2009-2010 Boston University Application Thread

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jla314 said:
probably not, especially from BU... they get 10,000+ applications. from reading this thread, i think the general feeling is that BU has been pretty arbitrary in their rejections. so if you've been rejected, just read a few pages of the ridiculous stats that have been declined by BU and hopefully you'll feel much better 🙂
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thanks!! i just read some of the responses from people who were rejected. it almost sounds like they have a monkey who randomly points at people to interview... j/k it was my first rejection so it kinda bumbed me out but i quickly got over it.
 
slowbutsteady said:
Why should any school that rejects you be expected to re-review your application and give you free counseling services. And they are supposed to do this for 9,700 applicants?

Am I missing something here?
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i would imagine they could make a note to themselves if there was an obvious reason (i would do that if i was an adcom).. otherwise just they can just say compared to others you are not what we are looking for/dont match the mission of the school/etc.. like someone else mentioned we did pay 100 bucks for them so i think it is reasonable question to ask.. i was going to do that for another school and got kinda lazy and now i wonder if i should after couple weeks have passed!
 
wsup guys, this thread has definitely been the hotspot on SDN! congrats to all the interviews. quick question here ... am i the only one thats been complete since 7/16 and haven't heard anything yet?
 
drareg said:
wsup guys, this thread has definitely been the hotspot on SDN! congrats to all the interviews. quick question here ... am i the only one thats been complete since 7/16 and haven't heard anything yet?
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From what I understand, you made it through the first round of rejections (GPA/MCAT/Undergrad institution) and now are in the essays/personal statement/why you want to go to BU stage.

I think I am there with you (?) I was complete on 7/26 or something. I haven't heard anything. Take it as a good thing. BTW, I got my info from a previous post (not far back)... you should try to find that one - it's descriptive and helpful! 👍
 
royalewthcheese said:
From what I understand, you made it through the first round of rejections (GPA/MCAT/Undergrad institution) and now are in the essays/personal statement/why you want to go to BU stage.

I think I am there with you (?) I was complete on 7/26 or something. I haven't heard anything. Take it as a good thing. BTW, I got my info from a previous post (not far back)... you should try to find that one - it's descriptive and helpful! 👍
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cool! ya, i checked out those posts and from what i saw everyone who was waiting with me got interviews so im being hopeful here!
 
seems like they have stopped at 7/16 so far.. anyone after that get an interview? any 17th? going once, going twice.. 😕
 
OneMCATAway said:
seems like they have stopped at 7/16 so far.. anyone after that get an interview? any 17th? going once, going twice.. 😕
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Nope, just got the 30 day notice though
 
for those with interviews, what kind of turn around time did they ask for? like, how long do u have to call them back?
 
Apparently I also have part of their secret formula. Invite just now! Complete 7/20. I haven't received an email, but my status page says I will.
 
I've been holding off on sending in this secondary since it seems that I have an inadequate prerequisite list. I only have 1 quarter of ochem lab, 2 quarters of gchem lab 2 quarters of gchem lecture, 2 quarters of bio lab. This doesn't match their full year requirement. Should I just withdraw from the secondary application? It seems like a long shot for me and I wasn't that set on going to this school. And their selection process seems very arbitrary.
 
Invite, complete 7/20! I am super excited about this one. I was not expecting to get one here, but it was one of my top choices from the beginning! Good luck everyone.
 
Bryson17 said:
Apparently I also have part of their secret formula. Invite just now! Complete 7/20. I haven't received an email, but my status page says I will.
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Those with interviews: Does your application reflect an interest in medically underserved communities, either in the US or overseas?

Those with "high stats" who were rejected: Does your application indicate no interest in such patient populations?

That may be the "secret" formula.
 
slowbutsteady, In my application I talked about how I am interested in urban medicine in a few places and how I especially liked my experiences that I had with the medically underserved and would like to continue helping those populations in the future. I am not sure if that is the "secret formula" or not, I am sure there is more to it than that, but I think the probably helped me out. Especially for the fact that I have good stats, but not amazing like many of the people who have been rejected here.
 
i don't think that there's a secret formula at all. I feel like they just interview the folks that historically end up going to their school. kids with high stats prolly end up getting in somewhere else...if you show a strong commitment to going to BU specifically, you look much more appealing then 'whatshisname' from where ever with a 41R and 4.0, even if you have marginal stats.
 
slowbutsteady said:
Those with interviews: Does your application reflect an interest in medically underserved communities, either in the US or overseas?

Those with "high stats" who were rejected: Does your application indicate no interest in such patient populations?

That may be the "secret" formula.
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No, I never talked about that. I mostly wrote about research and engineering stuff since that's my background.

Invite:9/10 Complete:7/20
 
i think BU, like many schools, might also show some love to certain undergraduate institutions that have historically supplied them with quality applicants
 
Originally Posted by slowbutsteady
Those with interviews: Does your application reflect an interest in medically underserved communities, either in the US or overseas?

Those with "high stats" who were rejected: Does your application indicate no interest in such patient populations?

That may be the "secret" formula.
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Originally Posted by Bryson17
No, I never talked about that. I mostly wrote about research and engineering stuff since that's my background.
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I actually wrote about both research and working abroad in underserved areas of the world. I feel very lucky to have an interview considering all the rejections that have been going around.
 
slowbutsteady said:
Those with interviews: Does your application reflect an interest in medically underserved communities, either in the US or overseas?

Those with "high stats" who were rejected: Does your application indicate no interest in such patient populations?

