Chance me RD '17

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston College
1

<p>Hi all.</p>

<p>I wanna be straightforward - My GPA is not that great (debatably bad), but i’m trying to be the candidate who can compensate with ECs/Testing. What are my chances at getting into BC RD '17?</p>

<p>I’m an Indian (as in the asian variety xD)
Go to one of most competitive public schools in MA</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5/4.0 (UW), 4.0/5.0 (W)
SAT (superscore): 2340 (740 CR, 800 M, 800 W)
SAT II: 800 Math IIC (also 800 Math IC but nobody cares xD), 730 Chem (ew), 710 Lit
AP: Comp Sci A - 5, BC Calc - 5, Chem - 4, Physics - 4, US History - 4
Taking Psych, Spanish, and Stats this year predicted all 5’s</p>

<p>Current Courseload:
International Relations H
Multivariable Calculus (class which only 6 out of ~500 students in my grade are allowed to take… considered highest math class at our school)
Spanish V H/AP
Psychology H/AP
Madrigal Singers (auditioned group of 24 of the whole school’s best singers… out of a student base of 2000… extremely prestigious group)
Statistics H/AP
Science Fiction and Fantasy (unleveled senior elective english class)</p>

<p>Reccomendations:
Math Department Head (BC calc teacher) - has very high opinion of me and should give excellent rec
English III H teacher - likes me as a person … didn’t do to well in her class (got a B year avg). will prlly have a good insight into my personality though.
Counselor rec - idk too much of what the counselor thinks of me… BUT she’s writing her rec based on the recs which i’m getting from outside school which are - 1. TyE Business Competition Mentor and 2. MIT professor who i did an internship with (Both EXTREMELY strong recs)</p>

<p>Extra curriculars… (100 million over here). Listed in order of descending importance:</p>

<p>First High school level Bollywood A Cappella group which I founded in sophomore year (it’s been 1.5 years (will be 2.5 when school ends). - Sophomore year thru senior year
TyE Business plan Competition - We spent a whole year formulating a business plan and we got 2nd place in the competition. I was the CFO… - Junior year
MIT RFID Lab internship - I spent the summer working in a lab with PhD students and the RFID dept head helping them formulate thesis. I may be listed as a co-author on these MIT students’ theses (there are 2). - Summer before senior year</p>

<p>~Gap here because those 3 up there are the most important of the ECs~</p>

<p>Math Team - Captain Senior year - frosh to Senior year
Madrigal Singers - Senior year
Chess team -Freshman year to senior year - won 2nd place junior year. Senior year yet to be determined (predicted top 3)
Robert Creeley Foundation - Exec. Board member - Poetry foundation honoring deceased poet. We bring in a famous poet each year to our high school to recite for students. We also have an award given to top achieving students in poetry from anywhere in massachusetts area.
Chess Club - Co-founder - sophomore to senior year
Student Council Rep - Junior to senior year
All Male A Cappella group - frosh to senior year
Science Team - Frosh to junior year</p>

<p>Miscellaneous notes/awards:
Presidents volunteer award (1 bronze, 1 gold)
AIME Qualifier
Natl AP Scholar
Massachusetts Math Olympiad Level II Qualifier
I’ve been singing Hindustani Classical and Bengali Music since I was 5 years old.
I’m also fluent in bengali (spoken, written, listening, and reading)</p>

<p>So… how do i compete?</p>

<p>Thanks all!! and feel free to ask me to chance you as well. I don’t know how well i’ll be able to do, but i’ll give my best effort.</p>

2

<p>cneogy:
I’m assuming you already submitted your RD application to BC.</p>

<p>I see you had a tough time with the schools you applied early action to. Was there anything you learned from that which helped you to shape your RD application to BC any differently?</p>

<p>Lastly, when I scan through your other threads and then this one, it looks like you suddenly decided to apply to BC. I may be wrong. But why are you applying to BC? What is in it for you and, more importantly, for BC if they admit you? That insight should come across in your application. </p>

<p>A long list of activities is a start, but who were you in these activities? Were you a warm body or were these programs enhanced because of you? Did that get conveyed in your application?</p>

3

<p>I had significant commitment in all of my activities. My only (and probably major) problem with the BC app was that i just could not make any headway with the essays. I ended up talking about my relationship with my brother which did not really demonstrate much about my high school experiences/activities/stuff. It was purely just thought based.</p>

<p>I honestly just had a hard time finding ideas for any of the essays; they seemed significantly different than what i had done with my other early round colleges.</p>

<p>Conversely, my Common app was very good and I think I hit upon my strengths both through the personal statement essay as well as the extracurricular blurb. Overall, I think the common app part of my app to BC was pretty strong. IMO, the biggest reason i got slammed so hard in EA/ED was b/c of my weak GPA (especially considering where I was applying to). I’m being more modest in the regular round. Nonetheless, I always had every intention of applying to BC and believe that I am a capable student who would prosper in its environment.</p>

