<p>My junior year was pretty horrible in terms of GPA: 2.798, and I’m wondering if I have a chance at BU-Early Decision, here are the rest of my stats.</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA: 3.136
SAT I: Reading 550, Math 470, Writing 550, Total: 1570/2400
SAT II: Chemistry 540, Literature 510, Math Level1 460
Will be re-taking SAT I if I get a chance before applications go out.</p>
<p>I’m also doing coursework this summer at one of the state universities in my area:
Trigonometry and Precalculus</p>
<p>My senior year courses are:
British Literature II
Shakespeare
AP Physics
AP Calculus
AP Prob/Stat
AP Western Civ.</p>
<p>EC:
Math League
Chem Club</p>
<p>Work Experience:
Parent’s Restaurant since forever</p>
<p>So, what do you guys thing? BU is my dream school, but realistically I don’t think I have a chance anymore (even early decision). I’d appreciate any feedback, and also I’m sorry for starting another chances thread.</p>
<p>Your scores are a little low, but if you do Early Decision AND are ok with CGS, then I think you have a shot. Your parents owning a restaurant could be a good topic for an essay. Which school are you applying to? I'd stay away from COM and ENG because I think those are the hardest to get into. If youre applying to SHA, I think its really good that you have restaurant experience and you could be like: yeah its always been my dream blah blah.</p>
<p>Something I've learned about colleges is that it can never hurt to make a phonecall. If you find you admissions person and call them every once in a while and sound SUPER interested, that could really be a deciding factor that gets you in. A lot of the people are recents BU grads who are like...in the early 20s, so its not like they are all old bitter women who want to reject kids lol.</p>
<p>Yeah this may have been no help at all, but good luck!! </p>
<p>What are the other schools you're applyng to?</p>
<p>You have taken some higher level math courses, but still your SAT 1 and SAT 2 math scores are well below the mean for BU. You really should try to retake the test in October. Bringing up those scores would be good (both math and verbal...but particularly the math). If you think you will need to compare financial aid packages do NOT apply early decision as it is binding. You can't get accepted if you don't apply so go for it...but also cast your net a bit wider and look at some other schools that might also fit your needs. There are PLENTY of colleges in Boston, and also many other urban schools in other cities if you're looking for an urban campus. It would seem that College of General Studies would be your best bet at BU...but I'm not an adcom...just a parent.</p>
<p>I'm interested in applying to BU's CAS (science major, for sure). If I was accepted to the CGS I'm not really sure that I would attend. BU is definitely my number one school, but another two years of taking courses that don't interest me would be unbearable, and would probably hurt me academically (GPA) in the end. I do agree, though, that my work experience would be a great idea for my essays, but I would have to work it somehow to fit CAS. If I can, I'll definitely take the SAT I again before the ED deadline, but I'm not sure it would help as I'm a horrible standardized test taker. The other schools I'll be applying to are Northeastern University (2nd choice), and not in any specific order: BC, WPI, Suffolk University, UMass, and UConn, and possibly I'll send applications to Amherst/Tuft (major-reach). I'm pretty much looking for urban schools in Boston. I'll be applying early action to the above schools (except for BU, early decision like I said). Does anybody know of any other urban universities in Boston for a science major? I don't think I'm interested in any other universities in other cities in New England (I hate New York), Boston works so well because I love it as a city and it's pretty close to my home state of Connecticut.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest that you retake the SATin October. This score will be received by the colleges in time to process ED/EA applications. Even with ED or EA, your SAT scores and your GPA make some of your schools reaches (including BU, in my opinion...Tufts is a SUPER reach). Even that 540 on the chemistry SAT II is not going to "wow" them. Also, BU, like most schools is looking for an upward trend in your grades and course selections. Your overall GPA with your GPA your junior year actually indicates a downward trend...something that you should attempt to turn around. Do you have some special hook, first generation to attend college, come from an area where few even consider college, or something else we don't know that will really stand out in your application? AND most importantly, can your family afford to pay the full costs of BU? If you get accepted ED, it is likely that you will be facing full costs as BU does not even guarantee to meet full need. Full cost is about $42,000 per year for the upcoming school year. You might want to look at some of the other threads on this site re: this year's admissions to BU. You can see the acceptences/rejections for yourself and see if what you think for yourself. In the meantime, look at some of the other schools in Boston ALSO...as I said in my first post to you...you can't get accepted if you don't apply....but find some schools where you will be a bit safer. Another thing you might want to do, post your stats on the parents forum and see what colleges in the Boston area they suggest for sciences for a student with your resume. They might have some good ideas for you.</p>
<p>Do you think that the other universities that I listed would fit me better though? They were Northeastern, BC, WPI, Suffolk, Umass and Uconn. As for the downward trend in my GPA would the admissions people even see my senior year grades if I applied early decision? I know there is and ED session 1 and 2, is there any difference between them? The post-secondary school planes for other students in my high school are as follows: 4-year college 57%, 2 yr 27%, specialized school 3%, and employment 11%. So I dont think that qualifies as a hook. By first generation what do you mean exactly? Both of my parents werent born here, but I was, would that qualify as first generation? Though, we do have some other extended family from my fathers side and I can think of at least one who did go to college. The BU website says that Early Decision applicants have priority consideration for housing/financial aid/scholarships. But if even if I dont receive financial aid Id still be able to attend (college savings). Do you happen to now the competitiveness of BUs college of arts and sciences (CAS)? As for CGS if you are accepted once you start classes is there anyway to change to a different school or are you required to stay in CGS for two years? Out of curiosity whats your affiliation with BU, thumper1? Do you have a child that goes there? Oh, and thanks for the feedback, thumper1.</p>
