The Ultimate Guide To Boston College Financial Aid
Congrats – you did it! You got into your dream school! But…. now you have to actually pay for it. Where do you even begin? Boston College financial aid requires a ton of forms and documents, all of which carry strict deadlines, and it can be really stressful. There’s so much to do in such little time, so it’s important to stay organized when you begin your financial aid application process. Follow this guide to confidently take on BC’s financial aid process!
1. Write down your upcoming deadlines in a planner!
BC’s website has a very detailed list of all the forms you need to submit and when you need to submit them by. Write them down in a planner and don’t forget! If you file these forms by the priority dates that they list, it is more likely you will receive financial aid. If you applied regular decision to begin in the fall, the majority of your deadlines are on February 1st, 2017!
2. Utilize the BC financial aid resources, and contact the office with questions.
Paying for university is not an easy task. This list proves it – there’s so much to cover, and it’s really hard to keep track of it all! To make things easier for yourself, use the resources available at the BC Office of Student Services. You can walk into their office in Lyons Hall, call them at 617-552-3300, or e-mail them at studentservices@bc.edu if you have any questions! The BC financial aid website is really detailed and will definitely answer any questions you might have!
3. Make sure you’re aware of all documents that you need to submit to qualify, and make sure you get them submitted early!
There’s a lot of different forms and documents that you need to submit to be fully eligible for different grants and financial aid. You don’t want to do them last minute, either, because then you’ll just be in a panic! A complete list of all of the forms you need you fill out are available here. You definitely want to make sure you have these ones on your checklist:
- Your FAFSA application
- Your CSS Profile
- Incoming Student Validation Form
- Noncustodial Parent Form (if applicable)
4. Be aware of all of the different requirements!
BC carries a ton of different requirements with every document you need to submit. They won’t accept any documents via e-mail, so be aware of that. You also want to make sure you have the required materials on hand when you’re filling out these forms! You’re definitely going to need access to both your 2015 tax returns as well as your parents’, and you’re also going to need their income information. Make sure you fill everything out as requested to be fully eligible!
5. Be on the lookout for a Financial Aid Notification (FAN) in either late January or late March.
BC awards their financial aid packages depending on when you applied. If you applied early action, expect your notification in late January. If you applied as a regular decision student, expect yours in late March!
6. Expect that notification to come via e-mail!
BC will e-mail you when they finalize your financial aid package.
7. Pay your enrollment fee on time!
BC asks that you hold your place in the freshmen class by sending in a non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit by May 1st, 2017.
8. How expensive will it be?
BC is a very expensive school, but that’s where the financial aid comes in! It’s necessary to apply for as much financial aid as you can because a typical year at BC comes in at around $68,294. This breaks down to the following:
- Tuition: $50,480
- Fees: $1,346
- Room and board: $13,818
- Books/miscellaneous: $2,650
9. What’s the typical outlook for financial aid at BC?
The average need-based financial aid package for BC is around $37,000. BC stresses the importance of helping students in need-based situations, but also stresses the importance of handing out their financial aid fairly. They offer packages on both a need-based and a need-blind basis in order to help as many students as they can!
10. Appealing your financial aid is always a possibility if the situation calls for it.
BC gets that unexpected things can happen in life and they may jeopardize your financial standing. If you feel that your awarded financial aid is no longer suitable because of a drastic income loss or surprising expense, you can file an appeal here to have your BC financial aid package reviewed.
