Can someone give me more info about the cgs program ? Can you transfer to the regular school after 2 years ?
My sons stats are as follow:
4.5 gpa weighted , 3.9 unweighted
Competitive curriculum:
Ib English 11/12
Ib history 11/12
Ib Spanish 4, 5, 6
Ib Econ
Ib philosophy
Ap bio
Ap calculus
Ap physics
He’s gotten all a’s with the exception of 2 b’s
Issue is his scores are low : 26 act and 1200 sat (this is hurting him
To consider competitive schools )
Number of volunteer hours
Deca, beta club , National Spanish Honor Society , key club , volunteer abroad .
He’ll havw great recommendations and a decent essay .
What is everyone thoughts ? He wants to major in international
Relations . Thanks !
After completing the 2 year CGS program with a minimum GPA of 2.0 there is guaranteed transfer to other BU schools. Note that for engineering additional coursework over the summer would be required to transfer and still complete the program in 4 years. It is not possible to transfer from CGS to SAR.
He may want to apply directly to CAS and indicate the CGS option if not accepted.
@TomSrOfBoston . Thanks for your reply . Do you think he has a shot at cgs? What about a chance for cas? It does not sound like a bad option to be in cgs but being in the cas would be a preferred option . Also do you need subject tests to apply ? Thank you !
No subject tests required. For CAS it would be a reach but CGS is a match. (BU is not a safety for anyone)
Meant to put this link in earlier:
http://www.bu.edu/cgsnow/academics/pathways/academic-pathways-september-program/
@TomSrOfBoston . Thanks for feedback again. Are u a student there ? Do you think there is any disadvantage to the cgs program? Do other students not think highly of those students ? Would not want him to feel not as good as others . He was going to apply early decision to American university and now reconsidering early decision . He does not want to be bound to a school . Wondering what is the better option . He loves Boston, that is the draw .
An alumnus, but not of CGS. There were a couple CGS parents who used to post here, @shoot4moon was one. You may want to PM her. Not sure if she is still active here on CC.
Thanks!
Agree with above, except you CAN go from CGS to SAR. Perhaps not all programs, but I am friends with people who transferred to sargent from CGS.
@AwesomeAxolotl . Thanks . Do you know if some
students are assigned to the boston / logan program? How is the cgs program looked at ? Thanks
@AwesomeAxolotl My bad, you are right about SAR.
300 students enter in September and 300 enter in January for the London program. My suspicion is that the stronger applicants will be offered September entry.
@TomSrOfBoston , is cgs the same as the London program ? Can u just attend school at bu and not go to London ? Is that the total number for cgs? Thanks!
Yes, 300 enter in September for a regular academic year. 300 enter in January, spend spring semester in Boston and summer semester in London. They then do a regular sophomore year in Boston.
I am curious. Any idea when they put the question on the common app about wanting to be considered for CGS if students weren’t accepted into their first choice school? Was it there for students who graduated in 2016? I don’t recall it, and my son was offered a Guaranteed Transfer that year. He applied RD, so this would’ve been 2016 RD results. I don’t recall that question being an option for him. If it was, I can’t remember if he said he’d be considered for CGS. I think he would’ve said yes, though, if he had to answer at the time. Just purely curious. Their offer was a surprise and a disappointment for him back then.Thanks.
As Tom mentioned, our daughter graduated from BU in 2015, and did the CGS program as well as the summer session on CGS. Here are a few facts that I have posted in the past.
- DD moved without stress or effort into the COM program. The only hiccups (double check -my info is from 2013) is that you have to have a certain GPA and the “tracking” issue. If you go into the CGS office, they have a huge wall of tracking sheets, meaning “Here are our suggestions if you plan to be an IR major.” BU has/had this fabulous rule that if you have a certain GPA, you can overload for free. DD overloaded every semester without undue stress, and graduated with her major, a minor, and extensive coursework in several other subjects a semester early due to this rule. In return, we gave her a monthly stipend so she wouldn’t have to get a PT job - saved us thousands of dollars.
