<p>Hello all...I am an incoming freshman at BU. Im considering a premed route, and was wondering if anyone had any information on the program offered by BU. I heard about grade deflation being rampant...do graduate schools take this into account? How is the acceptance rate into medical school? What is the rate of acceptance into top tier schools? How are the professors/ research opportunities offered? Just overall, how is the experience. From friends and alumni, I havnt heard many good things...but BU gave me a good offer to attend so Im going... can anyone provide any insight?</p>
<p>You might want to check out BU thread and archives thereof. The grade inflation issue at BU has been much discussed before. I recall seeing some published articles regarding this posted on BU thread too.</p>
<p>You might also want to look up Sakky's comments regarding the importance of grades for med school admission. This too, has been discussed and is in the archives.</p>
<p>First off, about the grade inflation issue Pharmagal brought up, I'm not quite sure if that's correct. I'd like to think grading is tough, as it should be, but don't think anyone has actually properly distinguished between grade deflation and inflation at BU. Inflation is defined as in the same courses, succeeding years who take the same courses receive higher marks. That is one indication of inflation, but as such, may also indicate higher quality of students. Deflation is the opposite. These are both defined in studies schools do themselves to determine level of inflation/deflation. Google Georgia Tech's study when they tried to measure those things and you'll get an idea of what those terms actually mean as opposed to angry students throwing those terms around to justify their gpa.</p>
<p>Second of all, if anything, I would actually think BU would learn more towards grade deflation as opposed to inflation, but at the same time, I think it's just fine. I just say more in deflation vs. inflation since it's not exactly all A's and B's as some ivy's like Harvard have been trying to change (I think it was 9 out of 10 graduated with honors at harvard?). Anyways, a good article to read is here in the NY Times:Can</a> Tough Grades Be Fair Grades? - New York Times.</p>
<p>That suggests BU goes through grade deflation where one student experimented with himself as the control and different institutions as the variable. Might not be the best designed experiment, but much greater than someone who is full time at one institution, takes summer courses at others, and claims one or the other is deflating/inflating. The real competition in classes is usually offered during normal school semesters anyways, so Summer might be more difficult or easier depending on what kind of students enroll.</p>
<p>But...I regress...back to the BU pre-med track. I recommend that before choosing any classes at BU, you consult ratemyprofessor.com. You'll be able to gauge the effectiveness of the teachers and difficulty of the class to differentiate between a scientist attempting to teach a course, or a professor that actually loves teaching and teaches well. With the former, you might get lower quality teaching and consequently a lower average and more difficult courseload. If I were you, I'd try to persue an abnormal pre-med schedule in the sense of taking the pre-med courses during times where less pre-med students are enrolled, as to minimize the competition.</p>
<p>For example, I would reckon that most pre-meds jump on Chemistry and Biology first semester of freshman year, as outlined by one of the example syllabus given to the pre-med meetings. I'd try to mix it up and perhaps do the math and english first semester, then start on gen chem I and bio I 2nd semester. Classes will be smaller, teaching more personalized, and less competition so it will 'artificially' lighten your courseload, although you shouldn't expect it to work miracles since you're learning the same material.</p>
<p>Cliffnotes: (1) ratemyprofessor.com to gauge your potential teacher and (2) try to avoid taking the class during heavy pre-med semesters as outlined above.</p>
<p>In terms of experience, it depends a lot on what you major in and the courses you take. Use ratemyprofessor to see which professors to avoid and which to take. If you haven't taken chemistry before or in a long time, I'd avoid taking Tullius for Gen Chem I, for Calculus-based Physics, I'd avoid Stone. Those two I remember the most as being great scientist, but when it comes to teaching, they are poor at it. You can't expect to teach Physics, a conceptually based problem-intensive course to be taught using powerpoint slides that just name definitions and pictures. If you choose to major in Engineering, that's great, BU has some great ENG faculty, especially in BME and Manufacturing/Mechanical. If you ever have Professor DeWinter or Bethune, you'll understand the quality of great teachers.</p>
<p>Gosh! Thanks Astor. I meant to say grade deflation at BU is well known and published largely. Not grade inflation.........Guess I was typing faster than I was thinking. End of a tiring day typo.</p>
<p>I meant grade deflation. I stand corrected. Thanks, Astor.</p>
<p>I've only had one good science professor in CAS and that was Ludwig for 1st semester calculus-based physics. But I definitely agree with astor, BU has some phenomenol ENG professors. Most of my favorite professors have been the ENG ones.</p>
<p>Pharmagal, I hope you didn't take my post harshly, not my intentions, just wanted to throw in what i thought was an error.</p>
<p>I agree with the Ludwig comment, he was an excellent teacher, although not my professor. I just showed up to a few of his lectures and he sure loves those examples which are very helpful.</p>
<p>If you aren't ENG or a physics major, I think you'll be taking one of the regular PY104 physics or something like that, in which case, I can't really comment on the professors. Chemistry should be pretty universal since most people take the CH101/102 track, Bio was just bio.</p>