Opening Doors
One of my deepest hopes and commitments is to make sure this school is accessible to exceptionally kind and curious students around the Boston area regardless of their family’s financial situation. I am proud that over the last six admissions cycles, including this one, BUA has been in a position not to have a financial aid wait list; every student we thought should be here was admitted, and we provided the need-based financial aid that they qualified for. BUA is rare in that regard. Typically in schools like ours, financial aid budgets cover some but not all of the applicants whom the school would like to admit. Because of the choices we make in our budget every year and due to the tremendous generosity of our parent and alumni donors, we have been able to keep BUA’s doors open to the most deserving students.
Financial accessibility is the first priority in our 2030 Strategic Vision. Why? There are two reasons. For one, schools like this one change lives. They create pathways and opportunities for young people that otherwise would not be open to them. In some cases, schools like this one change the trajectory of a whole family. And those students often pay it forward by devoting their careers to lifting up those around them. Second, the students who are here with the support of financial aid make us better. Having the brightest, most engaged students around the table, regardless of their socioeconomic status, leads to livelier conversations and deeper engagement. Students learn not just from teachers, but also from one another. Broad socioeconomic access is a central factor in this school’s culture and success.