<p>im just wondering and just incase i dont get into CAS next year, i was wondering if CGS would look like your an idiot.</p>
<p>im not stupid but my freshman year(2.75 UW) and Sophomore yr(3.03 UW) screwed me. i have a 4.0 on my junior year now. i want to apply early decision. </p>
<p>Freshman year, i was at a different school and transfered to a more prestigous school on my Sophomore year.</p>
<p>i want to go to med school, but will CGS affect my acceptance?</p>
<p>yeah, probably. sorry to say but if it were me or someone who went to CGS with all else being equal I better get the edge. CGS courswork is a straight up comedy routine.</p>
<p>I’ll be in CGS next year and also a premed student. I hope it wont affect my chances that much. =(</p>
<p>
Not necessarily, but you might want to work on understanding the difference between “your” and “you’re” if you’re concerned with improving your image…</p>
<p>So DJ, see you still have that axe to grind against CGS. :)</p>
<p>We attended the CGS open house today where this question came up. The Dean and academic advisors said that many CGS students can and have gone to medical and dental schools. CGS students are in no way at a disadvantage and regardless of their intended field of study, regularly meet with their academic advisor to ensure that they are meeting the core requirements of their degree granting program/school. All BU students must take core required courses. They typically advise the CGS student who is planning to pursue medicine to begin with Chem 101 as one of their electives. (I may have the course # wrong!)
We had a similar concern for our son who is intending to double major in history and education and were also reassured that it is not only doable but very common.
We met many current and former CGS students and were extremely impressed with their enthusiasm, demeanor, maturity and passion for the CGS program and BU overall. They were a step above the students we had met at other schools. The academic team was top-notch, approachable, and like the students, extremely passionate about the program’s interdisciplinary approach. The dean is amazing!
The facilities (especially the fit/rec center and dining halls), food, and overall “campus vibe” were equally impressive.
We would strongly recommend attending an open house. Last week we attended an open house at UMD and at another small private college. Although there was a bright spot or two at UMD, our experience at BU put them to shame and made our son’s decision a no brainer!! He couldn’t be happier about his choice.</p>
<p>NewTerp, posts like yours make me so happy!!! I’m glad you had a good experience.</p>
<p>that makes 2 of us, Bailey! im so glad you loved the school, newterp! 
btw, being pre-med really isn’t about what your major is but about what your overall gpa is, your grades in your PREMED courses specifically, your MCAT, and your extracurriculars and recommendations. as i said in a previous post, you can major in anything from biochemistry to archaeology and be a wonderful pre-med candidate. in fact, med schools love well-rounded students, especially since the majority come from a science background. when i was accepted, i was a nutritional sciences major, and they were so excited that i was the first of that major to be accepted to the particular early pathway (however, i did switch my major once i was accepted lol). just do your best and succeed wherever you are with whatever you study.</p>
<p>AliAngel – what is this “early pathway” of which you speak regarding medical school acceptance? Thanks.</p>
<p>i’ve talked about it before; besides the 7 yr med there’s mmedic/engmedic where you apply sophomore year and begin taking med school classes your junior year and matriculate into bu med after graduation (contingent upon completing all your requirements, of course). [Special</a> Programs - BU 2008-09 Undergraduate Bulletin](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/bulletins/und/item14.html#anchor18]Special”>http://www.bu.edu/bulletins/und/item14.html#anchor18)</p>
<p>I have never heard that, if you work hard in college regardless of what school you get in you should still be able to go where you want to go.</p>
<p>I suggest you do your research before you make such comments. Did you do your coursework in CGS? If not, please refrain from making foolish statements such as “the coursework being a comedy routine”. Medical schools look at your overall coursework and classes that fulfill the premed requirement, your grades in those premed classes, your overall GPA, MCATs, ECs, and recommendations. If one is strong in all those areas, the fact that one did their coursework in CGS will not put them at a disadvantage. Afterall, that person is graduating with a degree at BU, not in any specific college…and BU is not such a bad school to go to!=)</p>
<p>DJ has a thing about CGS. Wishes it didn’t exist because it makes BU less prestigious. But DJ is not a ■■■■■ and has been a contributor. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.</p>
<p>I happen to think CGS is a great thing. It’s the same idea as Directed Studies at NYU.</p>
<p>Lergnom, you’re absolutely right I have a problem with CGS as has been discussed in previous posts, but I’ve been busy with school and haven’t been keeping up with this forum lately so I don’t expect others to understand my point of view. </p>
<p>Anyway, my opinion of CGS had nothing really to do with my answer to the question of whether or not CGS will affect admissions to medical schools. I was just trying to answer the question objectively, but I’ll try again without my raw sense of humor. With ALL things being EQUAL- such things as Ali mentioned including MCATs, GPA, extracurriculars, experiences and the rest- then a Bio major who went through four years of CAS will rightfully have an edge over someone who went through CGS two years. If I’m still not clear basically what I’m saying is does anyone really think a med school would take a CGS Bio major over a CAS bio major with IDENTICAL credentials? (not that this situation would ever exist- but I think it best answers the question)</p>
