<p>US News ranking:</p>
<p>BU - 61
U. Maryland - 58
U. of Minn - 68</p>
<p>Practically, they are the same. Should go to the least expensive one where you would be comfortable with.</p>
<p>cpt:</p>
<p>BU triages apps, and those apps that don’t make the cutoff for the applicant’s first choice, (e.g., Arts & Sciences), but have something else to offer the Uni, are sent to the College of General Studies for review. If accepted, CGS students spend the first two years taking really small classes in General Studies then automatically transfer to one of the BU’s 4 year colleges, such as Arts & Sciences, business, etc.</p>
<p>/???</p>
<p>What do you mean by saying that they need your GPA? What GPA? High school? if so, have your high school send your transcript…but UMinn should already have it since you applied to this school.</p>
<p>GPA 3.766
Rank none
2 honors, 5 APs
Act 26
African American</p>
<p>FinAid Annually</p>
<p>BU Grant 41,200
Charles housing grant 3400
SEO 2500
Pell 695
UNsub 2000
Sub 3500
Work Study 2000</p>
<p>BU 1st semester bill
TUITION 21,985.00<br>
ORIENTATION FEE 250.00<br>
COMMUNITY SERVICE FEE 50.00
STUDENT SERVICES FEE 260.00
HEALTH & WELLNESS FEE 160.00<br>
SPORTS PASS 125.00<br>
MEDICAL INSURANCE-BASIC PLAN 2,141.00<br>
RESIDENCE CHARGE - ROOM 4,465.00<br>
RESIDENCE DINING PLAN 2,345.00 </p>
<p>FEDERAL SEOG GRANT 1,250.00
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP 20,500.00
FEDERAL PELL GRANT 2,148.00
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN 1,500.00
FEDERAL SUB. STAFFORD LOAN 1,732.00
FEDERAL UNSUB.990.00</p>
<p>SEMESTER SUBTOTAL -$3,661.00</p>
<p>Short 4k for the semester without clothes, books, laptop etc</p>
<p>Movieslove, You are short $8K for the year and you are maxed out on the student Direct loans. That is actually a very good package for BU from what I have seen, but if you can’t it, can’t come up with the non fixed expenses, it isn’t going to fall from the trees. What they are saying is that if you can get there with the thngs you need, then you get free tution, room and board. Not much better than that. You can bring down a lot fo those expenses. BU has computers–at most any school you can d without. You get a bus ticket at the lowest price you can or look for rideshares going that way, not an airline ticket. You borrow the books from the libraries. You have to be intrepid in all of these things. They are not going to be laid out in front of you perfectly. The same if you want to go to UM. It’s a pain in the neck to get all of the issues straightened out.</p>
<p>I agree with CPT, this is a GREAT package. I think if you can be creative about getting books and transport, then BU could work for you. As suggested, get the bus to college, use the library laptops for study/papers, etc. Sure, there are lots of preppy kids in Boston, but there are just as many who are broke and finding creative ways around it. If you are clever you can take the work study (probably~ 5 hours / week) and possibly another on-campus job. Colleges have student employment opportunities in lots of different areas, whether it’s the library, tutoring, office work, checking ID’s to enter some of the dorms.Go to all of the campus events with free food, sign up for the research studies that pay you in Starbuck’s cards, do a little babysitting locally. I think you are also appropriately nervous about leaving home, moving so far away and being completely broke. That is very scary, but it will help you to grow up and learn to fend for yourself. When you depend on yourself to solve these problems, you will realize how strong a person you really are. These scary feelings are normal and appropriate and I am pretty sure you are not the only one experiencing them. Good luck and keep us posted!</p>
<p>Is the medical insurance required? Do they have a payment plan that would allow you to make payments, is that feasible?</p>
<p>I am still confused about your response from U of MN. Are you sure they understood your request? You do not want to transfer, you have changed your mind about an acceptance they apparently gave you for this fall (right out of high school) and want to know if you can attend after all. Your comment makes it sound like they think there will be college grades from next year and you want to transfer from some other college. I suggest you call them back again and make sure they understood (or actually go see someone there, assuming you live in the Twin Cities that should not be too difficult). Go to the admissions office on Monday. Take your acceptance letter and your FA package information you received from them previously. It could be that they will still say no, but the information you gave above sounds like they did not understand your request. It can’t hurt to go in with your letter and FA package from the spring.</p>
<p>I agree…something sounds wrong about UMinn. Why would they be asking for transcripts? They have them. </p>
<p>They seem to think that you’d be TRANSFERRING, but you’re not.</p>
<p>Also, you forgot to include the cost of airfare from Minn to Boston a couple of times per year. … including a trip quite soon if you were going in the fall.</p>
<p>That said, do your parents have health insurance? If so, then get that college one taken off from BU. Also, I don’t see work-study… if that’s the case, then see if you can get a part-time job on campus or close to campus. </p>
<p>You shouldn’t have to buy more clothes, you’re coming from a cold climate and going to a cold climate.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As noted above, the OP can take the bus instead of flying. And, for future trips, she can book well in advance to get affordable airfare.</p>
