<p>It seems like everyone I have talked to has said that BC is brutal with need based financial aid, and judging by my own package I can see where they’re coming from. BC’s package was $10,000 over my EFC. I am sure BC has the endowment to offer a FA plan that meets an applicant’s demonstrated need, so why don’t they?</p>
<p>When/how did you get your FA package? I didn't see anything in my admissions letter/package about it....</p>
<p>thanks, and good luck!</p>
<p>vc08, you should have received another letter in your admissions packet that gave a financial aid access key to see it online.</p>
<p>mine was $20,000 over my EFC :( (maybe because i sent in the tax forms late? stupid me...)</p>
<p>Please be aware that PROFILE schools do their own EFC calculation, which can be quite different from the FAFSA thing. I seem to recall hearing that BC will meet the full demonstrated need of all applicants, but they calculate that using their own methodology. If FA is the only thing keeping you from accepting BC's offer, you submitted forms late, and/or you believe that they have not met your demonstrated need, please, please, please call the FA office and discuss your specific situation with them. Furthermore, if you have been accepted to a "comparable" school with a better offer but would attend BC if they matched that offer, you should also call and attempt to (respectfully) "haggle". Just like asking for a higher salary, you should call prepared, with specific arguments why you are asking for a better FA award. You should also make an attempt to anticipate the most common blow-off answers you are likely to receive, and be prepared to offer counter-arguments on the spot.</p>
<p>BC's FA is not middle-class friendly. It reserves most of the financial aid to low-income students, which there are about 11% at BC. It factors your home's value too much into the equation. With the nose-dive of home value, I don't understand how it can justify that policy this year, but it still does.</p>
<p>Good advice GroovyGreek, my dad sent them a long letter today better explaining our financial situation and my strong interest in attending BC. If that doesnt work I will try your advice and call the FA office. But something tells me that even this won't work with these people.</p>
<p>To cheer you up or give you some hope, a girl I know who was admitted last year wask asked to fork out about $10,000 to pay for the unmet needs; she appealed to the financial aid office and she got it to put in an extra $7000 and she only had to pay $3500 (around there) a year. She sent a very detailed description of her family financial situation, including a break down of family expenses and sent copies of bills to back her claim. She also sent copies of her family tax-returns for the past three years or so as well. I don't know if you want to go to all those troubles to secure the documents, but it certainly has worked in the past.</p>
<p>I agree. I sent a detailed letter last year explaining my financial situation to two different schools, and both ended up giving my daughter more money.</p>
<p>Boston88, any luck?</p>
<p>At this point I'm still waiting, it's tough to keep my hopes up. My sister appealed several of her FA decisions 4 years ago including one at BC and received no money.</p>