<p>This of course is not to say that CGS students cannot be admitted to med schools cause plenty have. But if the question is whether or not it will affect decisions, then the obvious answer is yes- but yeah, just another factor in the med school admissions process.</p>
<p>DJglover said: </p>
<p>"Lergnom, you’re absolutely right I have a problem with CGS as has been discussed in previous posts, but I’ve been busy with school and haven’t been keeping up with this forum lately so I don’t expect others to understand my point of view. </p>
<p>Anyway, my opinion of CGS had nothing really to do with my answer to the question of whether or not CGS will affect admissions to medical schools. I was just trying to answer the question objectively, but I’ll try again without my raw sense of humor. With ALL things being EQUAL- such things as Ali mentioned including MCATs, GPA, extracurriculars, experiences and the rest- then a Bio major who went through four years of CAS will rightfully have an edge over someone who went through CGS two years. If I’m still not clear basically what I’m saying is does anyone really think a med school would take a CGS Bio major over a CAS bio major with IDENTICAL credentials? (not that this situation would ever exist- but I think it best answers the question)</p>
<p>This of course is not to say that CGS students cannot be admitted to med schools cause plenty have. But if the question is whether or not it will affect decisions, then the obvious answer is yes- but yeah, just another factor in the med school admissions process. "</p>
<p>I don’t understand exactly what your rationale is because the CGS curriculum consists of classes that fulfill the BASIC requirements for every single person who seeks to graduate with a degree from BU. The difference is that CGS kids take those required courses in a 2-year block while the rest of the colleges have those courses spread out. After the 2-year CGS program, the student chooses a major and will have to take whatever courses needed to fulfill that concentration like any other person majoring in that intended area. So what exactly is it that CAS kids have over CGS kids? A bio major coming from CGS still needs to take the same classes for the major that a bio student in CAS has to take–the CGS kid just took the humanities, natural science, social science, etc. (pretty BASIC classes–nothing intense like the actual classes for the intended major) in a 2-year period at CGS.</p>
<p>Are you an admissions person for any prestigious med school, or just ANY med school for that matter? You speak as though you have MUCH familiarity with what goes on in the admissions office of a med school. Please enlighten me my friend. How is a person who went to CAS have an edge over a person who went to CGS who took the BASIC classes that every degree-seeking candidate is SUPPOSED to take before graduation? </p>
<p>Dude, were you one of those hopefuls that applied to Harvard, UPenn, Yale, Princeton and got rejected? I’m sensing some bitterness here. It seems as though you were one of those high schools kids who was hoping to get into an Ivy League, but the plan just didn’t fall in line with reality. As a result, you took the best of the schools that DIDN’T reject you and now you want to hype it up as much as you can (hey, I guess I don’t blame you–paying an Ivy League price for a school that’s not even an Ivy League, i can understand your anger). But this is too much like the crab mentality, those at the bottom (I really wouldn’t consider BU a bottom school at all, but from what I’m sensing from you and what Lergnom said, it seems like you have an inferiority complex) who feel the need to talk ill or “drag” those next to you towards the bottom for you to feel like you’re at the top.</p>
<p>In your next lifetime, work a LITTLE BIT harder to get into that top-tier school, and just maybe you won’t feel so bitter about not getting into an Ivy. =)</p>
<p>I don’t know…I kind of agree with DJ here. Clearly being in CGS doesn’t bar you from admission to med school. But requirements for CGSers aren’t really the same as everyone else. AP credit won’t get you out of classes, for one. I didn’t have to take several classes because of APs and could jump into higher level classes for my major. I would have more depth and experience than someone from CGS because of it.</p>
<p>Moreover, and I’m sure there will be debate, but I personally think that CGS classes are easier than CAS ones. There are exceptions, I’m sure, but if I may generalize (zing) the work I see my friends doing in CGS is comparable to what we did in high school. CGS kids on here can feel free to disagree, I’m not knocking the program at all, but last year my roommates in CGS were studying for a natural science exam that had biology material on it that we did in my junior year of hs.</p>
<p>CAS is also not set up the way CGS is in terms of teams and advising and lots of interaction with professors. You can get that personal touch if you want it, but you better be totally willing to seek it out. I don’t get to meet with advisors all the time (especially good advisors). The comparable program for this kind of structure in CAS would be the Core Curriculum, but in my opinion, again, the classes are much more difficult. Much more focused on writing, much less focused on plug and chug.</p>
<p>As for the general ed requirements being spread out for CASers, most students I know try to get them all out of the way in the first or second years.</p>
<p>I think the CGS program is great and a lot of students really really love and benefit from it. CGS students are not dumb. There are many smarter than people in CAS or any of the other schools. But when I apply to law school, I want the ad coms to give me a little more credit for not needing such a transition from high school.</p>
<p>wow I can’t even wait til I have the time to respond to whatever clown posted before you BUBailey… haha oh man flaws in every argument gonna be a good one.</p>
