2010-2011 Boston University Application Thread

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Renalization said:
What I've said about BU are pretty much known facts, meaning you can quantitate usmle scores, and the general reputation of BU grads is known to be about average among residency program directors. Not to say that average is really bad, but I just think it is ridiculous that BU really pumps a reputation for being "hardcore" in terms of what students experience, when the clinical experience and training isn't as good as is advertised.

I think that there is a certain malignancy associated with attendings in surgery, and in other clerkships, which makes a dramatically subpar educational experience for some. I wouldn't want to say who I know, but I've known some BU students who got slammed in their dean's letter regardless of the "formative comments" section, and it hurt them in the match. While it may not be an outright "you stink" type of comments filled under (tongue in check) constructive criticism, there are ways to imply things and produce a dean's letter which on the surface looks good but hurts students when they apply for the match. You need superlatives like "really shines" and "outstanding clinical skills" not just "satisfactory" and "good", or "not motivated for specialty x" when you are in fact applying for specialty x.

Ouch.

Tell me this, why is it that BU is about average on Step 2, yet they believe that their clinical experience is better than Harvard? This has to be some sort of hoax, or overly aggressively advertising campaign on BU's part.

You've said that BU has the busiest surgery department in the new england area. How many ORs exactly can you be in? If the attendings don't teach, come down "hard" on the students and residents, then what sort of experience is this? You can go do a surgery clerkship at a program which has a fair number of patients, and if you are aggressive and in the OR alot, then you will see a lot.

I saw a ton of surgery patients, OR cases, surgery clinic, everything, on my surgery clerkship, and it wasn't because it was the busiest trauma center in new england.

I don't know why, but some BU students have misrepresented their school on this forum in the past, saying that the school provides an education where you can get stellar step scores and such, and then later on we hear that the first and second year are the same everywhere.

I think most people would take Harvard over BU anyday, especially considering how draconian BU is with their students.
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are you a current student at BU? i think i've heard elsewhere about how BU has notoriously mean attendings who do not care for medical students and their futures. i'm not sure if this is true though.
 
ddalgi said:
are you a current student at BU? i think i've heard elsewhere about how BU has notoriously mean attendings who do not care for medical students and their futures. i'm not sure if this is true though.
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That has not been my experience. Third year clinicals are tough because of the hours, workload, steep learning curve, and shelf exams. The attendings are fine and some of them have been amazing mentors to me.
 
eagle34 said:
slowbutsteady, you want to respond to this dude's last comments about "BU's hoax" and "busiest surgery department?" Got to get up for medicine tomorrow morning so really not feeling like arguing with someone on a friday night.
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First, Renalizations's post count is trollish. There was a guy on the BU thread when I was applying (2008) who bashed the crap out of the school, saying things that were perplexing to current BU students at the time.

I think Renal is either the same guy, or another very disgruntled (probably rejected or flunked out) person who wants to trash the school.

Second, Eagle, I pity you having medicine as your last 3rd year rotation. Hang in there, man.

Third, Renal said Tell me this, why is it that BU is about average on Step 2, yet they believe that their clinical experience is better than Harvard? This has to be some sort of hoax, or overly aggressively advertising campaign on BU's part.

Can this guy even be a med student? Step IIs are really not a measure of anything!! Some people kill the Step I and take the Step II as late as possible so it won't matter how they do. Average Step IIs tell you nothing.

And I would never bother to say BU's clinical program is "better" than Harvard's. Who cares which is better? BU's is excellent and Harvard's is, I am sure, excellent too!!?? Hoax???!!! Huh? (And yes, if I had gotten into Harvard and BU, I would have gone to Harvard. Shocker.)

Finally, BU's trauma surgery is nothing short of amazing. The cases are awesome, and not sure why "you can only be in one exam room or OR at a time," means anything at all about anything. Renal, yes, I can only be in one place at a time. You win!

New acceptees: congrats, you are starting an amazing ride.

Future applicants: don't listen to Renal. he is saying nothing that is true, or even makes sense.
 
Thom1986 said:
This isn't the TOTAL debt, right? I was under the impression BU is about 70K per year, so four years would be closer to 280K (Maybe 300K in Boston w/outrageous living expenses). Where is that other 100K coming from?

Thanks for answers in advance.
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Anyone care to tackle this?
 
Thom1986 said:
Anyone care to tackle this?
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I don't have the exact numbers right now, but sometime during the year, I heard that the average debt of 4th year med student graduating in 2010 was around 170k. I'm sure that goes up with each class due to tuition increase. Plus that number is just an average - as there are some people who get loans for everything, versus some student who get support from scholarships, army/navy, or parents.
 
