I am a prospective student looking to attend BU’s CGS program. My stats:
UW GPA: 3.4 W GPA: 4
9th grade GPA: 3.2
10th grade GPA: 3.4
11th grade GPA: 3.6
12th grade courses: 3 APs 2 honors
SAT: 1680 (taking ACTs in September, possibly 26-28)
ECs: over 150 hours of volunteer work
2 clubs for 3 years, 2 clubs for 2 years, and student council for 2 years.
placed 4th in state for cultural contest
4 years of high school/club basketball
over 10 years of competitive swimming (2004-2014)
Won awards throughout the years in local Chinese schools and an IB school during middle school in China
Possible hooks: Moved from China to US freshman year of high school (reason why GPA was so low 9th grade)
Attended all sorts of schools, such as local Chinese schools, international schools, Canadian local schools, and U.S high school.
My basketball coach will be contacting BU's mens basketball staff about me having a chance in joining the BU mens basketball team as a student manager
Able to pay full tuition, will ED CGS
Dad did not attend college
I also have an amazing essay written, and good recs.
thank you!
If you met someone on the admissions committee, what few things would you highlight for them to admit you? Many applicants have the grades and test scores BU is seeking. Some check the boxes BU looks for. Some bring leadership, others have special talents, and maybe even direct experience in their desired area of study.
What will make you stand out?
@ClarinetDad16 I think the fact that Ive been to so many different places and schools and thrived makes me stand out. Despite moving to the US from China freshman year of high school, I was able to thrive, joining all sorts of clubs, participating in events as the MC, and etc (I’m great at public speaking). I was also one of the only western educated students at my local Chinese school (I re-immigrated back to China after immigrating to Canada when I was a kid). I was promoted and awarded by my teachers and inducted to organizations exclusive to local Chinese students only. Ive been in many types of situations where I’m the different one. I always make the best out of my situation, successfully fitting in (while standing out). Also my ability to be very vocal and inspiring has made my basketball coach think that I have a chance in succeeding as a coach as well. Thus is why he is willing to contact the BU MBB staff for me in potentially becoming a student manager.
Write great essays in your voice and tell your story! Go for it
Thank you @ClarinetDad16 ! do you think BU CGS is a match or reach for me?
High Reach - numerically you are in the bottom quarter of the applicant pool.
An SAT of 1680 is slightly more than 100 points below BU’s 25% rank score of 1790 and exactly 250 points below its average score of 1930.
What are you getting on your practice ACT tests? For BU, an ACT score of 26-28 is merely average. Getting a 30 or 31 is a lot better, as it puts you in the 75% rank scoring.
In short, BU may be quite a reach for you because you are in the lower 25% of the applicant pool. Though that is so, I think you still have a fighting chance since you said your essays and LORs are good.
Good luck.