<p>Boston College is even better than BU so that is also a reach, in my opinion. If you read, the average kid at BU has a 3.6 GPA with many APs and succeeding. Northeastern is becoming harder and harder each year, and many have the same idea as you: early action. NU used to have a worse rep, but now you need some APs and some decent scores to "wow" the admissions people. If you look under the Northeastern forum, you can see that there are people with 1900s and 2000s on their SATs that want that as their #1 school, its just in a popular area, but who knows.. you may have a chance. UMass matches you pretty well in my opinion, one of my friends goes there and has the same GPA as you with the same SAT score for the most part (he got a 1090, and when you combine your first two scores, you get a 1060). He took 4 APs over his h.s. career. He likes the school a lot actually, being in the heart of Boston and having a relaxed learning atmosphere. Your overall GPA of a 3.1.... is that weighted or unweighted? I noticed in your senior year that you're taking many AP courses. I don't know about the other two, but I know that AP Calc and AP Physics isn't exactly the easiest APs, and you can't let your GPA drop, you have to increase it as much as you possibly can. The downward trend isn't exactly the greatest thing. Oh and as for Uconn, the school has gotten better in the past two years I know, your scores are a little low, but as I have said, you never don't have a chance. If I were you, I'd call every single admissions office and ask how they are looking at the new SAT and the average GPA/SAT there and make sure you have all of their requirements. Oh and ED 1&2 @ BU... ED1 is for people who want BU as #1, and ED2 is for people who get rejected from a school like Michigan/Emory/UPenn/Cornel... a better school. You must stay in CGS and take those specific classes, the CAS is very competitve because most people apply to that school, especially when they do not know what major they are going to be. In conclusion, in my opinion, BU is a high reach for you along with BC, NU and UConn are somewhat-reaches, UMass I am sure you would probably get into. Good luck with everything, and do your homework and call the schools!</p>
<p>Oh, and are you allowed to do EA to all of the schools at teh same time?? Some schools have different rules and regulations about that stuff, so you better check that out too.</p>
<p>SWF....Jen pretty much summarized my opinion as well. My affiliation with BU... my son will be a junior there. To be honest, I'm not sure HE would be accepted if he were applying today (1320 SAT with a 730 on the verbal), gpa 3.3, class rank in top 20%ile. BUT he had a very positive upward trend in his grades...aggressive courseload and excellent grades his jr and sr years.</p>
<p>"Boston College is even better than BU so that is also a reach, in my opinion."</p>
<p>I wouldn't say that too loud...especially around BU people. It's an arguable opinion.</p>
<p>"the CAS is very competitve because most people apply to that school, especially when they do not know what major they are going to be."</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure CAS is the LEAST competitive school.</p>
<p>SWF:</p>
<p>While I don't like commenting on these types of questions (since I'm not on the admissions board and therefor have no idea what their criteria is), I do want to point out that your SAT IIs are troublesome--especially if you're looking to be a science major. CGS was made for people in your situation--who really really want to go to BU but have academics that don't reflect their full potential. You can't transfer out of CGS into another BU school until you finish (that would sort of defeat the purpose from BU's view). I'm not sure what the path is for those who want to go from CGS-->CAS Science major (though I can find out for you in September--my girlfriend works in a CGS admin office). The major issue with CGS is that you should expect little to nothing in terms of financial help.</p>
<p>I agree that U Mass might be good, but I don't recommend U Mass-Boston. I have a friend at U Mass-Amherst and he seems to like it, though I realize you want someplace in Boston. </p>
<p>Northeastern's program has been improving from what I hear--I think you would have a pretty good shot there.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>thumper1:</p>
<p>I don't know what program your son is in, but I don't think I agree that he might not have been accepted today if he had applied. The academic environment seems to have changed SO much over the past couple of years...I don't think it's easy to compare his (and my) academics to that of today's applicants. Taking into account that the SATs are completely different, score inflation (as the average scores on standardized tests usually increase every year) and the like, he'd probably be in the same boat.</p>
<p>I was accepted last year, and I'll be entering BU in the fall.</p>
<p>Whats that SATI score comparable to the old sat system? I got a 1220/1600 and got in for early decision. My best advice would be to take the ACT, I did much better on that and so did some of my other friends. </p>
<p>Another cliched piece of advice: Work your ass off on the essays. I spent an ungodly amount of time on the essays and from who I've talked to thats really the deciding factor especially among those with "iffy" scores. Last year BU had three essays, a small one on why you're applying to BU, then one on why you're going to major in what you plan to major in, and finally a "whatever the hell you want" essay. Show interest and ambition thats different than the "me too" BU mold.</p>
<p>I agree that you should give it a shot but BU is a definite stretch with those scores. Agree with taking the ACt since that may be a better fit. I'm sure this is controversial but I'd probably choose fewer AP courses and instead spend more time prepping for your final SAT or ACT testing in the Fall . With an average SAT over 1300 this coming year even getting into CGS can be difficult. NE and UMASSS look great though for you, chances wise. To me, BC and BU are about equal.</p>