Funny, my son’s last 2 choices are UConn (in state) and Bentley. My son got admitted directly into UConn’s Biz program and invited to the Living/Learning Community for Biz, but not merit money (didn’t expect any). At this point, he is leaning toward Bentley. UConn is a great school and with your son’s admirable achievements, no doubt will make it a fulfilling choice.
@VirginiaDare are you sure there is no scholarship? Your son’s credentials are similar to my daughter’s (she had slightly lower SATs) and got 4’s on her AP exams last year (Physics and Gov). AP STATs, CALC and Econ this year. She got a 1/3 presidential scholarship. She applied ED so perhaps that’s why she got the scholarship? But like your son, she was NHS, Model UN, 2 varsity sports and a lot of volunteer work. It seems to me that your son should have had something. I would call just to ask since I would want to know (even if my child didn’t care any more). My daughter was specifically interested in Bentley because of the internships and the career services. She loved the tour we took last spring. Sold her on the school. I hope you call the school and find out why your son wasn’t offered anything. My son wants to apply next year and I was kind of hoping for a similar award. But you’ve got me wondering…
In checking the collegedata website; Bentley is the only school I was interested in listed as “Financial need is a consideration in the admissions process” and since merit money is during the admission process, I think that determines what is offered more than GPA/test scores
@ventana10 We are a full pay family. So your supposition above can’t be true. Our family income is too high for any aid at all.
@ventana10 Also, our daughter applied ED so she would have gone to Bentley regardless of the scholarship or not as we have the resources to send her. That said, it’s nice to receive some merit aid since she worked so hard.
I’m not saying it is the ONLY factor, but it explains why (looking at the posts) why students with lower stats received higher merit and others none at all.
I don’t think it’s explanatory, to be honest. Perhaps they factor in the essay? They give too much need based aid to give the scholarships to need based students. Bentley is very generous with students who have a financial need.
We were in communications with admissions about possibly applying ED but ultimately decided against it because this was such a huge financial reach for us. He did not interview and now I wonder if that was a mistake. He did do his official NCAA overnight with the team but I guess Admissions did not really count that as interest. Bentley was his first choice by far and away but I just cannot afford to be full pay. $67K to begin the four year journey is just too much. It will be $80K come senior year. The sum total of all these years is just beyond us.
This was such an eye opening experience for us. Private schools are so expensive. I live in NE so I am used to the sticker price but to actually realize that they frequently expect people to pay full price was an eye opener. It amazes me that they still fill these seats for the prices they charge. I guess I am a bit naive that so many people can afford the full price. I would have thought it was not that many and that aid would be given. I guess my son did not make the grade because they offered him none.
My son will just have to accept it and move on. But what a terrible process this has been for him.
It actually feels terrible for your son. Can you call Bentley and talk to the admissions office? Perhaps they would look again at your situation? Does that seem like a reasonable thing to do? It can’t hurt to call and ask, can it? I know a family personally who worked with Bentley through April (of his admissions acceptance year) and they finally gave him a number they could work with but it was stressful for them. It worked out in the end for them as the price came down and he could attend.
@iluvnaples Most of the students on this thread who did not get merit are boys. Bentley has a 60/40 boys to girls ratio. Perhaps your daughter was more sought after because of that (and the good grades, sports etc). The ED thing is interesting to me. I’d think that for ED they would be less inclined to give merit since they are already “guaranteed” to be admitted. Did you ask Bentley if your D would still be considered for merit if applying ED?
My daughter is currently a freshman at Bentley. Last year when we were making our decisions I called Bentley and spoke with admissions regarding her firm desire to attend and our need for more merit money. While eventually they were unable to raise her scholarship they did take another look at her resume and merits more closely. Its worth a shot for those who think they may have been overlooked
We never had a conversation with Bentley regarding our daughter’s decision to apply ED. She knew she wanted the school and had ruled others out (NE, Villa Nova) after touring schools. So, she just applied ED knowing if accepted, she would be going anyway, regardless of merit money. I think you are likely correct about the merit money due to gender now that you have pointed it out.
@schak123 Bentley was my reach school, not really my dream school. I never visited it. I’m most likely attending PSU Main Campus in the Summer!
@robinleckey PSU -Smeal College of Business is a great school and their business program is well respected in the industry.
Good luck
Does anyone know when Acceptance Students Day is?
Saturday, April 8th.
http://www.bentley.edu/undergraduate/admitted-students/admitted-student-events
It’s a wonderful day. I highly recommend attending.
I got wait listed, but I received an e-mail from Air Concepts USA about a package that Bentley is sending. Does this mean that I have been accepted or is this some sort of misunderstanding?
Students of color, have fun at Bentley lmao…
Hey, @Ipkillz123 what do you mean by that ? Is the school not diverse?
@Malmik06 I’m a current student at Bentley and I’m currently transferring out. There is a really small population of students of color on campus and they all clump together. Most of the white students are from small towns in New Englang and exemplify the frat boys and sorority girls stereotype, very few students of color are involved in greek life on campus and greek life is pretty huge.
If you’re a student of color on campus, you may find it hard to be yourself and explore your interests. The campus has a nice campus feel to it, but you may feel limited after awhile in that part of Waltham. There’s also very few clubs on campus.
Regardless, it has a good business program and career placement after you graduate.
My opinion is based of off my own experience and other students of color I’m friends with. I strongly recommend you visit the campus and on a school day and converse with the students there.