<p>I applied for FAFSA and CSS PROFILE by the priority deadlines; however, I did not receive enough to cover the full cost of $54,000+ yearly [2 semesters]. I received only $29,800[yearly/2 semesters] in Grants AND FEDERAL LOANS. I applied for FAFSA and the calculated EFC on my report is 0000, but how come I did not receive enough to pay for the full 54,000 [including room and board and tuition and everything basically]??</p>
<p>I am planning to appeal, especially since my dad is unemployed and my mom will lose her job in May/June, except I’ve heard that, although BU is generous with appeals, they only give $500 ~ $2000 more… $2000 more will only give me $30k, how am I supposed to pay the rest of the $24,000 !!!</p>
<p>For specifics: My Federal Pell Grant was $5,550 [yearly], Federal Perkins Loan yearly $3,000, and my Federal Direct Unsub loan additional was only $2,000, and my FEderal DIRECT subsidized Loan was $3,500/yearly. Federal SEOG was $2,500 yearly…</p>
<p>I really want to go to BU, I do not want to go to my safeties PSU and Rutgers NB, they do not have a specific major I plan to take… Please HELP ME HERE I’M SO SAD Even if , through the appeal, I get $2,000 more, I won’t be able to attend BU… My parents can’t pay it, and I can’t pay it… what am I supposed to do???</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but you’re gonna have to choose another school.
I’m in the same boat with you, but I got absolutely no money from them, only loans and federal money totaling to $11,800. My mom has not work since I was born and my dad has been unemployed for 2 years. I sent in my appeal last week, along with my 2009 tax return papers and financial documents.
Today I received an email from them telling me my appeal was denied. They have sent a letter to tell me the details of my denial. I have resigned to the fact that I cannot afford to go to BU because a 160k + debt is not worth it considering I may be surprised elsewhere. It’s the graduate school that counts anyways.</p>
<p>You talk to financial aid and see what happens. If you have to go elsewhere, then that’s the reality huge numbers of kids face for schools across the country. We don’t always get what we want and so we have to make do with what we get. It’s not like there’s something wrong with Penn State or Rutgers.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, BU’s financial aid is hit/miss for many people. They don’t base their aid solely on need, but rather on the combined factors of academic rating & need. </p>
<p>It can’t hurt to appeal for more aid and talk to the office. Don’t get your hopes up that anything will change drastically though. You’re correct that it generally only grows about $500-$2000 more. </p>
<p>It’s rough when a school you love doesn’t give you enough money. I’ve been through that as well. Luckily, I ended up at BU. It worked out for the best; I really can’t imagine myself anywhere else now that I’m here. Save money and go to another school. In the end, you’ll probably be just as happy. Best of luck.</p>
<p>BU used to post a pretty detailed explanation of their finaid policies on their web site, including a chart of what kind of aid you might expect with regard to both your EFC, grades and scores. I believe an app had to have very high stats to even come close to a full need package. It’s worth a call to the finaid office but I doubt they will give you much more aid unless there has been a paperwork mistake. Unfortunately the particular colleges you have chosen are not particularly welcoming to low EFC students. Just because you are accepted and have a certain eFC number does not mean that colleges have to meet it. In fact, the vast majority of colleges won’t. Hopefully PSU and/or Rutgers are providing a decent package that will enable you to attend. Unfortunately, large numbers of low income kids find themselves in a similar position each year.</p>
<p>^It’s usually private colleges that can’t meet full need. Public, state colleges on the other hand come close to doing so because of the state grants and such. I’m from California and I received nearly full rides for all the public state colleges I applied to, even the one I’m on a waitlist for.</p>
<p>Here on the East Coast, very few publics will meet full need for a 0 EFC. I believe only Virginia and North Carolina will guarantee that. PSU main campus only meets full need of 8%. Despite all the stuff we read about in the news, California remains far better than most states at meeting the financial needs of its higher ed students.</p>
<p>Hello, thanks for your reply, as much as I want to choose another school, I do not want to attend because it does not have a specific major I want. I am considering getting student loans, despite the extensive amount of DEBT i will have, but i’m scared that I will lose all motivation if I go to Rutgers or Pennstate and then end up dropping out, which I can totally see happening as I am not motivated to go to either. </p>
<p>Thank you though for your response, seriously. It means a lot that i got responses from people tear</p>
<p>Hi Jaydee, the specific major that i want is Film/TV. Although I got accepted to Pennstate University Park, their Film program is not up to par to Boston’s. Also, BU offers many internship opportunities, in addition to an LA internship and Study Abroad program. I got accepted to teh College of Communications for Film/TV at BU. I was so looking forward to it, until I received my financial package.</p>
<p>I wish I were a rich rich rich rich girl. But, wishing doesn’t get anywhere.</p>
<p>Lauren - thanks. I really want to go to BU. I feel like, if i get my Student Loans approved, and I end up with $160k of debt, I would STILL not regret going to BU.</p>
<p>Although, I do regret not studying during high school. But, I’m glad i somehow ended up in the top 15%, that is miraculous to me, which explains how I got the grants I did.</p>
<p>KpopMiko - consider yourself very very fortunate to have attended high school in California. They have wonderful Public Universities that have such low in-state tuitions. I honestly really wish I were living in California. They also have good film programs and good intern opportunities :'(</p>
<p>When I am reincarnated, i will come back into a rich family.
[Nah, haha I don’t believe in reincarnation, just kidding around here]</p>
<p>I had 2 kids who were in the same bag, one wanted to do communications/tv - wanted to go to BU or emerson or Ithaca or Syracuse but had to make the tough choices, ended up at an liberal arts college. That’s just the way it is, if you have a low efc. The amount of debt you’re talking about is just not doable. Have you calculated the monthly payback, even at 5%, over 10 years it’s 1700 a month. Way too much to justify. I don’t know if you’re in Pa, but Temple may have the major you want. Do a year at PSU and transfer. Just a suggestion.</p>
<p>Temple is the best in PA for film and tv/communications, but PSU’s program is still pretty solid. You could do a lot worse, and I despise Penn State.</p>
<p>@ BUdesperatehere
I don’t know much about the public colleges elsewhere, but even then I have lots of friends who are going to community colleges still to save money. A couple of them aren’t going to their target schools here either because of the cost.</p>
<p>Woah woah woah. I have this EXACT problem. My EFC is also 0 & BU is giving me 29,800 the break down of the fin aid is also exactly the same as yours. I’m actually very upset I really wanted to go to BU. I’m going there this Monday & I’ll try to talk to a Financial Aid Rep. I’m also going to meet up with a girl I know that goes to BU I’ll what she thinks about the situation. When I come back I’ll tell you how it went. </p>
<p>Oh & how are your grades & stuff? I have a 3.8, solid extra curriculars, amazing recommendations, but low SAT scores (1870). But I know some people that got about $45000 from BU with an EFC of 0 & lower gpa & SATs. I’m soo confused</p>
<p>well my efc is 25000 and they only gave me 5500 in loans. got a letter saying bu will cost around 54000 total this year so is it possible that i can take a loan of 25000? im sorry this is kinda a stupid question but im clueless when it comes to paying/fin aid stuff.</p>
Even if , through the appeal, I get $2,000 more, I won’t be able to attend BU… My parents can’t pay it, and I can’t pay it… what am I supposed to do???</p>
tear</p>
But, wishing doesn’t get anywhere.</p>