<p>Two issues here that I hope some current BU students or parents can address. First, i am well aware of the grade deflation at B.U. I would like some idea of what the average gpa for a student in com might be- ie not a student who studies all the time, but not a slacker, either. Any wisdom out there? </p>
<p>Also, i was just looking at the calendar and was very surprised (shocked, you might say!) to see that the dorms close for Thanksgiving and Spring break. Are there no exceptions? We are on the west coast, and were not planning on our daughter coming home for those breaks. The costs they keep a growin…</p>
<p>My friend's sister goes to BU, and I am going in Sept., and the defaltion rumor is on a few of the threads below and will make you feel better when you see that current students say its no big deal. One person said it is usually just Writing and a few other courses. Like it said, your daughter can ask around to see which teachers grade on a curve and since its a big school she can choose professors based on that info. There is a teacher at my high school that we all avoided because she graded on a curve. My friend's sister is in Com and always on the Dean's List. If you want to go to Law, Medical, grad school they all know that BU is challenging and take that into account when they look at GPA.</p>
<p>Hi New BU Parent,
The so-called grade deflation, which they probably call realistic grading compared to the inflation you see at schools where 94% of kids get As, is talked about on a few of the threads below. There are about 10 comments on it under the thread called "WHY BU". So give that a read. Our S is a Freshman and like the previous poster he knows kids that choose their profs based on which ones are curve oriented. A comment on the Why BU thread says it mainly effects kids in the c to c-range. Our S has had 8 courses and only believes the Writing one--which spans two semesters Freshman year--is regidly curve oriented where his A became a B because it was a low A and other kids worked harder/did better to deserve the A. He has been able to get an excellent GPA so far. He works hard but defintely has a significant amount of fun. I don't quite agree with deflation, if it exists, on the other hand I see that it gets ridiculous at schools where kids get As without working hard so the kids who put in the effort feel cheated. It was something that gave me pause when i saw it on this board last year but it has worked out OK for him after all. As far as Spring Break I suggest you call the Office of Residence/Housing at BU. I can't imagine that there isn't a system since there are so many California and International kids. It may be that "shut down" just means they don't have security and meals and use that time to clean and repair dorms and that you actually can stay there or maybe there is an alternative arrangement made where they keep one open for this purpose so kids aren't alone on a floor all break. I'll ask our S. He has a friend from Europe there and we offered to host him at Spring break but our S said he wanted to stay at BU. I'm not sure what he did. Like I said, call BU and let us know what they say since its an interesting question.</p>
<p>Thanks, drummerboy and dogs.
My concern with the grade deflation is probably different than that of most people posting re this issue below. I actually am glad that it exists as it will provide some real indication of the effort my child puts in. i was actually more concerned about one school on her list that has the opposite problem (eg would i know it if all she were doing was partying?).<br>
I actually have some concerns about my d's ability to do well in this competitive environment. I think the potential is there, but the discipline is somewhat lacking. Add to that the concerns about the distractions of the city, and we wanted to have some expectations in place re minimum gpa she must attain for us to keep writing the (very large) checks :) That's why I am seeking some sort of range for the average student gpa.</p>
<p>Dogs, I am making my list of questions and will call housing. It is an interesting question, isn't it?<br>
It was sorta wierd that the website stated that the residences "close" on particular days. While there are usually provisions for internationals, i am not going to assume that that applies to the west-coasters, as well. However, your comment "maybe there is an alternative arrangement made where they keep one open for this purpose so kids aren't alone on a floor all break." sounds reasonable and I think a friend whose daughter is at another school has found that to be the case there. Otherwise, my daughter may have to make some good friends from the boston area!</p>
<p>Mommeleh, I read an article in the BU student newspaper in which a kid was upset because he had stayed in the dorm over spring break, and inspectors came in unannounced and confiscated his hookah.
So as dogs says, maybe the dorms are open but there's no meal service.</p>
<p>We are in California as well. I am waiting for Jet Blue to fly into Boston from our city. Jet Blue flies from Oakland and Long Beach. I am originally from NY and my cousin lives in CT, so I know my S can go there for Thanksgiving if necessary</p>
<p>Okay, I admit it, kinshasa. I just did a google search to find out what a hookah is. I guess I really am an old fogie. i think we called them bongs?</p>
<p>We are actually from seattle. And, while we have alot of united miles saved up, i am finding that they are virtually impossible to use when we want to. I think it might not be terribly safe for my d to be on a deserted floor over a 4-5 day weekend. My husband actually has distant relatives in newton, but my d doesn't really know them, and i don't know how i would feel asking them to put her up year after year for these breaks. We'll have to figure it out somehow...</p>
<p>And to think- our state flagship u is within walking distance. Boy, would that have been easier. But she wants to go away....</p>
<p>You're in Seattle; my daughter's an hour away in Olympia at Evergreen State. When you said west coast, I assumed you were in California.
The United airfare from our city is about $430 round-trip. I used United miles for free tickets when my son briefly attended Emerson College.</p>
<p>I have been able to use miles in the past, but when I tried to see if i could use them for ANY of the 7 (?) possible orientation dates this summer- even allowing for a range of departure and return dates for each one- I could find only one date that might work. They have changed the program so that it is extremely hard to use the 25,000 saver awards (very few of them). Now you can use the 40,000 mile "standard" awards. Even those seats were hard to come by if you have limited flexibility.
How does your daughter like evergreen? I hear it's a wonderful place for the right kind of kid (usually pretty motivated and self-disciplined.)</p>