2008-2009 Boston Secondary Application Thread

[eagle34]

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They are not going to reject you because you like Boston and BU 😉

If you think it will help, include it.

I don't think it'll hurt you per say, but I also don't think it'll help you too much. After sitting through the speeches of the dean during the interview session and all the talks with him after being accepted, I would definitely suggest not saying BU is your first choice. You may write a paragraph about why you are a good fit for BU, but nothing too strong like a premature letter of interest.

 

[scubaman85]

Do you think it is appropriate to discuss international experiences in the educational history section that you had in high school that are relevant to your passions/hobbies even if they are not related to medicine?

 

[IssaErie]

Hi,

Does anyone know what " limited secondary application" means? I see that in alot of those Best Schools books RE: Boston UMS.

Thanks!

 

[Mdude]

I too can't get the picture to save properly, it keeps telling me it doesn't meet the size requirements. I tried loading a normal picture and cropping using their editing thing, and still no dice.

What gives? Anybody?

I don't want to mail it in--I'm out of the country and that would be a huge logistical headache. Thanks..

 

[eagle34]

Do you think it is appropriate to discuss international experiences in the educational history section that you had in high school that are relevant to your passions/hobbies even if they are not related to medicine?

I think this is even better to discuss in the additional essay space. However, remember that your experiences in high school don't measure out with the same standards as those in college.

 

[ar2388]

for the photo:
it must be 400 by 400 pixels.
copy and paste your photo into paint, try to center is how you want it and then go to image-> attributes, change to pixels, type in 400 by 400 and press ok

 

[chad5871]

for the photo:
it must be 400 by 400 pixels.
copy and paste your photo into paint, try to center is how you want it and then go to image-> attributes, change to pixels, type in 400 by 400 and press ok

Or if you have Windows XP or Vista and MS Office, right click the image file and click "Open With Microsoft Office Picture Manager." Then, click "edit pictures" and "crop." Move the box around the picture until you have it somewhat centered and the "new pixels" show a square image size (e.g. "2706 pixels x 2706 pixels." Click "OK," then go back to "edit pictures" and "resize." Click the radio button for "custom width and height" and enter "400 x 400" in the boxes. Click "OK" and save, and you'll have a perfectly centered, perfectly squared, and perfectly sized photographic image.

(Why do I feel like Mark Sommers after describing to a family how to make it through a Double Dare obstacle course? )

 

[ChubbyChaser]

for the photo:
it must be 400 by 400 pixels.
copy and paste your photo into paint, try to center is how you want it and then go to image-> attributes, change to pixels, type in 400 by 400 and press ok

or stretch and skew until its around 400

 

[Kaydubz]

Would it be wise to just paste an essay into the optional essay section but leave the narrative blank because your optional essay talks about things that you'd mention in the narrative section?

 

[seven87]

Would it be wise to just paste an essay into the optional essay section but leave the narrative blank because your optional essay talks about things that you'd mention in the narrative section?

I'm pretty sure I did that. But in the narrative I said see optional essay because I don't want to repeat information or something to that effect.

 

[THX]

Anyone have this statement on the status page?"
"NO Supplemental Letters of Recommendation/Committee Letter"

All the others fields say "YES". It's just odd because my letters of recommendation have been with the AAMC for 2 weeks now and are properly assigned to BU. My application was otherwise completed on the 17th.

Any thoughts?

 

[yuiness]

For the timeline question, I'm thinking of writing about web-design/web-development as a self-taught hobby that I've been doing since I was in middle school... Does that sound like it might work?

 

[mimimi]

We cannot actually finalize our application until our AMCAS is verified, correct? This is because our LORs have not come in...will this be held against us if we do not submit for another month or so do to holdups at the AAMC?

 

[MonkeyChow]

Anyone have this statement on the status page?"
"NO Supplemental Letters of Recommendation/Committee Letter"

All the others fields say "YES". It's just odd because my letters of recommendation have been with the AAMC for 2 weeks now and are properly assigned to BU. My application was otherwise completed on the 17th.

Any thoughts?

