Hey guys!
My Current GPA is about 3.5 weighted, and 3.0 unweighted
Transcript consists of 2 CP classes and 3Honors classes my freshman year, sophomore year is all honors, and junior year is all honors with 2 APs. Senior year I am taking 5 AP classes( BC Calc, Chem, Bio, Gov, and Literature) and I’m going to try to maintain an B+ to A range for these senior classes
ACT: (Havent taken yet but goal is 32+)
As my GPA is relatively low I’d like to know how much my extracurriculars kind of boost it
Extracurriculars
Science Olympiad- 7 Medals ranging from 5th place in an event to 1st. My team has placed top 10 at national tournament for the past two years.
Science Club
Varsity Swimming( 1 year)
Physics olympics
Worked at a food store for 1 year, currently working at a tutoring centre with children
Painting(recreationally)
Singing(recreationally)
Volunteer at a museum for a summer
I also come from a single parent low income family
Thank you so much!
Academic rigor and success matter at BU more than anything. BU is a reach with your GPA… your best chance at off-setting it isn’t more ECs, but telling a compelling story as to WHY your GPA is lower, and presenting a clear story through junior and senior year grades that you are academically qualified to handle BU. That is going to mean you need a strong upward trend, and specifically strong grades in your APs. Your counselor would need to affirm you are taking the most rigorous course load available to you, and explain any issues with your transcripts. A 3.0 UW is really low for BU–the average is 3.6–but a 3.5 W does indicate you’ve been performing well in your APs.
Normally I would suggest the best way to boost your odds would be to apply ED, but given how not great BU is with financial aid, it’s not a good strategy if you are low income. Other ways to boost your shot would be demonstrate interest–any info sessions happening near you, etc. go. Sign up for mailing lists. Read their emails (they track reads and clicks) Craft a compelling story in your app–if there’s a reason your grades were lower freshman/sophomore year but now you’re tracking high in APs, tell that story (not literally. But paint a portrait of what your life is like, especially if you don’t come from a hyper privileged background).
You may also want to consider applying directly to CGS.