2009-2010 Boston University Application Thread

[camaras2480]

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so regarding the pre-req grid, there are 4 columns that are Total Lectures only Semesters, Total Lectures with Labs semesters, Total Lab only Semesters and Total # Semesters taken at preferred inst.

So lets take example of my biology courses. Those BIO courses for which I did not have ANY lab component (were only lectures), I enter their total number in the "Total Lectures only Semesters?" And then I enter the remaining number of those BIO courses which had lab component into the second column?

but WHAT if I took 2 bio courses in the same semester???? Cuz the way the column headings are setup, it seems that I will count that as "1 semester [of 2 bio courses]" and this tends to downplay the actual courses that I took!

My school was semester based so do I enter anything into the last column? Isnt that for ppl with Quarter system as mentioned by **?

I don't really know what your asking, but I'm gonna guess...

For semester system (the standard Fall/Spring/Summer), just count up the total number of classes that fit each category (Lab, Lecture, or Both), and just put that number. So if in your entire college career, you took 2 biology courses, and they happened to be in the same semester, just list it as 2.

If you are concerned you will confuse the adcom (which you won't), then just indicate how you did it in the box provided.

 

[JJMrK]

Nevermind.

 

[GTV]

So here's some information for those of you to whom it applies: I am an engineering major and was planning on using one of my engineering professors for my "science" letter. The BU secondary explicitly says "biology, chemistry, or physics" so I called them and they said that biomedical engineering (and only biomedical engineering) counts towards a science letter.

I'm also in the same boat as many of you here with the orgo lab situation. I have 2 semesters of lecture plus one 2-credit lab class covering material from both lecture classes. If BU doesn't like it, then screw 'em. I've suffered enough at their hands in this whole process.

 

[camaras2480]

So here's some information for those of you to whom it applies: I am an engineering major and was planning on using one of my engineering professors for my "science" letter. The BU secondary explicitly says "biology, chemistry, or physics" so I called them and they said that biomedical engineering (and only biomedical engineering) counts towards a science letter.

I'm also in the same boat as many of you here with the orgo lab situation. I have 2 semesters of lecture plus one 2-credit lab class covering material from both lecture classes. If BU doesn't like it, then screw 'em. I've suffered enough at their hands in this whole process.

Well, here's one way to look at it: all you have to do is NOT apply, and you save $100. lol

 

[JJMrK]

I thought I was already complete, but I got an email today.

 

[BlueElmo]

I thought I was already complete, but I got an email today.

Yeah, they send you an email.

 

[Sharka]

I also received an email saying a letter was not on letterhead. The thing is that my professor submitted it electronically, so it would obviously not be on a letterhead. Is there any way around this letterhead thing? My professor is no longer at my university....

 

[BlueElmo]

I also received an email saying a letter was not on letterhead. The thing is that my professor submitted it electronically, so it would obviously not be on a letterhead. Is there any way around this letterhead thing? My professor is no longer at my university....

I would call them up personally and ask.

 

[Sharka]

I sent them a message. Does anyone know how strict other schools are about having letters on letterheads?

 

[wt45]

I sent them a message. Does anyone know how strict other schools are about having letters on letterheads?

extremely strict. they would not take my letters.

 

[Appless]

I sent them a message. Does anyone know how strict other schools are about having letters on letterheads?

yep, they will not budge whatsoever, i had the same problem with one of my letters. They told me tough basically.

 

[Sam32]

how you guys know that your letters are without letterheads? My writers haven't shown LORs to me 🙄

 

[wt45]

how you guys know that your letters are without letterheads? My writers haven't shown LORs to me 🙄

they sent me an e-mail basically saying that your letter from Dr. X was not on letterhead and your other letter from Dr. Y did not contain a signature.

 

[wt45]

how you guys know that your letters are without letterheads? My writers haven't shown LORs to me 🙄

yep, they will not budge whatsoever, i had the same problem with one of my letters. They told me tough basically.

hey elijah, so are you gonna get another letter, withdraw, or...? they told me tough as well. actually, they said my letters were useless without a signature ...*ouch*

 

[Sharka]

Are all schools like this or just Boston?

 

[BlueElmo]

Are all schools like this or just Boston?

Boston seems especially anal about this.

 

[Bryson17]

I also received an email saying a letter was not on letterhead. The thing is that my professor submitted it electronically, so it would obviously not be on a letterhead. Is there any way around this letterhead thing? My professor is no longer at my university....

You can get letterhead from your school (actually I think they differ for each department). Just email a secretary or administrator and they'll be able to send you the letterhead. Ours is in a word file. Then you send that to the prof, have him/her copy paste onto that and resubmit. I had to create a new interfolio document, then resent to AMCAS to a new letter, and assign that one to all the schools from now on. I'm actually surprised because the whole process only took me like two days. Now I'm just waiting for BU to acknowledge the new letter.

