<p>It's so difficult to know which kids will get merit scholarships and which won't. There was an interesting thread about this earlier this year, and really a lot of highly qualified kids were overlooked, and others with lesser stats received a sizable piece of the merit pie. At first, it all appeared to all be so random. </p>
<p>BUT a closer look showed that there really was some patterns emerging in who got the merit money. </p>
<p>If you based what you expected to be awarded compared to the strength of the applicants stats: GPA, class standing, SATs/ACTs, it just didn't add up compared to what was reported on BU's own Merit Scholarship page: Boston</a> University Admissions - Merit Scholarships. </p>
<p>IMHO, what I think tips the gods of merit money in your favor are those "nebulous" factors that are not numbers driven. That includes those who submitted the strongest essays, recommendations, unusual and/or state level and above extracurriculars. That also includes a "secret weapon," which is becoming more widespread as it is becoming more well known here on CC. That is, submission of a consise "I Love you, BU" cover letter. These letters make it totally clear why (specifically) why they are drawn to BU, and mention visits, and are then followed up via email with admissions officers, thank you letters to professors whose classes you sat in on, a note to the Core administer for sitting down with you and explaining the many virtues of Core vs Divisional Studies.... you get the idea. </p>
<p>MANY (not all, but a sizable number) of applicants who went the extra mile to demonstrate that they were more than the sum of their GPAs, class rank and SAT scores seemed to receive perhaps more merit money than those with perhaps greater "stats."</p>
<p>SO the moral of the story is even tho your kid may have done great on their tests and have great class rank and SATs, it would behoove your kid to spend some time creating a cover letter extolling their personal reasons for wanting to come to BU, and tooting their own horn about their compelling talents, both academic and not, that would make them a most interesting and welcome member of the BU Community. </p>
<p>My son spent a great deal of time on his BU application, visiting twice different times, sitting in on two classes asking questions of the director of the Core program, in other words, making an obvious effort to know BU and confirm that it was a great match for him, his interests, his learning style, etc. Though he did not apply for the Trustee, he did attain the half scholarship University Scholarship as well as the Alumni Scholarship as his dad also graduated from BU, a big fat extra $1,000 each year that takes a big bite out of text book and traveling expenses.</p>
<p>He's a rising sophomore, and let me tell you, it is a pleasure to write out his BU tuition checks compared to my recent Tufts graduate whose full freight tuition checks caused temporary insanity each time I opened up the bills.... what was I thinking???</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>