<p>When your kid is in college, odds are very good he or she won't look at this board.</p>
<p>Hi there. I'll be a freshman in CAS this fall semester. I've been lurking on this forum for a while, just looking for any information that might be of use to me...well this forum and the UChicago forum to check waitlist news. That didn't work out, but nonetheless I'm excited about BU. I thought I might offer some insight into the whole CGS business, though I'm not a student yet.
The reason I think I can offer some insight is that I went through a very similar situation when I found out that I had been accepted into the General Studies Program at NYU. From what I can tell, GSP and CGS are practically identical programs(though GSP may have a smaller amount of kids and they do receive financial aid usually, I got a 12,000 dollar scholarship). My main concern about GSP was that it would be the quintessential outcast school. I had all the confidence in the world that I would get a great education there, but I had a lot of reservations because I really thought I would be looked down upon.
Suffice it to say, I was brought to my senses by my brother, an NYU CAS alum. His reasoning was basically that anyone who wouldn't associate with or who would look down upon GSP kids isn't really worth the time of day in the first place. He assured me that, having roomed with a guy in GSP his first year, kids in GSP were not all that different from kids in the rest of NYU's schools. Thus, I can't see nor can I legitimize discriminating against kids in the CGS program.
That being said, I understand what DJLover is saying, and agree for the most part. It is the CGS program, and not the CGS students, that frustrate me slightly. It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that CGS students don't deserve the chance the program offers, but I just feel like they're getting a real luxury that I didn't get from colleges I wasn't good enough(for whatever reason) to be accepted to-such as UChicago. I think it's great that BU is giving people who didn't have the grades, the SATs, or whatever, the shot to work harder. The problem is that I've been working hard my whole high school career for this, and I hope that ends up making some difference.</p>
<p>I did get really good financial aid, so maybe that's what I have to show for it.</p>
<p>Ok, I guess that I'll give my two cents. </p>
<p>I gave my opinion on DJGlovers comments in the past and for lack of motivation, I won't repeat them. But, from what I have read, the people against CGS are against it for reasons that I have heard a hundred times: "CGS brings down BU's prestige and CGS students are mediocre in comparison to other students." blah blah blah. </p>
<p>Look...I get it. The students in CGS have a slightly lower GPA average and SAT score than some of the other students at the other BU schools. I just don't get why people feel so insecure about going there. If you are afraid of a possible stigma that may be attached to you, then I would advise you to work super hard, graduate summa cum laude, and laugh in the faces of all who ridiculed you on graduation day. I mean, who cares? People are people and they can say whatever they want. Which is why DJGlover's comments shouldn't offend anyone. We all have freedom of speech and he can say what he wants. It’s that simple. </p>
<p>However, I would like to say something to liland. I know that you stated that you are a parent and I am only an 18 year old, but I don't understand why you are so cautious about visiting this site. In the real world, not everything is filled with lollipops and rainbows. And as b2700 stated, his opinions are just that, opinions. NOT FACTS. </p>
<p>"If students like you hadn't posted their own opinions and taken the time to refute DJGlovers's statements, I would have had an even more difficult time writing out the check to pay for the deposit at BU."</p>
<p>From personal experience, I have learned that everyone will try to put you down in life mostly to raise themselves higher. As we all know, BU is a great institution so the opinions of others shouldn't make or break your decision in writing your son's check. If your son wants to be successful, he can be. He will still have the same BU degree in four years so CGS shouldn't be the reason for him not to attend.</p>
<p>And bucas18, I appreciate your input because I feel that other students can relate. But I don’t understand why your think that being a CGS student is a luxury. I know that you wanted to be accepted to the U of Chicago but you can’t equate it to BU because U of Chicago is more prestigious that BU is. I understand that CGS is a major blessing to some students but it’s not like we failed in high school and weren’t accepted into other college. I got into Trinity, Tufts, and many more schools but I will be attending CGS because I feel that it fits like a puzzle piece. It’s just right for me.</p>
<p>Since I have to eat dinner now, I end it on this note. CGS will be here for quite a while so just deal with it guys. I know that I might get some crap for it but as I stated before, who care? The incoming class will be amazing and we’ll all have a great four years together. So, let’s lighten up and enjoy the ride.</p>
<p>You got into Tufts, but BU put you in CGS?</p>
<p>Odd.</p>
<p>Yeah, but BU gave me 52,000 a year in grants and work study. And I didn't really like Tufts or Trinity because theres little diversity. But I thought it was weird too.</p>
<p>Actually, whatever friction exists is because CGS kids do go into the other colleges after the CGS program. Some friction is natural; you've been going through the various classes in your college and fulfilling your distribution requirements and then these other kids come in. In some colleges, there are, at least at first, sections for the CGS newcomers. But it doesn't matter over time.</p>
<p>BU has a bunch of schools. You may room with someone in SED or SAR or SHA or COM or ENG. Each has very different requirements and goals.</p>
<p>wow. haha. thanks for your post momentum-it will prevent me from making such broad generalizations in the future. in your position i would have surely gone to bu as well, cgs or not(mostly because of the amount of financial aid you received). if you got into tufts you obviously deserved the chance to go to bu one way or another. maybe being put into cgs was as simple as admissions already putting too many Massachusetts people into the school you applied to. they gave you a full ride because they want you to go there.</p>
<p>the reason i used the word "luxury", which may be a little strong, is for the reason lergnom just mentioned. but really, i'm sure cgs classes are just as hard as the classes in any other school. i don't know. i should probably just lighten up.</p>
<p>i actually have a question about orientation. is it an issue that I won't know my ap scores on 4 tests at orientation? I assume a lot of kids run into this problem, as scores come the third week of july. how does this affect what classes i'm going to have to take, that i will have potentially gotten credit for with aps?</p>
<p>^It's not too big of an issue. If you're pretty sure you passed a test, just make your schedule as if you passed. You can always change it later if you need to.</p>
<p>Momentum23, Thanks for your thoughtful post. I agree that life isn't all lollipops and rainbows. </p>
<p>My main reason for visiting CC is to gather useful information - while DJGlover has provided helpful tips and is obviously proud to be a student at BU, there's nothing to be gained from his ongoing negative comments about CGS. His generalizations about CGS students are incorrect, as your own experience shows. Like you, my son was accepted by higher ranked/more selective colleges with scholarships, yet DJG believes that he is "lucky" that BU admitted him. I don't agree. </p>
<p>My son, without any input from me, decided where to matriculate - I'm not sure that I would have picked BU/CGS for him, but it's where he wants to be. I guess that I would just like to visit this site and read something about BU that helps me support his decision (lollipops and rainbows?) instead of making me wonder if he made a decision that he will ultimately regret.</p>
<p>On a different note -- congratulations to all of the seniors who will soon be graduating from high school! One more week to go for my son...</p>
<p>You're very welcome guys. I'm a very opinionated person so I just wanted to let everyone know how I feel. </p>
<p>And yes, liland...lollipops and rainbows :)</p>
<p>What are you supposed to bring to orientation?</p>
<p>There's not really much you need for orientation. Bring an alarm clock if you can't wake up to your phone alarm. Other than that you really just need clothes and stuff. They'll give you sheets, a blanket, a pillow, and a towel</p>
<p>Maybe a portable fan because West gets lots of sun.</p>