That may be the "secret" formula.
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lol, not the "secret" formula 😀 nice try though!! :clap:
 
MDiggity said:
Maybe it's just me, but you seem to speak as though you are somehow aware of the so-called "secret" formula, and are content upon letting people continue to guess until you finally declare that someone has got it right. Strange....

Personally, I think that with as many apps as BU gets, it makes more sense to assume that at times they resort to a magic 8 ball than it does to try to come up with a single "secret formula" that is common to the majority of the ~1,000 individuals who get interviews. But again, maybe that's just me.
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All due respect, Diggity, but I think it is just you. Camaras has a unique perspective from which she can view BU's admissions, as she was (is?) in the MAMS program. She can be coy sometimes, sure, but all in all, I have absolute confidence that she's above-board.

That said, Camaras never said she knew the "secret formula". Rather, she's been very helpful and informative about the application process and the status of the BU admiss office. Chances are, there is no stinking secret formula. This secret formula BS is most likely cooked up in order to try and impose some sense of identifiable order on a process that seems, to many, to lack any inherent order.
 
MDiggity said:
Thank you for explicitly stating my point.

Also, my comment wasn't intended to be hostile in any way, simply an observation. Sorry that you took it that way.
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No, I know you were saying that - I was merely reiterating.

As for the rest, sorry, I must have misinterpreted your post.
 
Interview Invite 9/15. Status page changed first, followed by email. Complete 7/27.
 
no secret formula-I have no interest in medicine in poor communities as evidenced by my app, but interested in research and academic medicine. Interview invite 9/15
 
musica11 said:
no secret formula-I have no interest in medicine in poor communities as evidenced by my app, but interested in research and academic medicine. Interview invite 9/15
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FWIW, I showed no interested in research/academic medicine, but rather rural healthcare. The secret formula is just mayo and ketchup.
 
i was complete on around 7/23 i believe so hope that helps
 
MDiggity said:
Thank you for explicitly stating my point.

Also, my comment wasn't intended to be hostile in any way, simply an observation. Sorry that you took it that way.
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Nope, your comment was definitely hostile. Good attempt at a save though.
 
it is ridiculously entertaining to watch you all make jerks of yourselves.
 
Seems like it. This thread makes me sad. Looks like people who were complete on the same day as me are already getting interview invites...I haven't been rejected yet though (which they seem to be doing pretty quickly). Guess I can't feel too bad about being in the "hold" pile
 
I'm now realizing what a mistake it was not to do the BU "optional" essay. Did anyone who got an invite not do it? Does anyone know how I could add it to my application after being marked complete?
 
sewcurious said:
I'm now realizing what a mistake it was not to do the BU "optional" essay. Did anyone who got an invite not do it? Does anyone know how I could add it to my application after being marked complete?
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Don't worry, I don't think it's a mistake. If you really don't have anything to add, I don't think they would appreciate a bunch of fluff as they receive so many applications. I didn't do the optional and got an invite.
 
Kielbasa911 said:
Don't worry, I don't think it's a mistake. If you really don't have anything to add, I don't think they would appreciate a bunch of fluff as they receive so many applications. I didn't do the optional and got an invite.
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hmmm, i guess the rest of my app just wasn't enough for an initial invite. I'll just cross my fingers for an invite later on.
 
I was complete 7/28, invite yesterday (9/15).

Anyone else going on 10/16?

Good luck to everyone else waiting to hear
 
Kielbasa911 said:
Don't worry, I don't think it's a mistake. If you really don't have anything to add, I don't think they would appreciate a bunch of fluff as they receive so many applications. I didn't do the optional and got an invite.
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I agree entirely. The optional section is completely, totally optional. So much so that they go to great lengths to give the impression that it is, in fact, entirely optional.

Furthermore, we have found that most applicants, an extra essay written expressly for Boston University adds little to the information content of the portfolio. . . . 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 life history as it is otherwise available to us.
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This is, to me, tantamount to saying "we really couldn't care less if you do this essay, as it probably won't do much for your application. But, (sigh), if you really must, here's space for you to do it."
 
Complete 8-26, rejected 9-16.
Expected, but still sad. This was my only real "reach" school (as far as LizzyM was concerned, at least) 🙄
 
Rejected this morning, complete 8/26. I think I was a good match stats wise but I guess I just wasn't what BU is looking for. Pretty bummed but I'll get over it. Congrats to all of those receiving interviews.
 
Are there any SDNers local to the BUSM campus (or past interviewees) that have advice about how to get from the med campus after the interview to Logan airport? The hotel I booked does have a shuttle, but I'd be cutting it close timewise. Are there cabs or buses? How much? How long?
 
Same, I didn't do the Optional Essay and got an interview. Best of luck to those who are waiting for an interview offer.
 
ferraridoc said:
Are there any SDNers local to the BUSM campus (or past interviewees) that have advice about how to get from the med campus after the interview to Logan airport? The hotel I booked does have a shuttle, but I'd be cutting it close timewise. Are there cabs or buses? How much? How long?
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A lot depends upon what time your interview is done. You might consider checking out http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/trip_planner/default.asp, enter "715 Albany St., Boston" as your starting address, and "Logan Airport" as your destination.

The trip by public transport will take anywhere from 45 - 60 min., but only cost $3.50 or so. Cabs will not only be more expensive, but depending upon the time of day, may get snarled in some moderate to severe traffic.
 
anyone else complete on 7/16ish and still has not heard anything?
 
^not to get your hopes up or anything, but i think it's a really good sign if you've been complete prior to august and haven't heard back. I think they look at apps in chronological order and reject the ones they don't like and leave the ones they like alone. :luck:

bye bye BU-hopeful friends

btw, im in boston right now for a tufts interview, and the city is amazing!!
 
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