<p>“I don’t know”, “I personally think”, “in my opinion” doesn’t translate into facts as far as the CGS curriculum goes, it just reflects an outsider’s view looking in. If you haven’t taken the basic classes in CGS, then you really can’t comment objectively because you already have the bias of a CAS student and believe the “stigma” that’s associated with the other schools. I don’t know what specific natural science exam that you saw your CGS roommates from last year studying, but it seems like you’ve only seen fragments of some of the courses that they’ve taken, or maybe you glanced at a few of the notes and therefore you’ve already made up your mind. The topics covered in the CGS classes are the same as the Core divisional requirements in CAS–the natural science material that reminded you of the biology you took junior year in high school wasn’t meant to be an upper-level bio class for a biology major, it’s a general required class with the basic material that might go a little bit more indepth than high school, which you’ll also encounter in your CAS Natural Science classes. And if you notice, many of your core classes in CAS come easy to you (or SHOULD come easy to you) because you’ve already seen many of the basic concepts during high school if you received a decent secondary education. CGS classes aren’t meant as a substitute for upper-level classes in any intended major–they’re merely general requirements with the same exact material covered as those in the core classes of CAS. </p>
<p>Also, those who are serious and know what they want to do academically who are in CGS probably already took it upon themselves to ensure that they knock out the prerequisites for their intended majors through summer coursework, college-level classes they took in high school that can count credit-wise for some intro classes, placement exams, etc. in order to take upper-level classes for their concentrations. Thus, you’re not that “ahead” of them in terms of having the background and breadth in your major.</p>
<p>As far as CAS not being set up the same way that CGS is set up, that has more to to do with the way CAS is structured in comparison to the other smaller colleges. CAS is pretty notorious for having lousy advisors (or should I say advisors who are “indifferent”?) that aren’t very helpful, especially if a student is uncertain about his/her academic plans or have questions about career opportunities. Smallers schools such as SMG, COM, CGS, SHA have the advantage because they’re more specialized and therefore have better advisors. Not to mention, it’s easier for those schools to have a “clear mission”. CGS has the mission of preparing its students with a great liberal arts education before they transition into the other colleges to focus on their intended majors–they also provide a lot of info about the other colleges for many students that are curious about different academic paths who aren’t yet decided on a major.</p>
<p>CAS is comprised of many different majors and departments, so it might be a little hard for advisors to cater to the Anthropology major, Economics major, Philosophy major, IR major, etc., etc. Same thing when it comes to career services, SMG, SHA, and COM have that edge over CAS kids. I don’t know what to tell you except that you and the other CAS kids needs to complain to the administrators and specifically ask them to address the issue of poor faculty advising (and lack of specialized career services–but again, you would need to blame it on the sheer size and set up of CAS).</p>
<p>You know, it’s funny how there’s a stigma about every school. SMG kids feel that they have the most superb education because of the amount of work that they do and the projects that they have and write off other other colleges such as CAS as having a less superior curriculum. SHA and SMG kids scoff at COM kids and criticize them because it seems that they never have homework, when in actuality they have a lot of projects that they work on instead that compliment the curriculum that best suits the concentrations and career opportunities for students of that college. I mean, everyone has their biases about anything that is different than their own, point blank. Students should just worry about their own coursework and not try to criticize other colleges, especially when you’ve never even done your coursework in those schools.</p>
<p>“But when I apply to law school, I want the ad coms to give me a little more credit for not needing such a transition from high school.”</p>
<p>I find it very interesting how you make it seem as though we are discussing students who are transitioning from community colleges. Have you ever bothered to look at the stats of CGS kids instead of assuming? Not to mention that a good amount of people in CGS are also students who APPLIED to the College of General Studies and have the same exact stats as students of the other colleges. My friend, when it comes down to it, a prestigious graduate program will look at your LSATS, your GPA, and your overall coursework (which there is no required courework for law school)–why do you necessarily believe that you deserve a spot at a prestigious law school before the CGS student who might also have strong LSAT scores (better than yours maybe?), an exceptional GPA, and also the required CAS classes for his/her intended major with those same upper-level courses that you did, etc., etc.? You’re simply assuming that because a CGS student did his general ed requirements at CGS (mind you, NOT classes or upper-level courses for the actual intended major), that automatically makes him/her undeserving of getting into a great law school. It’s funny when people make assumptions.</p>
<p>You might want to take some tips from a CGS alum I know who got accepted to UC-Berkley last spring. I guess the admissions people there didn’t readily judge him as not being good enough for their law school simply because he took his general education requirements at CGS. =)</p>
<p>"wow I can’t even wait til I have the time to respond to whatever clown posted before you BUBailey… haha oh man flaws in every argument gonna be a good one. "</p>
<p>That’s very foolish of you. Instead of calling out names like a child would, formulate your argument and specifically address anything in my post that you believe is wrong or that you disagree with in my response to you. No need to call names. You’re too old for that. Not to mention, I didn’t call you any names, so show the same respect please. =)</p>
<p>Go DivineLime, as a future CGS student thank you for making that comment.</p>