wanted any financial aid or otherwise not to apply Ed. That being said, how is that some people with lower stats RD, and no financial need get
dean's scholarships, etc. I'm not speaking just for myself--because my decision is made, but what's up with this?</p>
<p>Our undergraduate financial aid office focuses primarily on need, unless the students are in the same financial situations. Then, academics are taken into account. A more competitive student with high need is more likely to get more financial aid than a less competitve student with high need. A competitive student with low need is less likely to get more financial aid than a less competitive student with high need. Not only does academics and finances play a major role. Like I said earlier, funds are limited. They are often given out on a first come first serve basis. If you decided to turn your application in 3 days after the deadline, then it doesn't matter how competitive or less financially stable you are. So, as you can see, many factors aside from academics are taken into account.</p>
<p>Now, in order to receive federal funds such as the Pell Grant, then you need to have an EFC of 3800 or less. This number takes into account the number of members in the household, the expenses the family has, the students' assets, the parents' assets, parent's occupation, etc. If your EFC is over 7k, then obviously something in the FAFSA declared your family to be more than capable of funding that much money to the students education. Another important fact to know about the number is that it is not saying that amount will be the amount the family has to pay. The government's funds too are limited; so, they try and take into account everything they possibly can to weed out those with need. Now, the FAFSA isn't quite efficient when it comes to knowing your personal business. They don't know your medical expenses or other major expenses, so if you can prove that you have other expenses that are not reported in the FAFSA, then you can and should appeal. Now, there is sometimes a surplus in funds that a student can appeal to get, so it might be advantageous for you to appeal anyhow. But, in order to make a more accurate decision on whether or not you should appeal, then you will have to give a little more information, but just know you are at liberty to appeal anytime you wish.</p>
<p>As for you question Lily, it depends on what you call lower stats. Students that are considered for the Dean's Scholarship, which is given to students with both high need and high academic potential, it is impossible for a student with extremely low stats and without an iota of smarts to get that particular scholarship. All of the other scholarships that are given by our university are given by the admissions office and are strictly given based on academics. Students with lower need and not very man smarts are offered money that is reserved for students with extremely high need. Now, that does take into account academics partially. But, we have a grant called the Undergraduate Need Based Grant, which is strictly based on need. Someone who is brilliant but has high need won't get this grant. It is not reserved for them. Everyone is trying to branch academics and financial aid. Financial aid is for people that need it. And, when it starts to run out, it is given still to people that need it but show a greater potential to succeed. Now, financial aid starts of unbiased until it begins to run out. Then, more specific criteria must be met. If you think you deserve more financial aid, then I feel that you should appeal....ONLY if you can defend the need other than you telling us that you think you're smart or that your family spent all their money last year.</p>
<p>I hope that answered your questions....if not, you can contact me on aim...meandmariah69</p>
<p>Excuse me, But I was told that the Dean's Scholarship was based on certain academic standards and no need.</p>
<p>The deans scholarship is not need based. I got one, and the letter right behind it tells me that I don't qualify for any aid.</p>
<p>I thought that is what I was saying. I said, "Students that are considered for the Dean's Scholarship, which is given to students with both high need and high academic potential, it is impossible for a student with extremely low stats and without an iota of smarts to get that particular scholarship." I can see how the way that I phrased it makes it seem like I was saying you have to both have high need and high academics. However, I was trying to say that both students that display high need and high intellect are eligible for this award. I am not saying that you have to be both, but that both types of people or a mixture of the two are qualified for the scholarship. So, people of lower stats couldn't possibly get the scholarship. And, I want to add that every student that is brilliant is not guaranteed the scholarship either. Sorry for that mix up.</p>
<p>I was talking about both the Dean's Scholarship and the Undergraduate Need Based Grant in that last paragraph by the way.</p>
<p>geofbloom---so it sounds like the difference in costs between BU and Cornell is only a few hundred dollars and you are taking into consideration that BU may offer better acceptance of your AP scores-- a factor worth noting. Also, read the guidebooks on Cornell since they say Cornell is notorious for making kids take 5 -6 years to complete degree requirements. I don't understand how a good school like that can get away with that and I'm not sure why that is---supposedly somethging about how they sequence and schedule the courses. So thats a lot of $ to consider. I wonder if its just certain majors. It was written about in either the Fiske Guide or Princeton Reviews Top 350 Colleges book---probably the latter.
Good luck. You can't go wrong with either. Cornells campus is one of the most beautiful in the U.S. Unfortunately Ithaca is not a vey nice city especially compared to Boston and that was a major factor for our s choosing BU over Cornell. He wanted to experience city life---having grown up in the suburbs. Coming from Florida--you may want to take up snowboarding when you get to either school. It defintely helps put a better perspective on the winters.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, I'm choosing BU</p>
<p>Hmm... Let's see... graduation rates. Based on the Education Trust.</p>
<p>4yrs:
Cornell: 85.1%
BU: 61.6%</p>
<p>5yrs:
Cornell: 91.3%
BU: 73.3%</p>
<p>6 yrs
Cornell: 91.9%
BU: 75.3%</p>
<p>Judge with your head.</p>
<p>collegeresults.org</p>