Is there any way to negotiate for more need-based financial aid from BU?

<p>Hello. I had recently been accepted to BU. However, as I looked at the financial aid, I saw that I did not receive a sufficient amount of financial aid for me to go there. The BU financial aid chart stated the average amount of aid that students with ranges of family income, but my aid did not come close to their average ranges. My family is in the really low end of the financial aid chart for BU, and I’m wondering whether it’s possible to negotiate for more need-based financial aid that aren’t any kind of additional loans. What else could I possibly do to defray the cost of attending BU if I choose to go there (other than loans because debt will increase significantly)? I need advice!!!
(I chose to set a meeting with a financial aid officer when I attend the BU Open House when the invitation gave a choice of meeting with a financial aid officer.)</p>

<p>I just called and they pretty much said “Tough ****” and that was it</p>

<p>You can send an appeal letter or call them. Make sure you’re being polite about it and not saying “give me more money or I wont go to your school”. It’ll probably **** them off. Honestly though if money is an issue, I suggest you choose a different route. Many graduates are in significant debt after graduation at BU. If you don’t mind that (like me) then go for it.</p>

<p>I will probably write them a letter but they told me their funds are low at this point.</p>

<p>Im sure you’ll be able to negotiate somehow. I mean not all ppl who got accepted with aid are necessarily going to BU. Might be able to take some of that aid.</p>

<p>That’s what I’m thinking. On the Facebook group some kid said he had an efc of like 50k and got a full ride. I have similar stats, with an EFC of 5k (and even then that’s not truly accurate) and I didn’t get jack</p>

<p>Dude, yeah, the financial aid office basically said “too bad, so sad; we ain’t got the money no more.” But if you truly want to go, definitely set up a meeting. </p>

<p>You never know what might happen, and if it is worth it to you to attend, then you should definitely see if they can help out. However, I think a lot of folks are in a similar situation, so don’t set your expectations too high. Good luck, though.</p>

<p>I’m not gonna go too in to details here but some really radical things have happened over the last year which greatly affects my ability to fund. When you say set up a meeting I assume you mean physically go meet with them right?</p>

<p>i have a similar question…i got really good aid from BU, but 2k less than Temple University, a school in Philly. Would it make them mad if I asked them to match temple’s offer? I know its only 2k a year, but i mean it’ll mean i’ll have 8k less in loans by the time I graduate, which is a huge difference. So far at BU ill graduate with 35k in loans (8500 a year). </p>

<p>Am i pushing it? If i am, just let me know haha.</p>

<p>On Wednesday I emailed them my parent’s 2009 tax return forms, all of it, a really long letter and some extra forms. Hopefully they get back to me this week. I really want to go to BU, but if I can’t pay for it, I can’t go :(</p>

<p>I’m really confused right now. My EFC is 0 and BU expects me to pay $20,000??! I definately can’t afford that. What I don’t understand is that a few of my friends who are also low income are getting around $45,000. I’m starting to think something is wrong. I think I’ll have to contact them.</p>

<p>^ same situation as you. efc 0 and 20k a year.</p>

<p>I e-mailed their Financial Aid office. They said they usually don’t offer more aid (after having an financial aid review) unless $500-$2000 dollars would make the difference in the student attending or not. </p>

<p>So, like in your case, sinceredesichick, you should totally be able to get some more money. </p>

<p>Personally though, I wouldn’t bargain for more money unless you really really wanted to attend the school. It seems like such a waste if there is another school you would prefer more, and you’re just choosing BU because of the money.</p>

<p>^ I really really want to go to BU and I hope they will give me more money. I don’t want to go to any of the schools I’ve been accepted to in California and right now BU’s my first choice. But I don’t think going into a 160k debt is going to be worth it…</p>

<p>^ agreed. I’d really like to attend BU over my local university, but that much debt (plus the federal loans) is too big a risk for me. Especially because my (intended) career isn’t the kind you make money with!</p>

<p>Bump!!!</p>

<p>Hmm, how long did it take for you guys to get a response? I emailed it on Friday, haven’t heard anything yet.</p>

<p>wondering the smae thing, how long does it take for them to notify you on an appeal?</p>

<p>can you takes loans from bu directly? and where would i be able to take out 30,000 in loans? eek. UGH</p>

<p>Bah, wrote them a whole essay and stuff but they only gave me a extra 1000…</p>