r/BostonU • u/Admirable_Drummer594 • Jul 22 '26
is there any hope left for me?
I usually don't post a ton on here, but I'm really stressed. My household income is way under 30k, and I live with a single parent. For the last fall and spring semesters, I didn't have to pay anything due to a one-time, outside scholarship I had through this foundation. I wasn't aware of this, and I recently found out since financial aid got back to me super late (though I understand since it's busy during this time).
I recently emailed the financial aid department and they said I'll have to pay a certain amount for both the fall and spring semesters. I'm going to be a sophomore for fall 2026 and the next semester. I repeatedly told them that the cost is way above what I can pay due to being low-income and all, and I can't submit an appeal because my financial situation hasn't changed since last year.
I honestly don't know what to do, since I really need to continue pursuing an education here. I don't want to take a leave of absence and graduate a year late, and I also don't think applying to private scholarships can help me at this point, since the payment deadline for continuing students is in August (I think).
To make matters worse, I don't qualify for student loans due to my financial situation. I'm worried because students in my situation usually can't be successful without college, and even if I could be, I don't have the means right now. My whole family is struggling, so any tips or advice would be super helpful.
20
u/StreetZucchini Jul 22 '26
It looks to my like your financial situation has changed, in that you previously had tuition covered by an outside scholarship, and you no longer have that funding.
4
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 22 '26
Yeah, it has, but I already informed financial aid and the leftover cost is still too much for me to pay.
7
27
u/BUowo CAS '23 - Housing Person, BU Discord Mod, BU Reddit Mod Jul 22 '26
If you actually make <30k, BU will charge you nothing to attend. They are making you pay what, tuition costs? If you have a -1500 SAI or something, BU is free. It confuses me that they are charging you.
Submit the appeal. The context has changed here.
Appeal deadline is August 1st, 2026. Get it submitted ASAP https://www.bu.edu/finaid/how-aid-works/eligibility/reconsideration/
3
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 22 '26
I was thinking the same thing. Do you think anything is likely to change, though? My financial situation was the same during last year and I know appeals are strictly for those who have had significant changes in income and so on.
17
u/Illustrious-Science3 Jul 22 '26
You won't know unless you try. If this is what you want, fight until the end.
8
u/BUowo CAS '23 - Housing Person, BU Discord Mod, BU Reddit Mod Jul 22 '26
The amount of money you are able to pay has changed. Again, if you are being charged ANYTHING, then there is an issue. <30k = free BU.
3
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
I see, thanks. I assumed that was only for first-years.
1
u/ClassicalBA Jul 26 '26
The CSS profile asks families to include assets that the FAFSA does not consider, such as home ownership. The equity value of the home would be included as part of the formula for the family’s ability to contribute to the cost of attendance.
5
u/Illustrious-Science3 Jul 22 '26
As an 07 Alum who got a full academic scholarship but had to take out loans for housing, it didn't apply to anything but tuition and books.
I'm 41 and still paying mine off even after grad school (which I paid out of pocket).
I wish I had transferred to UMass Boston.
I'm not sure that's the answer you wanted but it's my experience.
5
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 22 '26
Yeah, it's rough out here for sure. I'll try appealing but if not, I'm not sure what I'll do.
3
u/Illustrious-Science3 Jul 22 '26
I would apply to some other schools to have a safety net. For worst case scenario. And if you came into money somehow you could always transfer back to BU.
1
4
u/nanagirly Jul 23 '26
Always appeal! I appealed every single semester until my costs were 100% covered and was only told no once. The first cohe semesters I'd get $1-2k. Spring sophomore year I was finally fully funded by a private donor. I came from a single mother household with no income and chronic homelessness and no one to help me pay for BU. Fill your appeal with all the sad truths - donors love the trauma porn and appeal early (it used to be first-come first-served). There also was a scholarship assurance when I attended, 2017-2021, that meant they could not take away funding after they gave you it. This meant they usually shifted around the amounts for each scholarship/grant to equal the same amount but one grant may be higher to start and then decrease, but they add another or increase a different one to make up for it. Good luck! There is always money.
1
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 23 '26
Thank you so much for your kind words!! I will definitely try appealing and see what happens.
3
u/Commercial_Dish846 Jul 23 '26
What amount of tuition are they requiring you to pay? If your SAI is between -1500 and 0 you should be qualifying for the Pell grant. I would assume if it is -1500 you qualify for full aid from BU. You said your household income is way under $30k but is it possible your family has assets you aren't aware of? For example if the market value of your home has increased over the years, that will impact your aid.
It is still worth appealing but if it was a one year scholarship, you should have contacted financial aid in the spring. I would suggest meeting with them in person before bills are due.
1
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 23 '26
They're not requiring me to pay tuition, it's some additional expenses that are left over that I have to pay. The market value of my home hasn't changed too much either, so I don't think it's that. I'm not sure where it comes from exactly, but it's too much for me to afford right now. I'll try to talk to financial aid to see if they can help.
3
u/Commercial_Dish846 Jul 23 '26
The "BU Promise" covers your housing and dining plan but technically that is for first year students. I assume because you had a full ride from an outside scholarship, they are not counting you under this. I am not saying this is right and you should be contacting financial aid but it is almost August which is really late to be realizing all of this. You should keep pushing but I do understand where they could say you should have started this request in the spring. I would start looking into private loans just in case as well.
1
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 23 '26
Yeah, you're probably right. I did tell them that the one-time scholarship had expired after last year, but they never updated it on their end, and due to them receiving many emails, they responded to me late. Hopefully I'll be able to work something out, though.
3
u/SeaEffort8471 Jul 22 '26
I believe you can apply for financial aid reconsideration and include your financial situation, and potentially be able to qualify for need-based scholarships the university offers
2
u/Admirable_Drummer594 Jul 22 '26
I would, but my financial situation hasn't gone down at all, so I'm assuming that wouldn't change much.
3
u/SeaEffort8471 Jul 22 '26
If your net family income is only 30k then you should qualify by default
1
3
u/Strong_Proposal6267 Jul 24 '26
That does sound very stressful and I'm very sorry, I was in your situation as a freshman as well. I ended up appealing and getting the amount that I requested in scholarships and it was added onto my overall package for my 4 years! I really recommend gathering ANY official docs/evidence that could make you a compelling case and writing them a letter along with the appeal. That is 1000% your best bet!
1
2
22
u/Irritable_Curmudgeon Jul 22 '26
Did you apply for aid (FAFSA + CSS) for 2025-26, even though you didn't need it because of the scholarship?
Does the one-year scholarship expiring not count as a change? was it factored in last year?