I am in the same boat. I guess BU is just a little slow because several other schools have received my LORS from AMCAS.

 

[robocop1998]

Hey,
I have a question about prereq grid. I took 2 semesters of Gen Chem and 2 semesters of Gen Chem Lab at my undergraduate institution. Do I put the following under Gen Chem on the grid:

Lecture-only courses = 2
Lecture-lab Or lab-only courses = 2
In a Preferred Institution = 4 (2+2) ???

Thank you!!!

 

[korndoctor]

what's preferred institution? your regular home undergrad?
what if i took gen chem at two diff schools...one during high school at MIT and one at my undergrad

 

[BassPlease]

what's preferred institution? your regular home undergrad?

My understanding is that "preferred institution" = 4 year accredited college.

For me, I have all but one of my classes at my undergrad, and then the one other class was at a different 4 year undergrad. Both are "preferred institutions."

-BP

 

[CopperDime]

BU participates in the new amcas system right?

I had my school send them via virtual evals, is that okay?

 

[JackInTheBox]

BU participates in the new amcas system right?

I had my school send them via virtual evals, is that okay?

When I called, they said the letters had to come via AMCAS.

 

[ar2388]

virtual evals uploads to amcas if you gav e your premed office the letter frmo the amcas website.. mine are marked as received and they were uploaded to virtual evals

 

[Dulcina]

my letters are finally uploaded!

i think im complete, i have all "yeses".

lors uploaded 7/31, received 8/8

 

[ar2388]

we should do the complete thing for this thread too.. you know entering your name and date stuff... god i suck at explaining...

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?

 

[Dulcina]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?

did you get an email from them notifying you that you were complete? i havent received anythign yet

 

[ar2388]

no email. just saw on the status page.. based on the way they phrased their website it seems that we need to check that ourselves and all info will go through the status page not email.

 

[JackInTheBox]

no email. just saw on the status page.. based on the way they phrased their website it seems that we need to check that ourselves and all info will go through the status page not email.

You'll get an email from them when your file is officially marked complete.

 

[iA-MD2013]

yeah they send out an email. i saw all "yes's" on july 31 and they sent me an email saying i'm complete on august 1. so, it's basically the same thing.

 

[JoJo23497]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?

 

[Marcy1315]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
Marcy1315: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?

 

[BassPlease]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview

ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
Marcy1315: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
BassPlease: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:

 

[iA-MD2013]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
Marcy1315: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
jgberken: SS: 7/31, C: 8/1, II:?, I:?

 

[iA-MD2013]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
Marcy1315: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
BassPlease: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
jgberken: SS: 7/31, C: 8/1, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?

 

[MiketheAnimal]

Legend
SS: Secondary Sent
C: Complete
II: Interview Invite
I: Interview


ar2388: SS: 7/12, C: 8/9, II:?, I:?
Dulcina: SS 7/24, C: 8/8, II:?, I:?
Marcy1315: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
BassPlease: SS: 7/28 C: 7/28 II: ? I: ?
jgberken: SS: 7/31, C: 8/1, II:?, I:?
JoJo23497: SS: 8/12, C: 8/12, II:?, I:?
MiketheAnimal: SS: 7/12, C: 7/17, II:?, I:?

I hate waitinggggggg lol

 

[SmartyPants85]

Yeah the prereq grid is killing me! So if I've taken like 8 humanities courses in like 3 semesters, i don't input 8 correct? I would just put 3?

Someone clarify this crazy grid pleeease 🙂

 

[ar2388]

Yeah the prereq grid is killing me! So if I've taken like 8 humanities courses in like 3 semesters, i don't input 8 correct? I would just put 3?

Someone clarify this crazy grid pleeease 🙂

wouldnt you put 8?

 

[SmartyPants85]

wouldnt you put 8?

Well it says 'number of semesters' at the top so i'm just kinda clarifying it. i know it sounds like a stupid question but it sounds kinda too easy and misconstrued...

 

[ar2388]

oh... odd.. jesus..um.. isee what you mean. i just put in number of courses

 

[eagle34]

Don't worry about the grid too much. They look at your transcripts anyways, and the grid is more to see that you've taken the prereqs.

