My daughter is interested in studying engineering and attending Boston University. The school is quite expensive but give DD’s stats she should get a merit scholarship. But in the case of BU you have to maintain a 3.2 to renew the scholarship.
Now I hope DD would have over a 3.0 in the long run, but what concerns me is the freshman year where their could be high school to college transition issues and in a competitive environment a 3.2 as a freshman could be tough.
Most other schools that I looked at, you only have to maintain good academic standing to have the scholarship renewed.
BU’s policy for me is pause for concern.
Any thoughts or opinions on this?
Thanks
If she is strong enough to get into BU, she is certainly capable of attaining a 3.2 there.
And if she knows she HAS to maintain a 3.2 to renew her merit scholarship, she is more likely going to be serious about keeping most of her focus on her schoolwork (as she should). She will still have fun and it will be a wonderful experience for her, but I wouldn’t be too concerned about it.
Best of luck to her.
It is not the best situation. A 3.0 would be more comfortable. Does she go on probation or does she lose it right away? Does she need a 3.2 for each semester of is it cumulative?
The GPA is cumulative and the scholarship is renewed annually. Also BU has a reputation for tough grading. I just have the impression that it could be quite easy to fall short of a 3.2 during your first year. If you take 5 classes that means 4 Bs and 1 A for a 3.2 GPA. If a class limits the number of As to say 10% of the class this could be a tough criteria to meet.
That can really depend on the major. A good friend’s S had a full tuition scholarship at a state U. The scholarship is given to all students with certain stats, regardless of major. Unfortunately, as an engineering major, he couldn’t keep the GPA while others in, shall we say, less intense, first year programs could more easily. They had the option of 14-15 hour loads first semester while his was 18 hrs of calc, chem, and physics.
Honestly, I would be nervous about this, too.
@3puppies, I would not make that assumption. Obviously, everyone who’s attending BU was capable of getting in to BU, but not all those kids can maintain a GPA over 3.2 in engineering.
@smokinact Or if you get that one C+. She would have to be strategic. Does she have a lot of AP credits? Can she lighten her load? Can she pad her freshman year with easier courses? Maybe take a summer class at your local college to do more of that.
Another factor in my mind is that while I could manage to pay full freight at BU and that BU is a fine school, it is not worth $65K a year.
And she may need a fifth year. Especially if she has to slow down. What are her other choices?
@Gearmom She will have several APs and she may be able to lighten her load early on but I think she still needs at least 15 credits per semester. I do not know if BU would accept college credit at our local CC.
I know honor students who did not maintain the minimum GPA to keep scholarships. It is a worry.
I guess the question is what is the alternative? Is there another offer that doesn’t require the gpa? Is the risk worth the chance at BU? Can she take a few classes freshman year which are easier for her, to set a good gpa so that a C wouldn’t ruin her gpa?
@smokinact Print out a sample course schedule. I thought it was usually 12 credited for full time and scholarship but check. For us, DS’s freshman year will be half completed and a junior science elective. Planning to take an art gen ed and basic geology (science elective) to pad the GPA. If he needs to take basket weaving at a summer night class to just to nudge his GPA up so be it.
IMO it is not worth the risk at BU. You have to remember engineering curriculum is very rigid.
I just do not understand how universities can justify tying scholarship renewals to a single gpa across all majors. It would be infinitely more equitable to tie the scholarship renewal to the average gpa in that particular major. I know kids who actually changed their majors to keep their scholarships, which is sad. Engineering would be a prime example. Find out what the average engineering gpa is at BU – for all 4 years.
With a 3.0, you could get a C as long as you get one A and the rest Bs. With a 3.2, you would have to get two As if you got a C. Or if you got several B -s that could trip you.
Under the typical credit hour system, 12 credits are the minimum for full time enrollment, but taking 12 credits every semester will require 10 or 11 (instead of 8) semesters to graduate (120 or 128 credits to graduate is typical, although some majors with lots of requirements may require more). The normal course load to be on track to graduate in 8 semesters is typically 15 or 16 credits per semester (slightly more if the major has lots of requirements). Scholarships are unlikely to last more than 8 semesters.
A 3.2 scholarship renewal GPA is not as stressful as a 3.5 or 3.6 scholarship renewal GPA, but it is more stressful than a 3.0 scholarship renewal GPA.
I stand corrected - you have to take at least 12 credits a semester and they will not count outside courses towards the credit criteria nor the GPA criteria.
It’s a risk. I know of a number of frosh eng’g students who barely survive with a 3.0. The problem can be Gen Chem which can be 5 credits.
Since Gen Chem is also filled with the premed gunners, it can mean ending up with a B, B-, or C.
another question…
What would happen if your D were to lose her award? would she have to come home? If so, then what???
[QUOTE=""]
The school is quite expensive but give DD's stats she should get a merit scholarship.
[/QUOTE]
what are her stats? how much merit would she get? Since merit gets applied to “need” can you pay the rest?
She is in the top 5% of her class, awaiting SATs. Nothing is in stone yet but I know for a fact that my EFC is full tuition less some small loan.
She wouldn’t have to come home but my concern is if 4 years turns into 5 years at 65K plus inflation per annum. We should be able to manage but I am questioning is forking over that much really necessary when there are schools (like Pitt) that are comparable and quite a bit less.