<p>Dear nelly29 : One of our very respected colleague here on College Confidential, vinceh, has already responded to the “scottj callout” with quality information. Aside from a potential soft spot with your 30 scores in math/science on the ACT, your board scores are certainly in the BC sweet spot. </p>
<p>Your being called out in both the sports and arts areas is somewhat important as your profile fails to answer the question “what do you add to the Boston College fabric?” I often use the term “campus fabric” in this context to explain a very simple parameter in the application process. Students want to apply and attend a college campus that is complete from an academics perspective, but also fulfilling from a social perspective. How will you make Boston College a better place for other freshmen and upper classmen? Easy to ask, but very tough to answer - once you clear the academic hurdle, this is a central differentiator.</p>
<p>You mention your 250+ hours of volunteer efforts. This is admirable and I am going to challenge you, nelly29, by saying “so what?” Please do not take this as a negative, but again to challenge your essays and thinking. If you had not done those 250 hours, what difference would it have made other than to your profile. Think about the IMPACT of your volunteerism - that will make it very much more meaningful to the reader.</p>
<p>nelly29, you have all the attributes that could make you successful at Boston College. You need to take that final step in your application that answers the question why Boston College needs you. The pieces are all there - you just need to arrange them into the final puzzle image.</p>
<p>On a personal note, vinceh who knows a bit about my background is correct that I am not in admissions. Both of my children are attending Boston College (senior, sophomore) and I am on the Board of Directors at another major university in New York. (Don’t ask as I will not tell, but some aggressive searches might provide some hints.) Since both of my children are indeed part of the admissions tours/panel teams, I do have some inside information that I do like to share with applicants in this forum. In general, what we suggest is just good practice and not Boston College specific!</p>
<p>In closing, for vinceh : you can do stand-in for me anytime! Your contributions are just as valuable or moreso given your having attended Boston College.</p>