<p>Did anyone get merit aid yet? My D’s package only consists of Work Study and Un-sub Stafford. Our EFC puts us out of range for any need-based aid. I would’ve expected merit aid like the rest of her schools are offering. Just curious if they just haven’t released that information yet or if they aren’t giving her anything.</p>
<p>BC does not give merit-aid during regular decision. They give 10-15 presidential scholarships (full tuition) during the early action process to a group of high achieving, dedicated students, who normally turn down the most prestigious schools.</p>
<p>i don’t get the financial aid stuff…like for example, for rutgers, on top of 2 scholarships, they gave me work study program, subsidized and unsubsidized loans…which i assume are totally different from scholarships…</p>
<p>i imagine choosing colleges based on the amount of SCHOLARSHIPS and NEED-BASED AID they give, NOT scholarships/need-based aid AND loans or work study things all added up to come up with a nice and bigger number. for example, if i don’t want to work study, then i’m not goin to get the same amount of money they stated in their financial package they have for me online. so if it says 20,000 total, but if i don’t work study, then it would subtract whatever amount from that 20k…i mean they just assume that i would/should do the work study program??
and loans…i hate those things…lol</p>
<p>Ivy-Mom. did you not know that all of BC’s financial aid is need-based (except for the handful of Presidential Scholarships PAHreen mentioned)? BC is very clear about that on their website and all of their publications. You should not have been expecting any merit aid from them.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks. That’s very helpful information. Looks like she’ll be opening up a spot for someone else. She would rather go to one of the Ivies, anyway. Accepted to one already and waiting on the rest until Tuesday. We’ll see what she decides!! Thanks again and good luck to everybody.</p>
<p>No, worried_mom, she applied to a large number of schools after researching many factors about the schools on her own. Now that packages are coming in from the schools she’s accepted to, it’s narrowed the field and we’ll see what the best scenario is. No need to be so harsh though. Really not necessary.</p>
<p>Ivy-mom, I’m sorry that you thought my tone was “harsh.” That certainly was not my intention at all, so I apologize to you. </p>
<p>Every March/April, the CC boards are full of students (and their parents) who are disappointed, frustrated, and/or downright angry that they did not receive enough money to attend their dream school. (In fact, there are several such threads going on the CC right now.) If a student doesn’t qualify for need-based aid, and the family can’t (or doesn’t want to) pay full freight, they should be targeting schools that offer generous merit aid and not be expecting merit aid from schools that do not even offer it. I – and many others – have been posting for several years that BC DOES NOT GIVE MERIT AID but the message just deosn’t seem to sink in.</p>
<p>I wish the best to you and daughter and hope that she has some favorable packages to choose from.</p>
<p>Please understand that many people, like me, haven’t been on for the several years that you’ve been trying to spread the word, but just get on here occasionally during the decision process (our child’s hs senior year) for good tips and a bit of support. Even knowing we’re not eligible for need-based aid, merit aid isn’t a deal breaker so I wouldn’t have dreamed of stopping her from applying to such a great school. Boston College wasn’t her top choice, although definitely a match school where I know she would’ve had a great college experience. We’re not disappointed, frustrated or angry. We’re happy her hard work paid off, proud of our valedictorian, and thrilled that she has a choice among some great colleges. It won’t come down to the best package, it will come down to which she decides is the best school for her. We’ll have a better idea after Tuesday when many of her top picks will release their decision (got a likely letter already from one). </p>
<p>Apology accepted and thanks for that.</p>
<p>Just thinking…if BC wasn’t one of your D’s top choices…and if her decision isn’t coming down to packages…then there’s probably no need to worry about lack of merit money. Best of luck on Tuesday.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Her D doesn’t need any luck, she already got a likely letter. </p>
<p>Oh, and she’s VALEDICTORIAN!!!</p>
<p>Jeez, guys it’s just a question! I have one too about getting aid if you send in stuff late, but now I’m worried I’ll get ripped apart…</p>