Hi, im a prospective student who would like to attend Boston University as a biomedical engineering major. However, I was wondering if there is in fact grade deflation at Boston University, if there is that would mean I would have to work extra hard but I would like to know if there is in fact such a thing or if it is a lie?
Thanks
Students who don’t get the A’s that they know they deserve claim there is grade deflation.
so there is no grade deflation? its just the students complaining about what they got? @TomSrOfBoston
Pretty much. although some will disagree with me.
would in all say boston university is a good college, like in general and for pre med? @TomSrOfBoston
An excellent choice in a great city but obviously very expensive.
besides the fact that there is no campus what is the biggest difference between boston university and northeastern? I want to go to med school so would going to BU be better for me? Or do you know any other college good for bme and pre-med with a decent social life? @TomSrOfBoston
Im sorry i keep asking you questions, but you just seem like the right guy to ask…thank you so much for your help, I just have so many questions lol its big decision
I’m biased in favor of Northeastern but that is a personal preference. You need to visit both schools and talk to students and faculty if possible. Also if you are pre-med you should go to the one that has the lowest bottom line cost, excluding loans. Unless money is not an issue for your parents.
Grade deflation at BU is real. There also are students, of course, who will moan and groan over the grade they “deserved” because that’s just what Millennials do (I’m one, as well!). But BU legit has grading rubrics and “rules” for professors that equates grade deflation, ie: they cannot give out more than X number of As, A-s, B+s, etc. in any given course, in order to force a bell curve. It is worse in some programs/majors than others, and class size makes a difference, as well. ie: in small classes where the teacher actively practices it (and if they’re not tenured, it is in their best interest to do so), they may literally only be allowed 1 A and 1 A-, and if you’re basically third in the class, you end up with a B+, instead. Happened to me many times in German classes.
But you suck it up. Classes feel rigorous because you DO have to work your butt off to excel. A B+ will feel like an A (seriously) and when you get an A it is the best feeling. I got a really good education–arguably better than my peers at the Ivy across the river who got As pretty easily. Because realistically, even super smart people cannot always be the best and get the best grades–BU basically takes smart, capable people and teaches the lesson that you have to hustle to do well, even when you’re pretty stellar. It serves you well in later life. I graduated with a 3.47 GPA which was a magna cum laude distinction–relative to my peers, despite what might seem like a “low” GPA, I actually stacked pretty well (and the MCL goes on my resume accordingly). Both grad schools and businesses who hire from BU and know about BU review BU GPAs with an understanding of grade deflation there. And once you get your first job, etc. honestly no one will ever care about your college GPA again (unless you go to grad school later), and all that matters is you got a great education. BU has a great reputation among recruiters in certain fields, because it produces graduates who are diligent, hard workers.
So if you prefer a place where it’s “easy” to get As, BU might not be a fit. It’s more academically rigorous than people realize; it’s easier to get into BU than it is to get As while you’re actually there.
I’m not personally all that familiar with the school, but I do know it has a reputation as being “hard”.