- As of 2013, the ONLY program that was difficult to transfer from was the heath sciences at Sargent. The reason at that time is that there are many classes that are required that were sequential. Therefore, some of those students took a little longer to graduate if they were in CGS. If I were you, I would call CGS and ask them about IR in particular, and whether there are issues with graduation.
- There is, honestly, a small set of students who call CGS “Crayon Glue and Scissors” just as they call SMG “School of Malice and Greed” Only a small set of people look “down” on CGS, and usually they are not people your son would even meet, as many of them are not at BU for long.
- The education received in CGS is outstanding, especially in the areas of critical reading and writing skills (DD was an exceptional writer going in, and raved about how much she learned about writing for content and audience rather than the stuff you learned in high school). In fact, a COM professor said that he could always tell who came through CGS, because their writing and analysis skills were far above those from other colleges.
- DD did the summer program in England between freshman and sophomore year. Although the academics were not as consistent as BU, it is unusual to have an opportunity to do study abroad that early. She went to England and France at other times during her college career. (She will travel at the drop of a suitcase!)
- I would think that your son would love the material in CGS. Our daughter applied to CAS, and checked the box for CGS without knowing much. We flew back for the open house to decided whether a large scholarship at another school or less money at CGS was a better fit. It took 5 minutes of open house. The people in the program are often like your son: some have an uneven profile, some have taken time off for accidents or illness, some came from other countries, and some chose it. If DD2 was interested in BU, I would check CGS in a heartbeat.
- In terms of further advice, if he elects to go to BU, do not miss the opportunity to do the volunteer week before school begins (the name escapes me). They put out the app in July, and only take 1000 kids. The slots fill up VERY quickly. You move in a week early, and get to volunteer in your choice of focus areas during the day while having cruises, etc in the evenings. My daughter has traveled to 4 continents with one friend from that orientation group, and was in the wedding of two others. It’s a fantastic way to get used to Boston and BU.
TomSr, unless it is changed, I know of several people who went through CGS and Sargent and graduated on time, but they had AP credits and/or some summer work. It’s tricky, but it could be done in 2013. Best way to check is to call CGS. They get these questions constantly, and are prepared for very specific questions.
To answer Winky1, that choice was present when DD applied in 2010. And thanks, TomSrofBoston, for the shout out. Tom is right - I watched this board for CGS questions when DD was at BU because there is a TON of misinformation from people who “heard” about it. There was one man in particular who insisted on constantly continuing info from 25 years ago that was negative. I’ve moved on to DD2’s applications now, so haven’t been on BU much! Always happy to receive PM’s, Winky1.
@shoot4moon ,
Thanks so much for information . So,
The London part is mandatory but can be done in summer ? I see some students admitted as second semester students starting with London . I’m assuming they may let more academically inclined students enter in the fall. Did your daughter feel separate from the rest of the school ? Did she tend to hang out more with CGs kids ? Is it better to apply directly to CGs with hopes of a higher acceptance rate ?? Just wondering . BU is at the top of his list and just figuring out ways to help his admission:
Never saw this… sorry. When DD was admitted, there was no Winter start program, so you will have to ask someone else or the school if there are academic differences. My guess is that they are minimal. No, she did not feel separate from others in the school… she made friends in clubs, classes, and dorms and no one cared. In fact, I just realized that her BU “family”of four came from four different schools. Love those kids… one has lived temporarily with us when moving to CA, and all three have been to our house for Thanksgiving.
My guess is that applying directly would improve the acceptance rate, but wouldn’t know… I do know that they ar very enthusiastic about the program, and they like students who also believe in it. What did your son decide to do? Hope he gets his wish! DD2 just got into her ED school (Colorado College) so we are nearly done with this process. I will miss it in a weird way… fun to see the decision making skills develop.
Thanks @shoot4moon . My son ended up applying to a different school early decision and got in , and he’s thrilled . Bu would have possibly been and ed2 application had he not gotten in . Congrats on your dd2 acceptance ( I have a friend whose son got in there early as well ). I have another one who is a junior so starting the process with him… it’s is stressful but kind of fun ! Take care !