Hello,
I am doing the writing supplement portion of my BU application right now. In it, the question “Why BU?” is asked, and even after doing tons of research online, I found nothing that I could say for sure was unique about the school. It is impossible for me to visit because I live in Kenya right now.
I guess my question is, how can you find out what makes a school stand out from all others?
Thank you in advance.
Why BU ? Is asking why BU for you; not why BU is unique.
This is a very simple, yet important, question. You must have some idea as to why you want to attend BU.
Basically it is asking why YOU want to attend BU.
Why did you choose to apply to BU? What made it appealing to you over all the other possibility universities?
I think I’ve gotten a better idea.
What I originally wanted to say was that its diversity meant a lot to me as someone who is constantly moving across continents and being surrounded by all kinds of people, but many colleges have diversity, and I’m not sure that would stand out.
I also found their XCC class exciting, with its interdisciplinary focus and broad scope. My major is somewhat undecided, but I know that my interests go way beyond what I will be studying. The course will help me realize my goal of helping others as much as possible, which was somewhat dampened when I removed med school from my list of considerations.
(I know these sound quite cliche.)
Based on the above post, it seems as though you don’t know why BU is the best school for you.
What majors or specific programs appeal to you? Are there specific classes in the catalog you like? Are there EC opportunities or clubs or volunteer opportunities on their website that appeal to you? Do you like the idea of being in Boston? Is the size of the university appealing?
@Publisher, my decision to apply is somewhat hesitant. However, the school’s proximity to the BSO is one of the major factors that draws me to it.
BSO = Boston Symphony Orchestra ?
While proximity to the cultural attractions in Boston is a valid reason for desiring to live in the Boston area, it is not a convincing reason for admitting one to BU.
You need to incorporate the university’s offerings & amenities into your reason for Why BU.
Yes, tell them about the BSO, and your strong interest in music! Show your passion for it.
You’ll also want to include how the school is a good fit for you. But really it’s best to ask yourself why you are applying and then express that in a positive way that is in your own voice. That’s what admission reps want to read.
I always like to turn it around. Imagine you are an admission rep with a big stack of applications to go through every day during the reading season. It’s a repetitious exercise, honestly. They want to be captured. They want to get to know the student and like them and root for them. That’s what you’d probably enjoy, right? That’s what you want your essay to do.
So if you were the admissions rep, even if you had no interest in the BSO, you might want to read an essay where a bright, capable student wants to come to your school because it’s a good fit in some respects AND they can really embrace their passion for music by having access to a world-class music organization. I’d think BU would love to think it has students who love the BSO and will actively take advantage of such an opportunity, and perhaps establish and/or advance ties between BU and BSO.
Be positive, be honest, be authentic, win them over. Good luck!
If seeking financial aid, I suspect that your reasons for Why BU would be very important–unless BU is a needs blind school–although this type of question is always important to admissions officers.
@Publisher, yes, I understand that. I’m trying my best to offer what I can with this prompt.