<p>I hope I can get some solid advice. So I was accepted to BU for fall 213 to CGS. I took it in good faith because BU is a great school and I have faith in myself, I know I can succeed. But lately I've been very unsure of my decision. I want to be premed, major in international relations and minor in African studies. I'm scared of grade deflation, finishing on time since I'm CGS and the money. I haven't been gone on campus and I owe $3661 in fees and insurance. I don't have books, clothes or even bed sheets. I am appealing but I was wondering if I should just cut my losses and back out now. I'm low income and so haven't spent anything on BU except $3 for to post my appeal letter. Everything else was waived. I live in Minnesota and I'm think of reaching out to the U of MN for fall enrollment and living at home to save money. I wanted the whole college experience but obviously can't afford it. Please help, ps I'm African so race does worry me.</p>
<p>. I’m scared of grade deflation, finishing on time since I’m CGS and the money. I haven’t been gone on campus and I owe $3661 in fees and insurance. I don’t have books, clothes or even bed sheets</p>
<p>while you’re waiting for your appeal, contact your state school and see if you can get in. If at this point, you don’t have the $3661 and other school/dorm supplies, then this isn’t going to work…you still need airfare and shuttle costs.</p>
<p>Do you currently reside in Africa?</p>
<p>Sorry, see that you live in Minnesota.</p>
<p>Yeah I’m in Minnesota with an occasional accent. I know BU isn’t particularly diverse but I was wondering if there was noticable racial tension. Never gave it much though until I read a BU Student comment about it being an issue for her.</p>
<p>Also at my in state I’ll be coming in with 18 credits which is better than nothing and BU will only give me 4 credits for psych.</p>
<p>Do you have enough money to cover the cost of attending g Minnesota?</p>
<p>If you can get the money to go to BU, give it a go. But as others have said, get your ducks in a row, in case the money does not work out. If you can’t get the $3K, can’t get the things you need, you can’t get there, it’s starting off all bad and can just get worse. You are going ot have to struggle and look hard for opportunities to make this work if it is going to do so. I think it’s a great opportunity if you can, and diversity is no worse than most places. Boston’s a big city and BU is a city school. A big change from where you are now.</p>
<p>Can you afford your local university and is it a viable option? Are you an international student? </p>
<p>BU is not known to be a generous school, so you will have to stretch and come up with some money out of pocket to make this work. I would give it a go if at all possible, because this is an incredible opportunity to anyone to go to Boston. If you don’t like it, you can likely transfer back to your local university. Just keep those grades up. But I would give it a chance if at all possible. But there are no money trees around, so if you can’t come up with the $s, you may not even have the choice.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>BU’s college of general studies is not premed friendly. It has a strict integrated Core curriculum, with few opportunities for electives, i.e., taking the premed prereqs. Thus, you might not even be able to complete the prereqs and graduate on time. (If not, your financial aid may not exceed 8 semesters.)</p>
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<p>While all courses are in Boston, at best you would take one course in the College of Arts and Sciences (where the vast majority of undergrads are, and where 99% of the successful premeds will be).</p>
<p>Given your financial situation, I would not recommend relocating.</p>
<p>Thanks cptofthehouse, I see exactly what you are talking about but I just need to know someone else sees this as a good plan. I’m reaching out to BU but trying to line the U of MN as a fall back plan. I know I can’t give up but lately it’s been so hard realizing money will determine the rest of my life. I turned down the honors program at Maryland and now it looks like I’ll lose BU too due to money. I have instate tuition at the U of MN so I’m pretty sure I can afford it. I called to ask them to resend my first financial aid offer if possible, if they let me in I doubt the number’s will change.</p>
<p>I went to school on a full aid package many years ago, Movieslove. It was a mixed experience, but I can tell you that I was perpetually broke. Even after college I was broke, as I didn’t have a high paying job right away. I was lucky to get the job I did. It seemed like all of my peers had family that could contribute something. Mine was far away, and they had little extra, and when my father became terminally ill, I ended up paying out of pocket to help out. So I was in a whole other league than most young adults from that school. It was always struggling to make the next payment and always a dollar short and a day late at best.</p>