Has anyone received a financial package from here yet? Sorry if this is repeated question.
 
Thom1986 said:
Has anyone received a financial package from here yet? Sorry if this is repeated question.
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How do financial packages work? Is this scholarship money that the school gives you? Sorry if this is an inane question; I'm new to all of this.
 
ddalgi said:
How do financial packages work? Is this scholarship money that the school gives you? Sorry if this is an inane question; I'm new to all of this.
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There may be some scholarship money (I got only a few thousand), but the large majority (~70K) is various types of loans. BU doesn't list Federal Grad Plus loans in their package, but they are obviously available to you.
 
NYR56 said:
There may be some scholarship money (I got only a few thousand), but the large majority (~70K) is various types of loans. BU doesn't list Federal Grad Plus loans in their package, but they are obviously available to you.
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you sure about that? it will be listed as direct-unsubsidized
 
bleargh said:
you sure about that? it will be listed as direct-unsubsidized
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Direct unsubsidized is 6.8% interest and not credit-based. Grad Plus is 7.9% and it is a credit-based loan, so yes, it's different.
 
Not a trust-fund baby=I withdrew from BU today. Hope this opens things up!
 
What is the average financial aid that a student who goes to BU receives?
 
Champaigne said:
but seriously negative 69k a year :laugh: ...🙄... s**t 🙁
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Hate to tell you guys, but the average cost over four years is about 80K, since it goes up significantly 3rd & 4th year. On top of that, I'm pretty sure 1st & 2nd year don't include expenses for the summer, so unless you plan on moving home and subletting, it's even more.
 
NYR56 said:
Hate to tell you guys, but the average cost over four years is about 80K, since it goes up significantly 3rd & 4th year. On top of that, I'm pretty sure 1st & 2nd year don't include expenses for the summer, so unless you plan on moving home and subletting, it's even more.
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yeah thanks I'm aware. The post was a joke, and wouldn't have made sense if I changed the number. But yes you're right
 
2 1/2 weeks until may 15th for all us waitlisters.

here's to hoping there's some good movement this year 🙂
 
Champaigne said:
yeah thanks I'm aware. The post was a joke, and wouldn't have made sense if I changed the number. But yes you're right
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I didn't realize the joke had to do with the number, my bad. Just not particularly happy about how much BU costs.
 
Got my financial aid package today...lots and lots of loans! I guess I didn't really expect much else 😛
 
gujuDoc said:
aww I know how you feel. if wayne state does end up working out and UCF doesn't for me I'll be in the same situation with cost.

But you know I was looking at your mdapps, and I think you will have many more choices by the end of the summer. 🙂

Good luck with your decisions and with the waitlists as well. 🙂
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Thanks guju, and best of luck to you as well. I'd like to think your right, although I'd love to have an answer sooner and start planning where I'm going to live. Of course, I'm ecstatic with being accepted anywhere, and wish I could give one to my good friend who hasn't had much luck last year or this year.

To be honest, I'm very likely going to withdraw from BU. I'm trying to make a few last evaluations but I imagine I'll convince myself within a week. It's really tough to turn down, but that money is just crazy and too many people have said to avoid the loans if you can (including a BU senior resident). I just hate to turn a school down because of money.
 
NYR56 said:
Thanks guju, and best of luck to you as well. I'd like to think your right, although I'd love to have an answer sooner and start planning where I'm going to live. Of course, I'm ecstatic with being accepted anywhere, and wish I could give one to my good friend who hasn't had much luck last year or this year.

To be honest, I'm very likely going to withdraw from BU. I'm trying to make a few last evaluations but I imagine I'll convince myself within a week. It's really tough to turn down, but that money is just crazy and too many people have said to avoid the loans if you can (including a BU senior resident). I just hate to turn a school down because of money.
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+1. As hard as this decision is for me, and I mean EXTREMELY difficult for me, I am going to be withdrawing from BU. I love Boston, but I cannot justify going into $120K more debt for this reason. Or the fact that I have best friends in the city. Luckily I have options and a school that gave me a nice amount of $$$.

Ugh it seriously pains me to decline my acceptance here. Like really painful. I wish my parents were loaded so money weren't an issue, but unfortunately it is.

