Some commenters clearly don't understand the intricacies of financial aid: remember, this is a list of colleges that CLAIMS to meet all need. But the operative word in those claims is "demonstrated." Like the article says, colleges all see "demonstrated" need very differently. And they meet that need differently -- some colleges have the resources to eliminate loans from financial aid packages, but many do not.
emof CA12:55PM January 08, 2012
I too do not believe Boston College should be on this list. As a counselor I have always questioned the packages I see from BC. This year while working with a Questbridge scholar with an EFC of 0 who received financial aid packages from full ride plus $2,000 to no more than $7,000 in loans from12 colleges, only BC questioned her EFC and refused to send a financial aid package. They didn't contact the family, but merely sent the acceptance without a package! When we questioned them we were told only a single officer in financial aid could decide and she refused to listen to the students mother. The saddest part of the story is that the EFC was so low because of a well documented family tragedy ( one of the reasons she had been selected by Questbridge). As a catholic single parent, BC had been their goal. I contacted colleagues during this incident only to be toldof similar situations with BC. This student is actually now attending a far higher ranked school with a full ride, although BC was her first choice. The behavior of this supposedly faith based institution towards this family was shocking and clearly questionable. Again , only BC of the 12 schools on her list questioned the family finances even with tax forms, the profile, FAFSA, repeated phone calls from the mother and the school. Only BC of all the schools I had students accepted to last year behaved this way.
Sharon Sof CA2:20AM September 16, 2011
I was excited when I clicked on the link to read this article until I saw Boston College on the list.
This is totally false! CAtholic schools give very little money.
I was very pleased to see the first person write about it as well.
Every family member of mine has applied to BC - BC gave the least amount of $ to all.
Look into BU.
Kristen DAILEYof MA10:13PM July 21, 2011
jhat
aakriti11:55AM June 11, 2011
I do not believe that Boston College should not be on this list. Boston College advocates that it meets 100% of need based on its instituional methodology. I submitted the Profile and based on the Profile our EFC was $35,000, however the FAFSA showed the EFC to be $51,000. Instead of offering BC grant money, BC did a bait and switch from its written material, and only provided a federal student loan of $3600 and work study of $2400. When I asked why was the Profile completely ignored, the financial aid office indicated since the FAFSA was higher, BC defaults to the higher amount. Can someone tell me why did BC have me pay to complete the Profile, if they were not even going to use it. There own literature states that the Profile more accuratel reflects a family's need. BC's position that they meet 100% of need is false.
Donnaof MD10:04PM April 21, 2011
Keynon claims to cover 100 percent of demonstrated financial need. However, they use the Institutional method of calculating need versus the Federal. In our case this was a HUGE gap. Using the federal method our contribution would have been around $12,000 however based on the institutional method our contribution was $47,000!!
The reason for this is that the institutional method looks at all family assets including home equity and monies in our other children's names. Given that we have about $600,000 in home equity this calculation assumes that be could borrow about $30,000 per year against that despite the fact that our incomes are quite low at the current time. I was shocked to find out there could be this massive discrepancy.
bobof NY5:09PM October 30, 2010
One of the key USPs of many of these colleges is their diversity and international mix in the classroom. Many including Ivies state they support any one who is able to get an admission. However, how many of them actually support international students who manage to get admissions on merit? Is there any such list?
Sal1:03PM October 22, 2010
Sorry--I forgot 2 words:
I honestly think Chapman should be taken off this list. My daughter applied, and our EFC was less than 1000. That means we are pretty low income. Chapman is posting COA of about $53,000, and offered $42,000 in aid. That left an additional $11,000 unmet need, and the aid package itself included over $10,000 in loans plus $3,000 work study. They said that they might be able to squeeze out another small amount of aid, but the only other solution would be more loans. So, their solution to "meet all need" is over $20,000 in loans a year? Get real!!!
DBof CA5:46PM May 10, 2010
Accepted to 8 liberal arts schools all which appear on the list and our financial aid packages vary by more than $20,000. Remember, it is the schools which get to determine your ability to pay. Not you or even common sense.
k armstrongof CA6:30AM April 27, 2010
Although Hamilton College is a highly selective liberal arts college, it just announced last week they will go completely "need-blind" in their admissions and cover full-financial need of accepted students. Without lowering standards, they are helping families, regardless of their socio-economic status. If their son/daughter has achieved academic and leadership excellence, the college will find a way to help them through. That's not redistribution of wealth, but rather, it is helping to facilitate the education of the dedicated and talented kids who want to learn ---- regardless of their parents' station in life. There is hope...
Tim - father of a collegianof CA3:06AM March 13, 2010
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em of CA 12:55PM January 08, 2012
Sharon S of CA 2:20AM September 16, 2011
Kristen DAILEY of MA 10:13PM July 21, 2011
aakriti 11:55AM June 11, 2011
Donna of MD 10:04PM April 21, 2011
bob of NY 5:09PM October 30, 2010
Sal 1:03PM October 22, 2010
DB of CA 5:46PM May 10, 2010
k armstrong of CA 6:30AM April 27, 2010
Tim - father of a collegian of CA 3:06AM March 13, 2010