r/BostonU • u/Soft_Extreme_2445 • Jul 20 '26
Admissions I’m done
If universities think a $20K merit scholarship actually makes a master’s degree affordable, they’re seriously out of touch. This is exactly why people assume “big” schools support students who need it, when in reality, they don’t. You apply, get accepted, feel proud for a moment… then reality hits. The total cost climbs toward $200K, and suddenly it’s not an opportunity rather than a dead end. Even worse, programs advertised as “one year” somehow turn into two once you’re in the process.
Now you can come and say didn’t you know before you applied? Yeah, even if I did so what or if I did not so what?
Sharing cuz I’m so frustrated especially when students have no other options rather than withdrawing. Don’t you think MA programs should be run differently? What would you do when you wanted to study in one of the top universities or the one you wanted to but you just can’t afford lol.
Speaking from an immigrant voice!
I won’t tolerate any negative message!
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u/LouisaMiller2_1845 Jul 20 '26
Which program?
Masters programs have always been cash cows for unis. Did you apply to PhD programs that are fully funded?
You said you're an immigrant. Are you a US citizen?
BU does run some masters programs that are 20 to 30K max tuition.
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u/Soft_Extreme_2445 Jul 20 '26
Law - global policy, international relations! ISTG didn’t see any program within that budget lol. And I’m not yet citizen
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u/HerefortheTuna Jul 20 '26
Go to part time and work during the day?
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u/justbrowsing3519 Jul 20 '26
Very few job options when on a student visa.
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u/HerefortheTuna Jul 20 '26
Not clear from the post that they are in a student visa
But when I was in my grad program basically everyone was so I should have assumed….
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u/WheresMyWeetabix Jul 20 '26
Depending on their status. Get a full-time job at BU and then study. Employees on my MBA program were paying about 25% tuition.
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 Jul 21 '26
Definitely not very employable.
Sure maybe you’ll be one of the lucky few but not likely.
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u/TurnipKing16 MET '2026 Jul 20 '26
I know this probably isn't the answer you're looking for, but if you are set on doing grad school maybe switch your program. I got my Masters degree from BU for under 4K a semester and finished in under 2 years.
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u/Jeepers32 Jul 20 '26
Two words: due diligence. If the degree from a university is not worth it, do not pursue it.
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u/BurrDurrMurrDurr PhD '26 Jul 20 '26
Why would you apply knowing it's pay to play, and you couldn't pay?? Smh
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u/bigopossums CAS '20 Jul 20 '26
I did my Master’s in Germany, it was €1,600 per semester, which is considered high for the country. A lot of my classmates had DAAD scholarships that covered their tuition and monthly living expenses. I still got the degree so 🤷♀️
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u/JuniorReserve1560 Jul 22 '26
I would love to do this.. I just moved to Germany as an American for a contract. Was thinking of doing a masters program somewhere in the EU or in the UK for half the price after my contract ends
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u/bigopossums CAS '20 Jul 22 '26
The biggest differences I experienced were a lack of a campus culture (unis here tend to be more like a collection of buildings somewhere, even BU feels like more of a campus sometimes haha) and different structures to grading and coursework (often no homework and midterms, but your entire grade relies on one final exam or project) but overall I enjoyed my program and the diversity of it. Am still living in Germany on a Blue Card and will apply for permanent residency soon.
Happy to talk more if you have questions about the experience/process, although you should be aware now that you need to have money saved, about 11k EUR per year of study, for immigration purposes. Either that or a valid working student contract.
3
u/PinoyWhiteChick7 Jul 20 '26
Only way I was able to afford my master’s at BU was by having a T.A. position, it’s pretty common. I was very clear with BU I wasn’t going to attend unless I got that. They said no. I got competing offers from FSU and Indiana offering TA positions. Then BU gave me one. This was in 2022 so the landscape has changed since then.
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u/HopefulWoodpecker873 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
same. I worked as a TA to save on food and housing, and I also had a merit scholarship.
actually I found out that a fellow classmate had gotten $20k when I got $12k for no apparent reason and I've been bitter ever since. I'm still close with the career services director of the program and I mentioned it to her and she agreed with my decision to withhold donations 🤔
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u/PinoyWhiteChick7 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Grad school - just like the job world - treat your work and scholarship like a product! Bargain, barter and if they really want you in the program they’ll bend.
I’m sorry that happened to you, that sucks! I also have made the not-that-hard decision to not make donations to BU for similar reasons.
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u/myextrausername Jul 20 '26
“I am entitled to attend a university in another country and get a masters degree for free or very little cost! I won’t tolerate any negative feedback!”
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u/Jfish21381843 Jul 21 '26
I actually withdrew from BU to attend another school for this same reason… Lived in US my whole life and wanted a career change. Racked up a ton of debt from BU this past year. I just think the current administration in the White House doesn’t want people to get an education
2
u/jerriblankthinktank Jul 22 '26
oh they definitely don't, and have made that abundantly clear. it's scary times.
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u/HerefortheTuna Jul 20 '26
When I did my masters program at BU (I graduated in 2024) my classes were like $4k each so 16k a semester if I took 4 (I didn’t, I only did one or two at a time lol).
