Do I have a shot at Boston University?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston University
1

I have a 3.55 unweighted GPA and a 4.23 weighted GPA. My counselor told me that the prime GPA he would put for my transcript is the weighted GPA. While me dream schools are more prestigious schools, I was aiming to get into Boston University for ED.
I know BU has a diverse community. I am a Korean female who is living who has a pretty hard financial situation. Also, I’m living away from my parents and family. I live another family member who takes care of me.
Here are some ECs I did during my high school years:

        -Korean School Volunteering: organized end of semester events, literally rode my bike for 30 mins to get there, Head Teacher Assistant, taught kids, went out of my way to help individual students so they could learn their own way (4 hours every saturday), got leadership awards
        -Youth Symphony: advanced from lower levels to the highest during the years, helped others during sectionals (3 hours every sunday)
        -Orchestra President/Manager: organized concerts, set up everything beforehand, ordered pamphlets, mentored younger students, seating arrangements
        -Went to teach elementary school students across state lines
        -School Ambassador: helped students get around, adjust, represent student body
        -Mu Alpha Theta: mentored younger students, got together and solved complex problems. became better leader,
        -Latin Club: went to latin convention and earned medal, taught and learned more about Roman culture, participated in reading and memorizing Latin scrips
        -Worked at Grandma's restaurant during summer: less than minimum pay because I wasn't doing it for money. I was their one employer. Did it every summer when I went to Korea for 4 years.
        -Took care of 4 siblings and 1 cousin all year: did the daily chores of cleaning and dishes, hung out with cousin every Saturday, helped siblings go to school during summer

I would also do some research papers on my own, write some short stories [romance, dystopian(AI, apocalypse, diseases etc)

Essay topic: How I volunteered at Korean School because I learned there when I was younger as well. Also wanted to spread my culture. Mentored one specific student and he helped me build new perspectives, gain responsibility, and perseverance.
Will I have a chance? It’s a reach school but I think I have a good background and essay topic for it. I’ve wrote a lot about what kind of person I am.
Please let me know!

2

They will look at your unweighted, not weighted GPA. Your ECs look good but your GPA is a weak spot, the average admitted unweighted GPA for BU last year was 3.9. http://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/peek-at-class-2024-virtual-campus-tours/
You don’t have any standardized test scores because of covid?
I would say it is a reach, but ED will be your best chance - they admit around half their class ED - so good luck.

3

If you choose the CGS option your chances will be better.

4

Have you run the net price calculator to determine if BU appears affordable? I would do that before considering an ED application.

5

I have run the net price calculator and it didn’t seem like I had a huge problem with the cost.

6

honestly, i am pretty bummed about not having a standardized test score because I studied but didn’t get the score i wanted. it was too low to submit with my application so i decided on trying to make other things look better.

7

I’m a Korean male and I also volunteered at a Korean school lmfaooo. Also planning on applying to BU ED.

8

ED and demonstrated interest is important for BU

9

So my sister got into BU early decision last year. She had a 3.0 gpa, strong extracurriculars as in leadership positions in several clubs and created an app, and a 1310 SAT. She wasn’t a recruited athlete and we didn’t donate any money. She did the IB program and took like 4 AP’s, so her course rigor was quite strong. I’m not expert, but I think course rigor is one of THE most important factors. When I tuned in for live sessions, they all stressed how important it was. Also to compensate for a lower GPA, spend lots of time on your essays, as they play a massive role in whether or not you are admitted. I hope this can give you some insight on how weird the college admission process can be and to not stress and do your best!