<p>But “a couple of trips a year”? Maybe not. If she can get a summer job in Boston (or nearby), she might not need to go home in the summer.</p>
<p>(Also, M2CK, the OP’s package DOES include $2,000 in work study. Take another look at her post above.)</p>
<p>But I keep coming back to one thing, movieslove . . . if you’re actually African, as you say in your initial post, then you’ve certainly faced more daunting obstacles in your life than this move to Boston. I understand that $4,000 (plus other expenses) isn’t a trivial amount . . . but I’d suggest going to your church, community organization, or anyone else you can think of who might be willing to front you this amount. It might take you a while to pay it back, because your earnings from any school year and summer jobs will have to go to next year’s shortfall . . . but you’ll only need to borrow the money this one time. You should be able to earn enough in the school year and summer to cover your costs for future years.</p>
<p>And do talk with the financial aid office at BU about setting up a payment plan if that will help.</p>
<p>Wait a sec . . and if someone’s already suggested this, I apologize, but what about asking your parents to apply for a PLUS loan? If they’re approved, you could discuss with them the possibility of accepting a one-time loan for this year’s shortfall only. Just because they apply does NOT mean they have to take the loan. They can apply, get approved, and still say “no thanks!” But if they are denied, then you are eligible for additional federal loan money . . . $4,000 in additional loan money, to be precise! Please ask them to apply, if they haven’t already done so . . . if they’re denied, your problem is solved. And if they’re approved . . . well, that’s something you’ll have to discuss, as a family.</p>
<p>Again, I really think you’ll only need this additional money for this coming year. In the future, you should be able to earn the extra money you need. And, for what it’s worth, you’re not alone - lots of kids find themselves in a similar position right before they start college: all or almost all costs covered, but no money to pay for that first plan ticket or the first semester’s books. Yes, you need a bit more than that, but I believe it’s manageable.</p>
<p>I missed the work study. hmm, that presents another problem. Those funds are over two semesters and paid out twice a month…so not really for direct school expenses. Really for day to day personal expenses, altho a student conceivably could contribute maybe $500 a semester on a monthly basis towards a school payment plan ($100 a month?).</p>
<p>How much is the bus from UMinn to Boston?</p>
<p>Loads of good advice. I guess my BU my package isn’t terrible but these first year expenses were left field, almost $3000 in fees. None of my parents have non-state/gov insurance, a waiver would have really reduced my costs. Maybe I’ll do my shopping later in the year when my mom has her finances together. I’ll start considering a bus. I tried to take back my first fall, straight from HS acceptance to the U and they reasonably said no. I should have recognized their value. I’m trying to tough it out for this first year, enjoy the experience , transfer after a year to the U and live at home. Since I can’t seem to find a non CC school right now to stay at.</p>
<p>I wondered the same thing too. I’m a much needed minority was the only explanation I came up with. After all my stats aren’t that great for BU.</p>
<p>Megabus or Boltbus might get you to Boston from Minneapolis with a couple of stops on the way. Check their websites as well as Greyhound and Peter Pan. With Bolt and Mega you can sometimes get fares as low as $1 for one leg of the trip if you book early.</p>
<p>Please do remember that if you can’t make this work for the fall, you do not need to be in college just yet. You can find some kind of job and work for a semester or a year while you sort out the college thing.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Octoberdata:</p>
<p>In order for a student to waive medical insurance in Massachusetts, they have to prove they belong to an insurance plan that meets or exceeds what the state offers. If not, the school enrolls them in whatever plan they offer. My D waived insurance the first three years of college, only to receive an email this month stating she had been rejected. Luckily, she quickly discovered it was due to a typo and, once corrected, the waiver went through. </p>
<p>QLM</p>
<p>Yes, you can take a gap year and ask U of MN to reconsider you for spring or fall next year. Or there are other colleges in the Twin Cities are that might be a good fit and cheaper. What about someplace like St. Catherine’s in St. Paul for a year, then transfer to the U?</p>
<p>My dad is williing to take out private insurance for like 3 months just to get it waived. I’m on ehealthinsurance.com and it running around $200 monthly, for three months that’s 800 but we save $1300 immediately. My question is once waived do they check to see that I’m still insured?</p>
<p>Be advised, my D is not at BU but another college in Massachusetts. However, all colleges in MA have the same policy as it is state law. Your insurance plan must cover the entire school year in order to waive and I would never advise a student (or anyone else) to lie. Below is a link that outlines BU’s requirements for waiving insurance and what is considered comparable coverage.</p>
<p>[Comparable</a> Coverage » Student Accounting Services » Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/studentaccountingservices/resources/medical-insurance/comparable-coverage/]Comparable”>Comparable Coverage | Student Accounting Services)</p>
<p>QLM</p>