<p>This year (since I am a Boston Public Schools student and they tend to give BPS students a little more money) I received $49,500 in grants. No loans were included as part of my financial aid package. Nor did I get any merit-based scholarships from BU, so this isn’t quite the free ride that I am hoping for. Now, I hear that BU’s financial aid can be quite inconsistent at times. </p>
<p>Let’s say that I do my 50 hours of community service, get a minimum GPA of a 2.3, and complete 24 credits of courses during the entire year. Will I get a similar package next year, given that my family’s income and assets remain consistent with the previous year?</p>
<p>The reason I am asking this is because I hear that BU tries to withdraw as many grants as possible after freshman year, in a sort of bait and switch scheme.</p>
<p>I don’t have first hand experience, but some close friends whose son goes there had a lot of suuport from BU when father lost his job. Very accomodating</p>
<p>getting the minimum GPA just means you’re eligible for grants. My sister received a financial package that covered most of her need when she enrolled but in her freshmen year she got low GPA (above the 2.3 minimum) and her university grants were reduced by a couple thousand dollars. But she then raised her grades and she got more grants then she did originally when she enrolled. So based on your GPA you grants will vary in subsequent years.</p>
<p>If you meet the standards, you’ll get the same grant unless there’s some magic improvement in your family finances. BU has given over $120M to BPS students in grants. I don’t remember the number each year, but I think it’s something like 45 kids a year, which is more than the other local private schools do.</p>