<p>To answer your question regarding who I was in these activities, I was always someone.</p>

<p>Founding a successful a cappella group is no simple feat. Then take into consideration that it’s the first bollywood a cappella group at the high school level (harder to find an audience for), and you’d be surprised how difficult it can be. We’ve performed in front of hundreds of people (at once). During our high school cabaret, I believe we performed to an audience of 800 people over two shows.</p>

<p>In the business competition I mentioned, we spent well past midnight on weekends for a year constantly working on perfecting the business plan. Although not the CEO of the group, I was actually the first one to be offered the position. I turned it down (and became the CFO instead) because I wanted to actually play a pivotal role rather than just represent the group and be the ceremonial head.</p>

<p>At MIT, I worked with PhD candidates and the Department head of RFID in two different areas - executing actual lab trials AND researching potential new applications for RFID tags since they’re a fading technology.</p>

<p>beyond that… </p>

<p>chess team - i’m the 2nd highest rated member in the school and we compete yearly for placing in the state. Last year we won the silver trophy. Co-founder of chess club must hold its own merits as well.</p>

<p>Madrigal Singers - To be in this group, you have to be in the top 24 singers in the school. Given that we have a school size of 2000, this is obviously an achievement.</p>

<p>I would write equally as much on all my extracurriculars but i’m getting tired xD.</p>

<p>Sadly, I don’t think all of this was as easily conveyed in my app just because of the lack of space. I wish I could tell them all this. Oh well xD.</p>

<p>As a final note:</p>

<p>I’m applying to BC for many reasons: amazing biz school, beautiful campus, i’ve been there quite often since i’m a Bostonian (well i live in the subs of boston) so it feels like a 2nd home while staying relatively close to home, the school overall radiates a feeling of excellence.</p>

<p>What’s in it for them? A student who clearly has potential to do a lot if they’re willing to look past my subpar GPA. I admit that I underperformed in high school. Whichever college decides to give me another chance, I’ll give them all that I have for myself (so that i make the most out of the college and they maket he most out of me). I very much desire to leave my mark wherever I go. I left my mark well on my HS in the form of founding multiple clubs that are there to stay. I intend to do the same in college.</p>

<p>^that was a rather incoherent jumble of stuff, but hope you got something out of it, and more importantly I hope you got an answer to your question.</p>

4

<p>Dear cneogy : Aside from attending a High School which has a multivariable calculus (third semester) class after the Calculus BC AP exam, there was another element of your profile and response that caught my attention :

This paragraphs starts down the path of answering the “Why BC?” question, but leaves the answer dangling. What do I mean by that? Here, you start to make the transition from “clearly having potential” (which most BC applicants have) to demonstrating the effect of that potential. Were you able to specifically identify your greatest passion and tie that to the Jesuit tradition for Boston College? Your profile has tremendous breadth when it comes to activities, but can you pull out the elements which form your absolute passion? Better yet, can you identify an overarching passion and show how your clubs allow you to explore your passion’s envelope? Can you express that position in just a couple hundred words?</p>

5

<p>Dear cneogy : One interesting point that emerged on your academic profile is the lack of an English AP program. Remember that the Boston College core is highly liberal arts focused with an emphasis on reading/writing skills.</p>

6

<p>

Yes. Math and business as a scholastic passion. Music as a hobby.</p>

<p>

I admit this. Honestly, I took honors english all 3 years from Freshman to Junior, and I constantly was getting beaten up by it (averaged a C+, B, and B from grd 9 to 11 respectively). To put it simply, english is not my forte. I’m strong in grammar, but being able to argue a point coherently and put together a cohesive essay is one of my biggest challenges; I just am unable to accomplish this, unless I am given lots of time to revise (which is why i started on my college essays in the summer). Anyway, I took English AP this year because the rest of my schedule is very work heavy and difficult and I was not sure whether I would be able to manage all of them at once.</p>

<p>

In my essays? No is the clearest answer. I think the only things my essay did speak on about me were my personality and characteristics</p>

7

<p>Id just like to mention - thanks for being some of the most objective responses yet in all of my chancing threads. Most ppl just go with “high/decent/low/no chance.” In contrast, this was quite refreshing xD</p>

<p>Sent from my XT897 using CC</p>

8

<p>cneogy, Just curious, if you were admitted to both BC and Michigan which would you pick and why? This isn’t a “trick” question because its on the BC site… the schools are so different other than having great reputations. Just curious.</p>

9

<p>Hi bigdoglover,</p>

<p>I do not know to be honest. I get very good vibes from visiting bc, but I have not yet visited umich and would probably do so if admitted. So simply put, a lot depends on which campus I like more. But first i’d like to be admitted to both schools before having to make any such decision lol.</p>