<p>When I got married and was ready to relocate to where my husband had a job, I made a go at applying to law schools. But when the time came to make the decision, it came down to whether I wanted to do another 3 years, poor and tired, living in a student ghetto, or continuing a job and with DH’s salary, actually joining the middle class. I was so sick and tired of being broke, that it figured largely in my decision not to go to law school. So, yes, there is that. </p>
<p>But Boston is a very different experience. I know nothing about the program to which you gained acceptance–I did not know that it was not the regular UG expereince. That you got a full ride is remarkable as BU is not known to be particularly generous. But, yes, the reality is you will be struggling with finances the whole time. Boston is expensive and if you don’t know the ins and outs, there more so. No family/friends there, even more. </p>
<p>As a young person, I would probably give it a chance IF I could make the money work out up front, because as I said, it does not get easier, just harder. If it turned out not to be worth it, back I would go. But if this is not the traditional BU UG situation, you are not even going to get what support those kids get. If this is an adult education program, a lot will be on you. There is some coddling and amenities available at the College of A &S, which is makes it a bit easier. You are not going to get that support or those resources.</p>
<p>*I know I can’t give up but lately it’s been so hard realizing money will determine the rest of my life. I turned down the honors program at Maryland and now it looks like I’ll lose BU too due to money. *</p>
<p>Don’t be so dramatic. This is NOT going to determine the rest of your life. You want to go to med school. Of course attending UMinn can get you there. </p>
<p>Why would you think that BU is the only route to a successful life? </p>
<p>Also, call UMaryland and see if they’ll still take you with full aid.</p>
<p>Edited to add…my younger son went to his state flagship on nearly a full merit scholarship. Today is his second day of med school. as you can see, not going to a BU type of school isn’t stopping him.</p>
<p>Thanks for the harsh words, I like I said I don’t want to but I’m tempted to give up. I’m calling the dean of the program I was accepted to. I doubt she will even pick up.</p>
<p>Realistically, OP, if your math and writing skills are not really strong now, BU is probably not the place to make them better, since it will would likely cost you the grades you’ll need for med school.</p>
<p>couple of articles on General Studies.</p>
<p>[CGS</a> is More Than Meets the Eye | The Quad](<a href=“http://buquad.com/2012/09/24/cgs-is-more-than-meets-the-eye/]CGS”>CGS is More Than Meets the Eye – The Quad)</p>
<p><a href=“General Studies Moves to the Mainstream - The New York Times”>General Studies Moves to the Mainstream - The New York Times;
<p>to but I’m tempted to give up. I’m</p>
<p>If this “hiccup” is enough to make you “give up”, you don’t have what it takes to get thru premed and med school…so buck up!! :)</p>
<p>* your math and writing skills are not really strong now BU is probably not the place to make them better, since it will would likely cost you the grades you’ll need for med school.*</p>
<p>Very good point!!</p>
<p>You really need to go to UMinn…and get your math and other skills up to par first.</p>
<p>The OP has been told for several days now that they need to contact the colleges and get solid information:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1532886-can-i-withdraw-before-school-starts.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1532886-can-i-withdraw-before-school-starts.html</a></p>
<p>I just heard back from the U of M and they said the can’t, should I persist?</p>
<p>U of MN said no, should i and can i keep persisting?</p>
<p>Hmmmm…Did you ask if you could start in the Spring?</p>
<p>yeah… they need my gpa and that won’t be avilable till next year. Do you know any schools in the midwest apart from cc’s that might accept me this late.</p>
<p>You cannot reach your highschool and get an official transcript sent to UM? Ask if you can fax it there. There are probably some courses you can take on an non matriculated basis. There are at all colleges. Then you can formally apply. </p>
<p>Out of curiousity, how was it that you got involved with the BU non mainstream program. Did you just graduate from high school? And you got close to a full ride from them? That’s unusual.</p>