Spring 09 (1 semester) Transfer to BU? chances

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey, I'm a starting freshman at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and I want to apply for Spring 09 at BU. I went to UMASS because my parents wanted me to go to a state school for the money, but said if I didn't like it there, they'd be alright with me transferring. After Orientation, I realized that the likelihood of me enjoying my time there was pretty low, so I'd make the best of my summer preparing for transfer if I decide to do that come November, and I'd like to know what my chances are.</p>

<p>I went to a pretty good High School, where my classmates went to pretty good schools (MIT/Harvard/Notre Dame/etc).</p>

<p>Class Rank: 19/202
GPA (weighted/unweighted): 4.93/3.8ish maybe?
I took only honors and AP level courses.</p>

<p>APs:
US History: 3
English Lang/Comp: 4
English Lit/Comp: 3
Biology: 3
Euro. History: 4
Statistics: 5</p>

<p>SATs:
Crit. Reading: 690
Math: 650
Writing: 720
Superscore: 2060</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
US History: 670
Literature: 680</p>

<p>ECs:
Math Team: Junior and Senior Year
Community Service: ~50 hours, Junior and Senior Year (freshman year too)
Art: Member and Featured Artist for an Online Art Community (3+ years)
Japanese: Teaching myself Japanese+ went to Japan for learning experience</p>

<p>Let me know my chances and if you need anymore information.</p>

<h2>My first semester won't have finished when I'd have to apply for transfer.</h2>

<p>Also, I was wondering if since I'm transferring after only a semester, and it won't even be over when I apply, if High School recs are acceptable (for at least one of them)?</p>

<p>I'm planning on bulking up with some more ECs at UMass.</p>

<p>I just really want to go to BU.</p>

2

<p>please help me out?</p>

3

<p>Ok, there are many things you must figure out first. The reason why many people want to go to a certain is school is not primarily for the social scene, but really for the school that offers the best program. Find out which program you want to get into first because it makes all the difference. For instance I am from VA, and at Virginia Tech the engineering departments average GPA of acceptance was a 3.89 while the business department was much lower than that. Also there is something college the College of General Studies, which is really easy to get into, its basically small class sizes for your gen ed classes and you are basically into the school. You are offered this if you do not get into the major you desire. In other words there are many ways to get in, do not panic. Get decent grades, make sure you are not killing yourself. Personally I feel as if you should stay at Amherst until maybe your 2nd year just to save money, of course if your parents really dont care about money then go right ahead. Also you may want to think about doing an internship in your related major because that also looks extremely good, plus you will ultimately want to get a job somewhere and experience is desired. Got anymore questions let me know and ill try to get back to you....</p>

4

<p>I'm interested in the College of Management, for a Law/Prelaw major. I also want to be closer to home (My hometown is like 45 mins from boston, as opposed to 2+ hours from amherst). Other reasons too.</p>

5

<p>you might want to give it a chance, i didnt have that great of a time at my college orientation and only remained sort-of friends with one girl, but i ended up enjoying the rest of my freshman year with other kids. just to let you know, the transfer essay for BU is "why do you want to transfer" and the supplement is "what prompted your application to BU" so you should probably show some genuine interest for why you're good for BU and vice versa cuz i doubt a dislike for your current school probably wont cut it. yep that's all.</p>

6

<p>disliking my school isn't even close to a main reason why I want to transfer.
1. my school doesnt offer the specific major I want
2. dont like the area, amherst is boring
3. too far from my family</p>

<p>etc. the essays dont worry me too much, how do you think I'd fare other than essays/reason for transfer?</p>

7

<p>dlavier21, really with your stats, you should be getting in, but its not going to be just that simple. Recommendations are a big thing as well as the essays. I know someone who got into Harvard Law school because of his essay, that is what seperated him from everyone else other than that he had average grades compared to everyone else in the application process. I want to go to Law school as well, but my suggestion is to have a specialization in something else. Really you can do something like economics or finance or drama, and still be a lawyer. The advantages of that is you will have a lot of information in that field of study. Being in a Pre-law major to me and to many people who I have spoken with is not necessary really. BU is really good with Economics and Finance both. I suggest looking into that, there are a lot of people who later on realize they don't want to do law. Even if you did want to go into law after college you will still be benefited by the major you earned in college. Like I said before if you apply for a major and you are not accepted, you will probably be admitted into the college of general studies and then get into your major.</p>