Good luck everyone. This seems like a great school and I can't say much about the incoming class as the 2nd look didn't afford for much interaction (like at other schools), but the faculty and staff is pretty amazing!
 
gujuDoc said:
Just saw your post in the other thread too saying you were withdrawing from there. Good luck to where ever it is you have chosen. I wish you well!!! You seem like a really great person from talking with you on these forums this past year.
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Thanks Guju! Yeah you seem like a great person too. This was a hard decision, but Pitt seems to be where I need to be. Good luck to you...I really hope you get into UCF! :xf:
 
Withdrew. Just to expensive to justify to myself even though I love Boston
 
Just withdrew. It was extremely hard to press that button, but there's no way I can justify the money either. Good luck to the rest of you, and hopefully someone looking for their first acceptance gets the spot!
 
To those who have decided that they will be at BUSM: are you looking for a roommate to split a 2 bedroom apartment with (or several roommates in 3+ rooms)? I'm just starting the housing search and I figured that it would be best to find some roommates so the rent isn't as ridiculous. Contact me by PM.
 
I just withdrew my remaining acceptances and can't wait to start come August! I'm also looking for a roommate (or two/three) to defray the cost of rent enough to get a classy place close to campus.

I'm unaware what services the administration provides (forums, networking, etc.) to get incoming classes set up, but I think having a Class of '15 Facebook group would be a good place start. I'll gladly form one as soon as I finish my last exams next week, but if anyone has some spare time to do it asap, it would be a great tool to get us as organized as possible before classes start.

It's been asked already, but how does one get a password to our class student life page (linked above)?

I'm really looking forward to working with everyone. We've chosen a great place to start saving lives.
 
Peacecraft said:
I just withdrew my remaining acceptances and can't wait to start come August! I'm also looking for a roommate (or two/three) to defray the cost of rent enough to get a classy place close to campus.

I'm unaware what services the administration provides (forums, networking, etc.) to get incoming classes set up, but I think having a Class of '15 Facebook group would be a good place start. I'll gladly form one as soon as I finish my last exams next week, but if anyone has some spare time to do it asap, it would be a great tool to get us as organized as possible before classes start.

It's been asked already, but how does one get a password to our class student life page (linked above)?

I'm really looking forward to working with everyone. We've chosen a great place to start saving lives.
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Welcome! and +10000 for having a speaker for the dead quote as your signature.
 
Peacecraft said:
I just withdrew my remaining acceptances and can't wait to start come August! I'm also looking for a roommate (or two/three) to defray the cost of rent enough to get a classy place close to campus.

I'm unaware what services the administration provides (forums, networking, etc.) to get incoming classes set up, but I think having a Class of '15 Facebook group would be a good place start. I'll gladly form one as soon as I finish my last exams next week, but if anyone has some spare time to do it asap, it would be a great tool to get us as organized as possible before classes start.

It's been asked already, but how does one get a password to our class student life page (linked above)?

I'm really looking forward to working with everyone. We've chosen a great place to start saving lives.
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There's already a facebook group alive and kickin': http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_171124839594700
 
Does BU financial aid consist primarily of loans or has anyone received a lot of scholarship money too?
 
Got my fin aid this past Fri. Plan on withdrawing but haven't gotten around to it yet. Good luck to those waitlisted.
 
Withdrew from BU as well; financial reasons.
Boston is still a great school and I know this will free up a spot for someone!
 
Hey guys, just wondering if there's been any movement from the waitlist thus far? I called admissions and was told that there would strictly be none until June 1st..
 
all of these withdrawals are kind of sad...i'm definitely going! anyone else really really excited to start?
 
I'm fine with all these withdrawals. In fact, I'm hoping for more! Better chance for us waitlisters 🙂
 
girlinthegarden said:
all of these withdrawals are kind of sad...i'm definitely going! anyone else really really excited to start?
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Without a doubt! The common theme here seems to be cost. Our generation is scared of debt, and from what we've seen, rightly so. I found it especially disconcerting that federal loans wont even cover full cost of living, unlike many other medical schools of similar academic reputation. Unfortunately, as leaders of a private school in a historic and vibrant, and thus terribly expensive, city, I don't see the administration as having many options in reducing the cost of attendance without compromising academic standards. They're trying to reduce the financial burden with the new dorms, and although we will have little access to them, I take their effort as a sign of good faith that they are aware of their shortcomings and will continue in the future to remedy them to the best of their ability. In the end, we'll all be doctors in four years and not one of us will ever have too great a worry of starving. BU is an excellent school which offers us truly unique opportunities in becoming the best physicians possible, and I am both proud and ecstatic to be a part of something so exceptional. August 8th can't come soon enough!
 
Could someone give me some details about BU's simulation center? How/when is it incorporated into the curriculum, and what kinds of simulators does BU have? I don't remember seeing the sim center on my interview day. Thanks!
 
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