<p>Sent from my XT897 using CC</p>

10

<p>Bump o.0</p>

<p>Sent from my XT897 using CC</p>

11

<p>cneogy, you asked “What’s in it for them? A student who clearly has potential to do a lot if they’re willing to look past my sub par GPA. I admit that I underperformed in high school. Whichever college decides to give me another chance, I’ll give them all that I have for myself (so that i make the most out of the college and they make the most out of me). I very much desire to leave my mark wherever I go. I left my mark well on my HS in the form of founding multiple clubs that are there to stay. I intend to do the same in college.”</p>

<p>Your talent is very impressive. BC places a lot of value on the arts, be it the fine or performing arts. There are also many other performing groups on campus: theatrical, dance, singing etc. A Bollywood a capella group would be a wonderful addition to the other a capella groups such as the South Asian group SHAAN, and B.E.A.T.S., a R&B/Soul group, Heightsmen to name a few. There is currently a Madrigal Singers Club; I’m sure new talent would be great for them. </p>

<p>The student organizations, groups/clubs perform at the Robsham Theater on the main campus (BC also plans to build a “ Fine Arts District” which is to contain a large Fine Arts/Museum complex and an additional auditorium on the adjoining Brighton campus) [IMP</a> - University Housing](<a href=“Introduction - Strategic Plan - Boston College”>Introduction - Strategic Plan - Boston College) as well as many other venues like the yearly Spring Arts Festival [Arts</a> Festival - Boston College](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/offices/artscouncil/festival.html]Arts”>http://www.bc.edu/offices/artscouncil/festival.html) and so on. BC values helping others and many of the performances are fund raisers [BC</a> Student Involvement](<a href=“Home - Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College”>Home - Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College)</p>

<p>However, it is your a capella background and leadership in particular that jumps out right now: <a href=“http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/offices/artscouncil/pdf/Festival/2012%20ACapella%20Program%20Description.pdf[/url]”>http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/offices/artscouncil/pdf/Festival/2012%20ACapella%20Program%20Description.pdf&lt;/a&gt; The Arts Council’s subcommittee deemed it necessary in 2011 to improve “the quality of the artistic output in some categories – and in particular, where student artists are not faculty or professionally-led. As a result, the committee members resolved to look for opportunities to introduce professional mentors into the festival preparation process for some student groups…a cappella groups in particular have had a festival history of uneven performances. The artistic quality of the groups has varied significantly from year to year, and most groups have only sporadically given attention to the quality of their presentation. Therefore, the program for a cappella groups will be changed significantly.” And here you are with these qualifications: “Founding a successful a cappella group is no simple feat. Then take into consideration that it’s the first bollywood a cappella group at the high school level (harder to find an audience for), and you’d be surprised how difficult it can be. We’ve performed in front of hundreds of people (at once). During our high school cabaret, I believe we performed to an audience of 800 people over two shows.”</p>

<p>Your wonderful multicultural background is also an asset. BC has 230 organizations, groups/clubs, of which 42 “are devoted to bringing awareness of culture to the student body.” [Intercultural</a> Clubs & Organizations - Office of Undergraduate Admission - Boston College](<a href=“Admission - Boston College”>Admission - Boston College) . Additionally, cultural performances and presentations (like Hindustani Classical and Bengali Music) would enhance International Education Week at BC [International</a> Education Week 2012](<a href=“http://www.iew.state.gov/sug-colleges.cfm]International”>http://www.iew.state.gov/sug-colleges.cfm) </p>

<p>So cneogy, you can see how valuable your many talents and strengths are. You could start up new organizations or streamline existing programs with your talent and drive “In the business competition I mentioned, we spent well past midnight on weekends for a year constantly working on perfecting the business plan. Although not the CEO of the group, I was actually the first one to be offered the position. I turned it down (and became the CFO instead) because I wanted to actually play a pivotal role rather than just represent the group and be the ceremonial head”. </p>

<p>In conclusion, don’t sell yourself short. SAT 2340. Wow. SAT II Math 800, your AP scores, really great ECs. Wow. You will no doubt be very successful at whichever college you attend. Try not to stress out too much during these nerve racking and suspenseful months. Don’t look back and lose confidence. These are trying times for you seniors. Good luck.</p>

<p>(PM scottj, doesn’t have to be just about BC- he can give you advice for other colleges. I go to him for advice too.)</p>

12

<p>thank you carla! That was a great mood booster for me :). I was hoping that my testing and ECs would make up for my gpa in general, but after a round of 2 deferrals and a rejection (and 1 acceptance from UIUC), I got really discouraged. Thanks for helping me regain faith.</p>

<p>Thanks again!
~cneogy</p>

13

<p>Bump</p>

<p>Sent from my XT897 using CC</p>