I’m currently going to community college ( my 3rd semester at the moment) and I had a bad time last semester where my GPA is now dropped to 3.14. I figure if I’m strong enough to get all A’s this semester I can bring it back up to a 3.44, however I’m more likely to get a 3.29 (I’m a B student, always have been even when I work really hard).
I’ve been in love with Boston University for years and am really wondering if I even have a chance of getting in. Does anyone know from experience what the application process is like there and the probability of my getting in would be? Any advice on increasing my chances of getting accepted? (I’m also wondering about transfer credits from community colleges.)
What’s up! Hey I see the situation you’re in. I was in the same predicament during my CC experience. Yet, I managed to come out with a 3.74 GPA and a lot extracurricular activities to go along with it. My high school record started off at 3.8 UW then ultimately dropped to a 2.9 UW due to life changes and the constant moving house to house affected me severely. So I understand why you’re worrying cause I am as well. Looking at the information given, at the moment, you’re not competitive just yet. Do you have a background of activities? When I spoke to my Admissions Counselor to BU she told me that they look heavily on your college record more than your high school. She also said that they expect to see that you’ve done something other than possessing good grades. One more thing to add that she told me was that for the Common App, they expect applicants to write to the word count as well. The application essay is the best place to debut your story as well as your personality. Just a few tips to help you out. I would share my essays with you if you want me to. I don’t know too much about the transfer credit evaluation but what I do know is that when I asked about it. My basic classes (Statistics, Sociology, English 1 & 2 ex) will be accepted with no issue. When I told them about my classes, they were pretty friendly with confirmation that my credits would be accepted however everyone’s experience is different. Also, everyone’s institution is different so experiences will vary. I’m switching my major to International Affairs so my Criminal Justice credits aren’t going to transfer because BU doesn’t have that major…Well at least for class purposes, it is online only. Are you applying for Fall 2016 or Spring 2017 or Fall 2017?
Hey don’t forget about Brandeis and Northeastern! They’re really great schools. Idk your major but I wouldn’t pass up learning about them. I have applied to many schools (22) and called all of them at least 3 times XD so I know a lot about this damn process and what they’re looking for!
I hope I gave you some insight. I’m visiting BU to boost my chances of getting in.
One more thing. I graduated in Aug 2015 and decided to apply to my colleges the moment they opened their applications because I allowed fear to hold me back from applying when I was still in community college because I didn’t think I would get in. I felt low self-esteem because I was going through a lot from the Marine Corps and relationships. Let nothing hold you back. Right now, I’m being honest that I feel that you’re not competitive. However, I was in the same boat when I was CC. Did I put myself down? No. I decided to boost my chances further. I began to join clubs early in my CC career and began to higher my course load. Because that’s my comfort level. So I waited until I began building my grades and resume before I began applying to these schools because if I would’ve did it early on in my CC career I would’ve gotten denied. If BU is where you want to be, go for it! But, remember there’s a cost and benefit to that in terms of the amount of work. I highly recommend that you call and speak to an Admissions Counselor. Trust me they will listen to you and tell you what you need to do. Don’t let fear stop you from picking up that phone and calling. REMEMBER…the graveyard has all the world’s treasures in it. Just ask all the dreams that died because people never committed to them.
I’m not telling you to be idealistic and think I’m saying that you’re going to get in by a miracle because at the current position its extremely unlikely. Again, I’m making a judgment call on the information provided. Do not overreact to what I’m saying. If you have info that will boost your chances, then state it. Ultimately, I’m encouraging you to challenge the idea that you can’t get in. Call them. Talk to them. Go from there on what you need to do to get in.
I know this is a lot of information but honestly from what I read. I really think you needed that.
Thank you so much Saw777! That really does help out quite a bit, and if you didn’t mind I really would love to see a sample of you essay for a rough idea. I grew up quite poor and am actually the first in my family to even attend college so I don’t really have anyone to look to for advice. I tend to go off of what I know as well as any kind of advice I get from others. I understand that I’m most likely not competitive right now but I’m planning on working even harder in hopes to become competitive enough. As for right now I’m attending community college in an outreach center (the actual college campus is over an hour away so there is a little outreach center in my town with the college courses, not all but quite a few). Do you know how much they look at volunteers( I volunteer with the salvation army and other organizations ) and workers (I can’t afford not to work, I’m currently a full time student as well as having a full time job)?
I plan on majoring in International Relations (IR) and minoring in Arabic. BU has been my dream college for years, however the hand of cards I was dealt didn’t work in my favor. There are a few other colleges(Binghamton University - SUNY would probably be my second choice) that I’ve looked at with some interest, however BU is my top choice. I plan on applying for Spring 2017.
You didn’t overload me with information, it was a great help and really gave me a push as well as some ideas.
Thank you again
Sincerely,
Kalista R.
What schools would be your best financial fits?