Is BU the school for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Boston University
1

<p>With college applications approaching, I am beginning to become very nervous about all the schools I am planning on applying to. Almost everyone in my family has gone to BU and loved it, and I plan on applying there as well. </p>

<p>My stats are as follows:</p>

<p>Gender: Male</p>

<p>Race: Caucasian</p>

<p>Residency: MN</p>

<p>GPA: UW- 3.40 (school doesn’t do weighted)</p>

<p>Took a total of 6 Honors and 2 AP classes (so far)</p>

<p>Rank: ~Top 25% at highly competitive high school (Eden Prairie HS)</p>

<p>AP: U.S. Gov, Comparative Gov, Psychology</p>

<p>ACT: 27 (28 super-scored)</p>

<p>Senior Schedule: AP Lit, AP Stats, AP Euro, Spanish 5 (College Credit), Honors Physics, Concert Choir, AP Macro & Microeconomics</p>

<p>ECs: </p>

<p>-Executive Board Member for Drama Club (1st year on Board, 4 year member)</p>

<p>-Top Auditioned Choir (3 years)</p>

<p>-Auditioned Men’s Acapella Group (2 years)</p>

<p>-Audition Chamber Choir (1 year)</p>

<p>-4 Musicals, 5 other productions (Been apart of Drama for all 4 years)</p>

<p>*Placed 1st at Subsections, 3rd at Sections, and 2nd at Thespian Society Competition for
our Competitive One Act.</p>

<p>-2 years of JV Lacrosse (Captain Sophomore Year)</p>

<p>-Amnesty International (1 year)</p>

<p>-Young Democrats (1 year)</p>

<p>-Various Volunteer Hours (~100 hours so far)</p>

<p>I know my GPA is rather low, but I believe that my overall package is well rounded.</p>

<p>So, how likely is it that I will be admitted to BU?</p>

2

<p>I think your ACT is a tad on the low side. If you had a higher GPA I’d say it wouldn’t matter but since both are about average you’d need at least one to stick out. So maybe try retaking the ACT and shoot for a 30+.</p>

<p>Each school/program within BU is also quite different–some being more competitive than others. You definitely have a decent chance, but for a stronger one retake the ACTs.</p>

3

<p>Just took it in June and feeling good about it! Thanks for all the help, guys! I Really hope I get accepted!</p>

4

<p>I applaud your extracurricular activities. I mention that because that because “is BU the school for me” is a much larger question than the academic portion. Higher education is about developing “the whole self” and includes co-curricular opportunities that exist along side of academics. These include student organizations, study abroad, and community engagement. Given what you’ve listed in the e-mail, I can recommend some links for you:</p>

<p>BU Symphonic Chorus: Presents in the historic Boston Symphony Hall. Here is a link to a recent concert (select video Mendelssohn’s Elijah, conducted by Ann Howard Jones) [Concert</a> Archives College of Fine Arts | Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/virtual-concert-hall/concert-archives/]Concert”>http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/virtual-concert-hall/concert-archives/)</p>

<p>Acapella groups: [A</a> Cappella Rocks | BU Today | Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/today/a-cappella-rocks/]A”>http://www.bu.edu/today/a-cappella-rocks/)</p>

<p>Theater: [Boston</a> University - Organizations](<a href=“- Terrier Central”>- Terrier Central) </p>

<p>BU Young Democrats: [BU</a> College Dems | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook”>Boston University College Democrats) </p>

<p>Community Service opportunities: [Community</a> Service Center Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/csc/]Community”>Community Service Center)</p>

<p>Lacrosse: <a href=“http://www.bu.edu/fitrec/club/sports/lacrosse.shtml[/url]”>http://www.bu.edu/fitrec/club/sports/lacrosse.shtml&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

5

<p>Good luck! you sound terrific! Our daughter had a similar Gpa, lower ECs, and higher test scores. She worked really hard on her essays, and was deferred ec. She wrote a letter of interest and sent a recommendation from her volunteer activity and was accepted. very very happy there, and is now in London as a rising soph with the CGS program. Be sure you check and consider CGS… It is a fantastic program unless you want heavy math science.</p>

6

<p>I have looked into CGS a bit and I would consider that as an option if I am not accepted to the main university. Anyone else have thoughts?</p>

7

<p>You should apply to CGS directly. I do not think you have a chance otherwise.</p>

8

<p>have you considered taking the SAT to see how your scores compare? They test different skills, and sometimes there is a dramatic difference. I think you sound like a perfect CGS candidate, and a terrific kid. One thing we didn’t think of is that the common app gives you no opportunity to file recommendations from non-teachers. For some reason, we did not consider sending these separately until she was deferred. I strongly recommend that you send recs separately if some are non-teachers. In light of your diverse background, I think you should send a strong one from an academic teacher, a strong one from music or drama, and a strong one from the community service end. Last time I checked, one recommendation had to be from a counselor, which in most public schools is kind of a waste as this person tends not to know you well at all. This puts you one over…definitely definitely mail that one. The other thing that I would suggest is that you carefully review the links above from nytenor and mention specifics about what excites you about what you read. For example, in terms of community service, paint a picture of what you would choose for FYSOP, etc. Talk about why your family values their bu experience, and not just that they all went there. In other words, make it very very easy for the interviewer to “see” you at bu. My understanding, by the way, is that there is no acceptance advantage to only applying to CGS. I would choose another school in addition on the application based on your passions and possible eventual major.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all your help! I have almost finished the BU application! I would love to hear any other thoughts as well.</p>

10

<p>Passion Passion Passion. The current Dean of Students is a joyful and passionate man who is constantly encouraging students to find how they can best contribute to the world. He is also quite excited about music - perhaps you could research him, and talk about how your background reflects what he is encouraging in his students. As an example, he is a non-swimmer. For the class of 2011, he vowed that if they got 2011 students to contribute to the alumni association by a certain date, he would jump into the Charles River. They did. He did a series of videos on the BU doctor checking him out and discussing his fear, a student teaching him how to swim, etc. Thousands lined the bank to watch him jump in wearing a tux and red tennis shoes with a mask and snorkel. I believe there were five lifeguards in the water with him, who pretty much flew him into the waiting boat at the first splash. BU culture at its best. </p>

<p>One other thing: BU’S CGS is the main university. Some people see it as second best - I know I did initially. DD had a huge schorlarship to another school, and her admission at BU’s CGS program would be net double. We went back to the open house (from CA) after admission, and were STRUCK by the passion and focus of the program, and she immediately decided it was a great fit. To me, every college class should be organized like CGS. In a nutshell, a typical class will have a weekly lecture with 200 given by the professor who is most passionate about that topic (giving them 6 weeks to prepare) 1 or 2 small group discussions on the topic with perhaps 20 people, and sometimes a 'section" of even less students. Basically, you get the best lecture, followed by small group discussion. It is FANTASTIC. The only people that I would not recommend it for are people who arematch/science majors, or people who plan to double major - I understand that is more challenging.</p>

11

<p>Hit reply too soon. DD’s best friends are still from FYSOP (the volunteer program before school starts that is university wide). They are from College of Engineering, College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and she is at CGS. Unless you are on a specialty floor, everyone lives together. My DD said not a single person cares what school you are in (except engineering, where they have the usual engineering reputation). All schools have negative labels said in fun: The College of Malice and Greed (business); The College of Optional Math (communication); Crayon Glue and Scissors (CGS) Expect No Girls (Engineering), etc. Can’t recall the label for MFA which I bet you are considering - it has something to do with living in their Mom’s basement :)</p>