<p>I sent in my CSS profile before the EA November deadline. Does anyone know when they will send a “conditional” award so I can start preparing?</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any idea of when they will notify of financial aid? Any help is so very much appreciated</p>
<p>Mine was posted yesterday and I got the official email from BC saying financial aid was available today. Mine was ridiculous. Minimal student loans and work study only. I will definitely not be attending next year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update eagle girl! How much were you hoping for?</p>
<p>I’m sorry the aid wasn’t what you hoped for. I heard BC uses home equity as a large part of the equation, so that may have been a portion of the surprise! Anyhow, I wish you the best of luck whether you appeal or find a better package!</p>
<p>Thanks, Damond! I was hoping for at least $20,000 before loans and work study since the estimated cost of attendance this year is almost $62,000. Even then it would still be well above my EFC. Unfortunately, I also heard that BC takes into account things such as home equity and retirement savings (which should not be used in paying for college). I figure it’s BC’s loss!</p>
<p>Yes eaglegirl, I heard the exact same thing! I think BC scrutinized every asset a family has more than any other “100%” need school! Well, if BC doesn’t give me a significant amount of grants, I guess it’s two of their losses;)!</p>
<p>I actually managed to find a full-need school that examined things even more closely than BC did when I applied.</p>
<p>Dear eaglegirl and Damond3 : Go back to some of my posts from just this year in November and December. When many Early Applicants were talking about gaining acceptance, Boston College meeting “100% of demonstrated need”, and the need-blind aspect of admissions, I cautioned everyone (as I have done annually for six years now) that Boston College is not charitable when it comes to financial aid.</p>
<p>Families with $150,000 in annual income, $100,000 in cash assets, and their own home will typically be outside of the financial aid boundaries. Performing your analysis based on your family’s FAFSA/EFC calculation is a mistake when it comes to Boston College Financial Aid and will lead you down the wrong path in terms of expectations.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that Boston College is a $50,000+ per year institution as are many in the Top 50 nationally. Planning for that type of investment takes a decade of financial savings and more. While we have not looked at your individual family assets (nor should we on this forum), your experience is like many others who are expecting 40% discounts or more - it simply does not happen for the typically more affluent poster represented here on College Confidential.</p>
<p>Dear SaintSaens : Your experience with full-need institution scrutiny is not unusual. More and more private institutions are finding that the “double bubble” is emerging - this is where students are paying either full cost or receiving huge grants. While the average discount rate might appear to be in the 35% range, the fact is that there are a paucity of awards granted at that level.</p>
<p>As I have mentioned previously here on College Confidential, I am a member of a New York (Division I institution) College Advisory Board and our University grapples with this very issue often. In fact, we have been specifically working to avoid the “double bubble” and produce a smooth (“flat”) curve from top to bottom incomes. Unfortunately, this is something lost with need-blind applications processes such as used by Boston College.</p>
<p>Again, this is just the other side of the coin.</p>
<p>I agree with you scottj! I think the problem is that as stated above, BC uses retirement, home equity, and other factors that the EFC doesn’t calculate in the federal methodology.</p>
<p>I received my conditional financial aid decision today, and it’s about as much as I had expected from BC’s net price calculator. Certainly not the best, but pretty affordable… I suggest people appeal their financial aid as I’ve read that some had success with that.</p>
<p>Coolpillow, I’m very happy for you! Glad to see that it was not an unpleasant surprise!</p>
<p>Ok so did everyone who recieved an offer already file and send 2012 taxes? My parents haven’t been finalized so I’m wondering if that’s the cause of delay on a conditional aid package</p>
<p>Yea, I sent in 2011 returns and got a preliminary decision. I need to follow up with a 2012 return; they will adjust based on the new return…</p>
<p>I sent in all 2011 returns and CSS profile nearly a month ago! I’m beginning to grow weary and wonder why I haven’t got just a conditional award! I just want to see the ballpark and this is killing me!</p>
<p>Damond - I’m a little confused. When exactly did you send in the CSS and 2011 tax returns?</p>
<p>You were supposed to send CSS Profile by 11/15. I am sure it is no big deal though. You should contact financial aid dept, but i think you’ll hear back within the next few weeks.</p>
<p>Sorry I misspoke earlier. I did submit CSS by Nov. 15… It is the tax returns from 2011 that I sent in nearly a month ago. I’m still waiting on 2012 returns to be processed so I can’t do anything about that.</p>
<p>Have you tried contacting BC? It seems strange that you haven’t heard anything yet as preliminary financial aid was supposed to be available late January. </p>
<p>Have you checked to make sure that they received everything? There should be a link to this on the financial aid award notification page.</p>