<p>I thought merit scholarships were independent of financial need…guess I was wrong:</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, Boston University will be unable to offer you any grant or scholarship aid. Since our resources are limited, funds must be given to students with greater calculated financial eligibility.”</p>
<p>Can someone pls explain this to me. I received no merit aid, no loans, no grants but my EFC is far less than tuition/housing. At every other school I received substantial merit aid, loans and even some need based scholarships. BU is the only private school that I have heard back from. Is this the reason? or is it a mistake?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a mistake. I got a tiny loan, but even with that, attending BU would literally cost more than my family makes in a year. I guess they just don’t have enough funds.</p>
<p>Same thing happened to me. Other colleges are offering me $30,000+ a year. Does the estimated family contribution and calculated need mean nothing, or…?</p>
<p>they factor in your gpa along with your efc</p>
<p>No they dont…I wish they did because I have a 4.3 GPA…No where on your FAFSA do they ask for GPA</p>
<p>@bigbooklover</p>
<p>False. Hfeiruwnhwg is correct.</p>
<p>BU Financial Office takes the EFC they got from the FAFSA (which does not ask for GPA, you’re right)
They determine your financial aid.</p>
<p>Then they look at your grades/transcript to determine your *bonus aid.</p>
<p>The full grant that they give you includes both numbers.</p>
<p>D’s financial aid portal showed no merit aid or scholarship award, only a Federal Stafford loan. I sent an email on Saturday to the financial aid office to inquire, because she is a National Merit Finalist, and in the past admitted students who are NMFs have received a Presidential Scholarship (half tuition) if Boston University was listed as “first-choice college” with NMSC by March 1. </p>
<p>We heard back today from the financial aid office via email - they are planning to award her that scholarship, but are behind on paperwork, and the portal should be updated within a week to show her award. </p>
<p>You might want to send an email and ask for specifics if you think you qualify for a merit award. (I don’t suggest you call - they are incredibly swamped. In my experience, an email worked well.)</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Dont think it will matter because they posted on my portal…"“Unfortunately, Boston University will be unable to offer you any grant or scholarship aid. Since our resources are limited, funds must be given to students with greater calculated financial eligibility.” Time to move on</p>
<p>@bigbooklover</p>
<p>Wow, and I thought my aid was atrocious! Nothing?</p>
<p>Ahh well.</p>
<p>my son had 2220 SAT, 800 Math2, 4.35 GPA, 4 AP’s last year, 6 AP’s this year, etc, etc… and got no merit scholarship. He didn’t try for the trustee award, and we didn’t fill out the FAFSA cuz we had met with a college planner and was told it wouldn’t matter for need-based aid. I hoped he’d at least get 5-10K 
Thought maybe he didn’t check the financial portal, but the envelope came today and the letter said nothing about money.</p>