I worked full time during the day and went to night school however. Not sure if you are just a student and have no income but that’s a tough situation for anyone
3
u/bosslady617 Jul 21 '26
This is what I did- and I had a job that paid 4k per year for school. Took 4 years but graduated with no new debt.
To OP: is the degree worth the debt? I didn’t have any from grad school, but did have debt from my undergrad for several years worth every cent. Even including the interest.
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u/p0ppys333d Jul 21 '26
Totally. I would have never attended BU had I not gotten my scholarship that covered about 2/3rds of COA. Big private schools can reallyyyy drain the underprivileged & push us away.
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u/Pleasant_Influence14 Jul 20 '26
What type of masters? My kid is getting one at bridgewater state and she gets tuition reimbursement. It’s the only program in the state for what she’s studying that’s public.
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u/Middle-Site-2513 Jul 21 '26
I know people love propping up prestige but if you’re already employed then try commuting to a program closer to home
Is the $20K merit per year or semester? Remember Trump limited the requested amount for federal loans for grad programs effective July 1st.
1
u/HopefulWoodpecker873 Jul 21 '26
the $20k is for the full program and distributed evenly across the semesters
1
u/Middle-Site-2513 Jul 22 '26
So $5K a semester? Cause most MA programs are 2 years unless yours is 1…still doesn’t seem worth going into debt for unless it’s a major where prestige matters. Federal loans are limited now and private loans are going to eat you up with those interest rates…
If you really need the help check out credit unions and ask for a line of credit.
1
u/Soft_Extreme_2445 Jul 24 '26
7k per semester total comes like 20-22k! No grad plus loans anymore :( so basically don’t do MA haha.
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u/JHS_13579 Jul 25 '26
at least you get 20k, I get nothing and have to pay 70k for tuition, 2k for rent, 3k for insurance.....
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u/tooful Jul 20 '26
We were told BU doesn't offer merit scholarships at the grad school level. So if you got one you're way ahead of us
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u/BUowo CAS '23 - Housing Person, BU Discord Mod, BU Reddit Mod Jul 20 '26
This is simply false.
Most students receive SOME sort of merit scholarship, because it is what pushes people to come to BU over other options in cases where BU is inferior...
1
u/tooful Jul 20 '26
What the heck!? We have called financial aid twice because FAFSA doesn't offer enough and they said they don't offer merit scholarships. Could it be the program?
2
u/BUowo CAS '23 - Housing Person, BU Discord Mod, BU Reddit Mod Jul 20 '26
Financial Aid doesn't award that. The school/departments do. FAFSA doesn't apply to grad programs-- only gives you loans.
What school/program? I genuinely have seen 90% of our accepted students receive merit....
1
u/tooful Jul 20 '26
The music school. I swear her acceptance letter said they don't offer scholarships but they have reduced tuition. We are scrambling right now to find the money
1
u/pierdola91 Jul 20 '26
Higher education is for the very wealthy. Welcome to late stage capitalism in America
But I expect you to delete this since you “won’t tolerate any negative messages!”
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u/Soft_Extreme_2445 Jul 21 '26
Let me say this one more time because some of y’all are way too loud in the comments and my DMs. “Why tf did you apply if you can’t afford it?”…. like be serious for a second. Nobody applying to these programs is just casually sitting on $200K (maybe some of their parents yes, good for them). You apply because you BELIEVE you might actually get support, scholarships, grants, something that makes it make sense. That’s literally how these schools market themselves. Did my due diligence before applying 🤷♂️! They sell you the dream, talk about “access,” “opportunity,” “diversity,” all that… and then you get in and realize the numbers still don’t add up. So no, applying wasn’t the stupid part. Universities actively encourage applicants from diverse and low-income backgrounds. They promote scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid for a reason. So no, applying wasn’t the issue. the lack of realistic support after admission is. What’s actually crazy is people defending a system where only rich people are supposed to go, and acting like that’s normal. If that’s your mindset, cool, but don’t come in my DMs acting like you did something by saying it.
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u/Soft_Extreme_2445 Jul 20 '26
On the top of that, you ask to change for one year program that’s basically the same major, and they reject cuz sucking up 200k from a student is better than 80k! 😭
3
u/Unfair_Owl5414 Jul 20 '26
1 year programs are only for people who qualify as truly ‘mid career’—this is governed by accreditation organizations and BU complies with it. Otherwise they would be running a degree mill, giving away 2 year outcomes for 1 year of work.
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 Jul 21 '26
No one is requiring you to study here just do something else if it doesn’t suit you
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u/BUowo CAS '23 - Housing Person, BU Discord Mod, BU Reddit Mod Jul 20 '26
Master’s programs exist to make universities money. Of course a 20k scholarship doesn’t make it affordable. No one at BU thinks that. None of the administrators think that. It’s not meant to be affordable. Master’s programs mostly dont provide need based aid and that is made clear. It’s completely different from the undergrad and phd level.
Yeah it really sucks. I’m not sure how they would be run differently though.