<p>Side note: I hated Economics until I actually took a class in it, finance is amazing because I love business. Law school scares the S$!t out of me but I know that it will be beneficial. Check out some other majors........
You still need advice, let me know.</p>

8

<p>I'm a sophomore BU premed student and I've loved the experiences I've had at BU so far. I just wanted to clarify one thing someone mentioned -- about the College of General Studies. It's actually NOT easier to get into, it's just another way to approach college. I'm a Dean's Host so I give tours of BU and this is the general breakdown...</p>

<p>BU has the School of Management, School of Hospitality Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of General Studies, School of Education, School of Theology, Metropolitan College, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and College of Fine Arts. (I may have left 1 or 2 out)</p>

<p>With all of the rest of the colleges/schools (except Metropolitan), you start out directly with courses from your major. You jump right into the intensive curriculum from the start, and for some people that's exactly what they want. With the College of General Studies, you have the option of fulfilling your liberal arts requirements FIRST.</p>

<p>To graduate from BU, you are required to have a liberal arts background. It means that when you leave BU, you will be educated in not a specific major, but in a variety of topics in ADDITION to your major. It makes you a more well-rounded individual and it's part of why so many people are attracted to the university. </p>

<p>Since you have to fulfill those requirements at one point or another, BU gives you the option of going to a college that designates the first 2 years towards fulfilling those requirements FIRST. That way, you can explore the variety of majors BU offers instead of just jumping into a solely business curriculum (for example). </p>

<p>Sometimes people apply to schools within the university and may not get admitted. If the student is still exceptional, sometimes BU will extend an invitation to the College of General Studies. CGS is the largest college at the school, and its important to note that it is, and always has been, incredibly competitive.</p>

<p>After looking at your credentials, you seem to be a good candidate for BU. Definitely apply, and know that if you do get extended an invitation to CGS, it's not that it's an "easy" school -- that stigma seems to have shown up out of nowhere! Getting into CGS or any of the school for that matter, means that you've been chosen as the top 4,000 applicants of a pool of about 45,000! And statistics show that students who choose to go to CGS for the first two years (then you continue to any school of your choice to finish up your major requirements) actually do a LOT better in their major courses than students who didn't!</p>

<p>Good luck with your applications! Hope this helps :)</p>

<p>Courtney</p>

9

<p>did you end up applying for this semester? I am! I think I am applying for philosophy</p>

10

<p>Yea I am. I'm gonna send it in tomorrow afternoon, as I need my parent's credit-card number to pay for it. But everything has worked itself out and the transfer stress is like finallllyyyyy over :). Hopefully I'll get in and all this will have been worth it :)!</p>

<p>And CLaP, thanks :D</p>

11

<p>Hi I posted this in the BU forum but got nothing back..figured I might be more successful in the transfer forum. Do I have a chance?!</p>

<p>Borough of Manhattan Community College
GPA 3.95
Credits Completed:38
Credits in Progress:18</p>

<p>Columbia University Summer 2008
GPA 3.67 (A- @ Columbia =3.67)
took a 400 level law/human rights course and p/f math course
Only counts as 3 credits</p>

<p>High School...
GPA 2.6 - yes, I realize this is gross.
I went to a ballet boarding school; it was my intention to be a professional ballet dancer.
This is explained in my essay.</p>

<p>Possible Hook: I would be 3rd Generation BU student. Both my mom and grandfather went there.</p>

<p>ACT: superscored 27..I am retaking this saturday. I think I can do better than this. Standardized testing is not my forte :-(</p>

<p>Letters of Rec- one from english professor </p>

<p>EC's
Ballet-10 hrs a week
PT child caretaker
PT exhibition staff @ auction house
Financial literacy ambassadors-teach hs kids about finance
upward bound summer program-teacher assistant
note-taker for basic mathematics @ columbia university.
phi theta kappa member
dean's list every semester
selected to represent bmcc @ national conference on service learning.</p>

<p>Applying for philosophy major or art history.</p>

<p>So do I have a chance??</p>

12

<p>Hi I am also at Umass and applying to as a transfer for Fall 2009.<br>
BU does not allow transfers to apply to the college of general studies, but if the applicant is not accepted into their selected major, will they still be extended the invitation to CGS?</p>

13

<p>I dont think they would.</p>