Chances for BU?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston University
1

I’m thinking about submitting an early decision for BU. I also love USC, but I think my ACT score is too low and they don’t offer ED.

GPA (unweighted): 3.94
GPA weighted: 4.83
Ranked top 1%
ACT: 26 & 27 (this is going to be a huge setback to my application)
AP Scores:
Ap calc ab: 3
ap Lang: 3
Ap Spanish: 4

All IB & AP courses

Extracurricular (in school)
NHS president
DECA officer
National Spanish Honor society
STRIVE president

Extracurricular (outside of school)
Wilhelmina Modeling Agency (one of the biggest agencies in Colorado) photographer for new faces
Own photography business
Published spread in Senior Style Guide Fall Issue
Published as Featured Photographer on Whim Magazine Australia
Runner up for cover contest in Whim online magazine Australia
Published in Reign magazine fall 2015
Featured photographer for Senior Style Guide
2nd shooter for Free People Denver
2nd shooter for Ruckus Apparel
Published in Denver Style Magazine for Patterns & pops launch shoot
Nordstrom fashion board ambassador

Awards
DECA nationals 2014
Western state orchestra violinist
All state orchestra violinist
2nd place Far East invitational for tennis as 2 singles player
Scholastic art & writing gold key
Scholastic art & writing silver
Scholastic art & writing honorable mention

I really value your honest input! This has been a huge decision for me as far as submitting an early decision.

2

Regular programs will be a reach but likely for CGS if you choose that option.

3

WhAt is CGS?

4

Would ED increase me chances?

5

What program are you applying to? If you’re going for, say, photojournalism, I could see your ECs making a strong case for you–holistic qualifications matter when you’re applying to COM. I disagree that you’d be automatically relegated to CGS–your course difficulty + GPA/percent ranking would make CGS a very odd choice for you. I had bum test scores, too, but stellar academics and I got into COM RD. (the people I know who were shunted to CGS had much lower GPAs and less course rigor in hs)

6

Thank you! Do you think I should ED because of my low scores? I’m applying for a dual degree at Questrom as well as their school of communications. What is CGS?

7

CGS= College of General Studies. It’s not a bad thing to be in CGS, which is essentially a junior college within BU (you “graduate” CGS after two years, then move into another college at BU to complete your major/get your BA/BS), but CGS has lower entry requirements and tends to be where students who don’t quite meet the qualifications for the other colleges end up.

I do think if you’re really set on BU that ED could help your application, just double check whether you can be released from it if the financial aid doesn’t come through (worst case scenario).