Just for clarification purposes - when a university accepts you and give you a “tentative financial aid award”, is that all that will happen on their side? Is that what FAFSA and CSS Profile are for?
Currently I got aid of about $10,000 I don’t have to pay back, and about $7-8,000 that I do in loans (per year). That still leaves about $30,000 or so that I do have to somehow pay…yikes.
I honestly thought I’d get it down to $25,000 given my situation, but looks like I was wrong. Too bad 
Btw I honestly didn’t think I’d get in, so I didn’t look around too much for scholarships X( regretting that now…not that I would’ve gotten like $10,000 anyway haha
(I sent the essay in that I didn’t like so I’m…confused but happy nonetheless!)
So that totals about $18,000. BU costs over $60,000 a year…leaving a balance of about $40,000 a year.
Can your family afford that? Where else did you apply?
@thumper1 Pretty much, yeah…some of that also pertained to housing, not tuition itself. Pretty disappointing, honestly.
@“Erin’s Dad” No, I am the one paying, not my family. So there is no way! It’s just funny to me because they describe me as “high need” and give me barely anything in comparison to the starting price…
I hope NEU does better (but first I need to get in)!
Anyway, maybe these stats interest somebody looking into BU.
My conclusion is that they don’t make it very affordable to students who depend on financial aid 
Boston University does not guarantee to meet full need…at all. Did you know that before you applied there? It’s an exoensive college that does not meet full need. In addition, their most generous merit awards are by special application. If you didn’t “think you woild get in” it sounds like your SAT/GPA numbers were not in the top %ile of accepted students.
In addition, BU has an excellent Net Price Calculator. Did you run that before you applied for a guestimate of your net costs? Their NPC is pretty accurate.
I’m sorry for your disappointment. But it is what it is.
NEU does guarantee to meet full need as THEY calculate it to be.
Where else have you been accepted? Are there affordable options in the mix for you?
@thumper1 I did run their NPC and mine was way off…it turned out to be $30,000 tuition. My affordable option is UMASS Boston, my dream school is NEU.
BU’s deadline was earlier than NEU’s so I sent in a ‘rough’ essay and didn’t have time for scholarships yet (deadline was also March 1). It was just a hectic time for me so I didn’t stick much hope into it. It’s just frustrating to see others get better deals, but it is what it is.
My GPA is 3.84, so good but not brilliant. And my SAT math score was…well. Not great.
Fingers crossed NEU works out! Come on NEU!!
Actually, the BIG substantial merit awards (e.g. Trustee) have a December deadline.
Anyway…like you say…it is what it is.
Maybe NEU will come through.
Glad you have an affordable option. Good luck.
@“Erin’s Dad” Thank you!