Signatures are more complicated. The prof has to have a scan of theirs, paste it as a picture in the word file, then upload it with the sig.

Are all schools like this or just Boston?

Just BU from what I've heard and experienced.

 

[justdumpit]

Quick question:

I just submitted my AMCAS, but it certainly hasn't been verified yet (my transcripts have not all been received). I just got an email from BU with a link to begin filling out the secondary. How is that possible? Do they have knowledge of my intended application to their school without my AMCAS being verified yet? MCAT score released to them before me? (June 18th administration)

Thoughts?

 

[camaras2480]

Boston seems especially anal about this.

Yeah, they are, but they certainly aren't alone. BU really needs any reason to throw out an application, lol.

 

[camaras2480]

Quick question:

I just submitted my AMCAS, but it certainly hasn't been verified yet (my transcripts have not all been received). I just got an email from BU with a link to begin filling out the secondary. How is that possible? Do they have knowledge of my intended application to their school without my AMCAS being verified yet? MCAT score released to them before me? (June 18th administration)

Thoughts?

BU does offer secondaries before verification. You can even submit it before verification, so that when you are verified and your MCAT score is available, you will be complete within a day or two.

 

[BlueElmo]

Yeah, they are, but they certainly aren't alone. BU really needs any reason to throw out an application, lol.

yeah, I know.

 

[Sharka]

Went over to the arts and sciences department and begged the chair to send my prof an electronic letterhead. He did it reluctantly especially since he didn't really like my prof. If all goes to plan, Boston should to getting their new and improved letter in about a week.

 

[camaras2480]

Went over to the arts and sciences department and begged the chair to send my prof an electronic letterhead. He did it reluctantly especially since he didn't really like my prof. If all goes to plan, Boston should to getting their new and improved letter in about a week.

The A&S department at Boston University? It'd be kinda funny if you were having trouble within one school lol.

 

[OneMCATAway]

BU is giving my so much crap, my school is quarter system and we had chem lab just for the first two quarters so when i convert to semester system it is gonna be one semester and it gives me this msg when i save:

It appears that you may not meet our course requirement in the row(s) marked by an '!'. If this is the case, please explain in the text box below the grid if you have not already done so. For additional information, click the 'Requirements' button above this message.

i kinda dont wanna send this one anymore 🙁

 

[camaras2480]

BU is giving my so much crap, my school is quarter system and we had chem lab just for the first two quarters so when i convert to semester system it is gonna be one semester and it gives me this msg when i save:

It appears that you may not meet our course requirement in the row(s) marked by an '!'. If this is the case, please explain in the text box below the grid if you have not already done so. For additional information, click the 'Requirements' button above this message.

i kinda dont wanna send this one anymore 🙁

You're not the only one. It is a pain in the ass, and an unnecessary hassle. I think it is an effective way of getting rid of some applicants. $100 you can save.

On the flip, you can battle your way through this mess, and maybe land an interview, assuming you stand out as 1 out of 10 candidates. Is that worth $100? lol

 

[anxiousteen]

camaras you post a lot. is that wht you look like in your avatar? if yes, you are pretty lol

 

[XRanger]

I applied to BU last year and my undergrad school is also on quarter system (UC) and I don't think I had any problem.
OneMCATaway, I also had 2 quarters of chem lab and i don't remember having any problem. I think I did explain some of the courses in the box though.

 

[benny345]

I have a bit of a stupid question that may have already been asked, but please bare with me!
For this prompt:

Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate work? If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below (1400 character limit)

Do I need to explain if I am not going directly to med school, or only if I spent more time in undergrad? The way it is worded makes it seem as if I only would need to answer if I spent more time in undergrad, but then why include that first question?

 

[pitt1166]

I have a bit of a stupid question that may have already been asked, but please bare with me!
For this prompt:

Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate work? If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below (1400 character limit)

Do I need to explain if I am not going directly to med school, or only if I spent more time in undergrad? The way it is worded makes it seem as if I only would need to answer if I spent more time in undergrad, but then why include that first question?

I believe you should explain the situation if either of those circumstances apply to you.

That's what I did; I explained that I have been doing research and taking some classes since graduating.

 

[benny345]

Ok, thanks so much! I am in the same boat - Been doing research and taking some classes since I graduated.

Is it just me or is the wording on some of these secondaries just horrible? I submitted GW's last week and could not believe how poorly worded some of the questions were...its as if these schools want us to call their admissions offices with tons of questions.

 

[camaras2480]

camaras you post a lot. is that wht you look like in your avatar? if yes, you are pretty lol

lol yea i guess i do post a lot

yes, that is me - thank you lol 😳

 

[camaras2480]

Ok, thanks so much! I am in the same boat - Been doing research and taking some classes since I graduated.

