<p>I was really happy to receive a $38,000 grant from Boston College to meet my need but my smile turned into a huge frown when I read that my cost of attendance would be $57,218. Is this the real price of attending on campus at BC (college board has different amount)? or is this the amount just estimated because i was expecting BC to be 53,000 or less.</p>
<p>Nope. They are being realistic. I was thrilled and proud and happy when my son got a $35K or so grant from a school. Still am, but the school costs about what BC costs. My son applied to same school and got zilch, so it’s a matter of perspeicive. </p>
<p>You can scrimp and take some money off of that. Take the cheapest transportation to get there. Mom and Dad dont have to come and you can cut down on visits home. Get the cheapest cell phone and plan and keep the cost down, down, down. Order books from library and borrow or buy second hand off students, or rent or book shop. You can ask for a triple or whatever the cheapest dorm room is. You can get the cheapest board plan and plan your meals parsimonously. There are a lot of ways to get that cost down. That $57K figure is what they determine the average student will be paying in the dorm, given a double room and average meal plan. It is an average, so if you can beat the average, yes you can reduce the cost.</p>
<p>Wow really great advice! And did your some financial aid grant stay the same every year or did they give you less? Just curious</p>
<p>My son did not take his big grant, but took a smaller scholarship at a school further away but a bit less in costs. So he got a $10K award but the school cost was $50, leaving $40 for him to pay. He had some savings and worked 3 jobs during the summer to pay up the $5K that we said he had to pay, since our limit was $35K. He got $2500 in an outside award the first year that was a one time deal. The $10K is guaranteed all 4 years, but the costs have gone up. He really racked up some extra costs sophomore year, because he took a single room, and did not have that one award, but he did work during the summer and took an on campus job that made up the difference. He did get a nice departmental award and grant, good for this year which has been great since his cost has gone up further due to his being in an apartment on campus, though food costs went down since he is on minimal meal plan and paying and making his own meals. Next year, his last, he is moving off campus and is hoping to cut the room cost down. He and 3 others found a nice house to rent, and his share of the rent is less than $400 a month. We’ll see. He has a great paying job on campus and is hoping for another grant. This summer he has a wonderful paid internship with a housing allowance, but it won’t net as much as living at home, life guarding, busboying and giving private swim lessons. </p>
<p>So he has paid his own cost of about $8-9 a year without loans. If it come to it, he’ll take Staffords this year, his first loans to get him through because his savings is down low, and he won’t be making his usual summer haul this year. He also wants to go on a trip this summer which is going to cost him a lot of money. I wish I had it to just give to him.</p>
<p>What is the breakdown of BC’s COA? they might be including any tuition and dorm cost increases in that COA. </p>
<p>Collegeboard’s COA is always going to be at least one year behind.</p>
<p>The COA on Collegeboard is a bit unrealistic and tuition and fees is less than what is on BC’s website.</p>
<p>Tuition and fees: $40,542 (about 42,600 on BC website for 2010-11 school year)
Room and board: $12,082<br>
Books and supplies: $900<br>
Estimated personal expenses: $1,000<br>
Transportation expense: $200</p>
<p>The estimated costs on Collegeboard for Transportation and Personal expenses is REALLY low. $200 won’t even pay for one flight to school, much less any transportation costs incurred during the year. And, $1000 for personal expenses is low…</p>
<p>I have found that the most accurate COA up to the moment is what the college financial aid office will tell you. They have the official numbers and they often depend on whether you are on campus for housing, commuting, renting off campus and other variables.</p>
<p>Congratualtions to your son, he is a hard worker! And I Finnaly understand why its 57,000, I don’t know that they added personal expenses into the total tuition.</p>
<p>Thanks, Mohamed. I am happy for you and that package. BC is a coveted school in these parts. My little guy (who is’nt so little any more) thinks he wants to go there. Lots of BC folks here.</p>