 

[p30doc]

Don't worry about the grid too much. They look at your transcripts anyways, and the grid is more to see that you've taken the prereqs.

The grid was ridiculous but I think it said somewhere on it that it wouldn't be used in admissions decisions and was statistical purposes only.

 

[Soon to be Dr E]

Anyone know when BU starts sending out interview invites?

 

[Soon to be Dr E]

I would also put 8, i think they are just trying to get a very basic "big picture" look at your academic background.

 

[poohbear00]

I would also put 8, i think they are just trying to get a very basic "big picture" look at your academic background.

I only put three, because otherwise, it'll just be a repeat of my transcript. They just want to see that you filled the required credits.

 

[eagle34]

Anyone know when BU starts sending out interview invites?

I think they start sending them out sometime in September

 

[secret25]

For that Prereq grid, what counts as Molecular Biology? And should I count my molecular biology classes as biology classes as well?

I'm not a fan of this grid...

Also, what counts as humanities? Is it basically any classes that are not counted in everything else?

 

[eagle34]

For that Prereq grid, what counts as Molecular Biology? And should I count my molecular biology classes as biology classes as well?

I'm not a fan of this grid...

Also, what counts as humanities? Is it basically any classes that are not counted in everything else?

Molecular Biology counts as molecular biology. If you count that class towards one group, don't count it for something else (like molecular biology for biology). Humanities is pretty much anything else, such as English, history, classics, etc. Again, don't worry about this grid too much. It's their very first starting point and they pay close attention to your actual transcript rather than just this grid.

 

[maroon95]

Is anyone sending in additional LORs to BU? I'm a post-bac applicant and have worked for several years in the industry.

I already have a committee letter. Is it wise to have additional letters as an option from the admissions office?

I'm thinking of asking my former manager (non-medical) for LOR. do u think it would help or just an extraneous info for the adcom office?

"If you wish to submit additional letters of recommendation, you are welcome to do so if you believe this will add substantive new information to your portfolio. These additional letters are not required for completion of the application. These letters should be sent to AMCAS as described above."

3. Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be part of particular interest to us. For example, have you lived in another country or experienced a culture unlike your own, or worked in a field that contributed to your understanding of people unlike yourself? Or, have you experienced advanced training in any area, including the fields of art, music, or sports? This is an opportunity to describe learning experiences that may not be covered in other areas of this application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. (2000 character limit, approximately 400 words)

Plus the usual about LORs and stuff


VI. Optional Section
Most applicants apply to many medical schools and we are aware that the cumulative work of the application process is substantial. Furthermore, we find that for most applicants, an extra essay written expressly for Boston University adds little to the information content of the portfolio. We have, therefore, decided to eliminate our request for a supplemental essay.

While we no longer require an essay, we find that some applicants feel that additional information is necessary in order to provide us with a comprehensive understanding of their strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. If you wish to use the space below to offer an essay or any other information, up to a total of 500 words, addressing any issue you feel is of importance, feel free to do so. If you choose to use the space, please do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in this supplemental application or in material you have submitted to AMCAS. Use this optional section only if you believe that the additional information will help us to learn something about you as a person, to get a sense of who you are and what you are about, beyond the basic facts of your academic work and your life history as it is otherwise available to us.

Please be assured that we offer this opportunity only for those applicants who wish to provide additional information and that it is entirely optional. For most applicants, no supplementary material will be necessary and this space can be left blank.

 

[poohbear00]

first rejection from BU...:cry:

 

[ar2388]

first rejection from BU...:cry:

poohbear, how did you hear the bad news? 🙁

 

[eagle34]

Sorry to hear that. Just letting you guys know that they'll probably interview and accept less people this year than last year due to the unexpected number of people matriculated this year.

 

[halekulani]

first rejection from BU...:cry:

same

got the news through an email

 

[ar2388]

ｉｍ　ｓｏｒｒｙ　ｇｕｙｓ．ｍａｙｂｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｈｅａｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｗｓ　ｔｏｍｏｒｒｏｗ．．．