Is it just me or is the wording on some of these secondaries just horrible? I submitted GW's last week and could not believe how poorly worded some of the questions were...its as if these schools want us to call their admissions offices with tons of questions.

Yes to the BU question - it applies to anything you have done since graduating if you didn't go into medical school the September right after your graduation.

And yes, questions are worded horribly. I think it is meant to fool people, so that they write an essay that makes no sense - a reason to throw out a candidate!

 

[BlueElmo]

.

 

[camaras2480]

.

Thanks! 👍

 

[BlueElmo]

Thanks! 👍

Sure thing.

 

[CdnHopeful]

hmm depends on what kind of children you worked with. Was it a camp specific for children with learning disorders or something of the sort?

I had a related question, what if you are an international student, then would writing about experiencing a different culture in the US be held against you?

one program was with children with ADHD and the other one had innercity children.

You think that qualifies for people unlike me?

 

[Petemoss]

Just to clarify question 2, Do we need to elaborate on it if we're going to med school directly after undergrad?

 

[Aggro]

The essay is only for people that are taking a year off between undergrad and medical school. If you are entering your senior year this September, don't write anything.

 

[Petemoss]

Huh? These people need a class in writing;
The question above says

1) Y are you going to med school directly after UG?
2) i) Y did you spend more than 4 years in UG?
or ii) Y did you not spend more than 4 years in UG?

Ok. I only ask because this was posted earlier, which suggested we'd have to explain why we're going right after UG.

 

[camaras2480]

Ok. I only ask because this was posted earlier, which suggested we'd have to explain why we're going right after UG.

lol. when questions are posted like that, id look elsewhere for confirmation of the prompt lol.

 

[JellyBellyFarm]

anybody else experiencing technical issues with their website?

i've had to reset my password about three times already. just now, i finished writing out my explanation on the pre-req page and when i clicked save, it brought me back to the login menu. then when i tried logging back in, it says my password is wrong.

this is so frustrating!!!!! 😡😡😡😡

 

[trueBelief]

I submitted my app last week and I cant access the website anymore. Anyone else experiencing the same thing?

 

[Petemoss]

lol. when questions are posted like that, id look elsewhere for confirmation of the prompt lol.

Unfortunately, with a prompt this vague and poorly worded, it could go both ways. What does the "if no, please explain" refer to? Does it mean if not spending more than 4 years as an undergrad?

Aggro: you have to write something at least if you're entering senior year in September. It asks you directly if you do plan on going right after UG so something like "Yes I plan to go onto medical school directly after UG" etc.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

one program was with children with ADHD and the other one had innercity children.

You think that qualifies for people unlike me?

I've been wondering about this question, too. People unlike me is so vague...everyone I've worked with (homeless people, sick people, people from other cultures, etc.) seems pretty much like me. Maybe the question is intentionally vague so that the applicant can write about whatever they want?

 

[OneMCATAway]

I've been wondering about this question, too. People unlike me is so vague...everyone I've worked with (homeless people, sick people, people from other cultures, etc.) seems pretty much like me. Maybe the question is intentionally vague so that the applicant can write about whatever they want?

i know thats why i didnt want to write this at the first place because i do have experience in another country but i was born there so its not much "unlike me".. im still debating this.. would writing about my diverse background fit the question?!

 

[camaras2480]

Unfortunately, with a prompt this vague and poorly worded, it could go both ways. What does the "if no, please explain" refer to? Does it mean if not spending more than 4 years as an undergrad?

Yeah thats what I meant lol, the thing you quoted was horribly written - I wouldn't stand by it lol.

Yes, the "if no" means that if you are NOT going to be a senior this September, then explain yourself.

Aggro: you have to write something at least if you're entering senior year in September. It asks you directly if you do plan on going right after UG so something like "Yes I plan to go onto medical school directly after UG" etc.

Leaving it blank is completely legit, since you will be indicating "yes" right above it.

 

[Aggro]

Aggro: you have to write something at least if you're entering senior year in September. It asks you directly if you do plan on going right after UG so something like "Yes I plan to go onto medical school directly after UG" etc.

Leaving it blank is completely legit, since you will be indicating "yes" right above it.

Indeed. A checkbox is worth 1000 characters.

 

[Petemoss]

Thanks guys!

 

[parhumn]

Are people filling out the optional essay? I feel like it discourages you from doing so. I did a pretty good job of explaining everything in my AMCAS application, but the only thing I haven't written about is why I want to go to BU. Do you think I should include that here or is it not necessary?

 

[BlueElmo]

Are people filling out the optional essay? I feel like it discourages you from doing so. I did a pretty good job of explaining everything in my AMCAS application, but the only thing I haven't written about is why I want to go to BU. Do you think I should include that here or is it not necessary?

It's optional, but you should do it.