2010-2011 Boston University Application Thread

[jmr86]

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Anyone else having any trouble with the Prerequisite Grid?

I put in that I had two semesters of organic chemistry with lab and it still has the unhappy red exclamation point next to it??

 

[taylormade2006]

Try not to worry too much about the grid. It says right on there that it is not used in the selection process, but only for statistics.

 

[CougarMD]

Got the application about an hour ago. Questions are the same as last year (look at old thread), login seems to work fine, lor's show up as well. Verified June 2nd, definitely not filling out the optional essay- they don't like to read them it seems.

Thanks for confirming the essays!

Did the old thread say that they don't like to read them? Too bad, I actually had something to say in mine. Oh well.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Thanks for confirming the essays!

Did the old thread say that they don't like to read them? Too bad, I actually had something to say in mine. Oh well.

I would say, if you have something to say that is valuable and related to the question, then say it..otherwise, they don't just want "filler".

 

[Ilovewater]

Thanks for confirming the essays!

Did the old thread say that they don't like to read them? Too bad, I actually had something to say in mine. Oh well.

If you have something to say, then say it. I wrote the optional essay and used up all the character limit. I'm sure they didn't mind since I got invited for an interview. Don't worry too much about it! They did put it out there for a reason....

 

[NateM]

Still no secondary here, anyone else in the same boat?

 

[Mute98]

dont worry Nate-- I am and a friend of mine is as well. We should (and better!) get them soon enough 😀

 

[garyinthehouse]

yeah I haven't received mine yet either. Im in Cali

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Their system has been a bit wonkers...as in I got my login information 15 minutes prior to the email saying I will receive a login information email within a few hours...

Also, based on what I read in the little "checklist" that BUSM attached in the application system, it seems that if you: 1) went to college directly after HS, 2) finished university in four years or less (or are currently in university), and 3) don't have any type of travel/educational experiences outside of school....you won't have to fill out any of these essays?

Also, for the pre-req grid, are we supposed to fill it in with all the courses we have taken or will take at university?

 

[catswym]

yeah I haven't received mine yet either. Im in Cali

I haven't received mine and I'm in MA!

 

[ShameFame]

Still waiting on mine... im in Montana

 

[dramaqueen14]

I haven't received mine and I'm in MA!

me too! why is this taking so long...

 

[noshie]

I turned mine in a few days ago, and I received an email from them about having to get a letter from my schools registrar that states the facts of my first semester when I got a D in one of my classes and was placed on probation... I got an A in it the next semester and replaced the grade. Ugh. I asked my school today to send it.

Also, I received like 3 emails since sending in my app, one seemed pretty personal, like they are waiting on my stuff and are looking forward to looking at my file. Did anyone else get this many emails after turning in the secondary?

By the way, do they screen for secondaries or just send them out to everyone?? That was a pricey application...

 

[taylormade2006]

According to the 2010-11 MSAR they do not screen. I don't know if it changed for 2011-12.

 

[Mute98]

wow.. so I called them-- did anyone else get a standoffish kinda rude vibe? 2 of 3 people I spoke to were like that though one lady was helpful. In the end I found out that they are still downloading from AMCAS and I should get one soon. So be patient all! 🙂 It does not look like theyre gonna screen all of a sudden this year

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

I can understand why they'd be standoffish or rude...as much as we'd like to know where our secondaries are, I think they don't want to be bothered by such a trivial question (to them, that's what it is). We just have to "wait our turn". Even if we submitted early, if they're taking their precious time processing apps, we just gotta wait....I know it's a pain/annoying. At least we have the prompts *unlike the rest of the applicants that are not on SDN!*

 

[Mute98]

I can understand why they'd be standoffish or rude...as much as we'd like to know where our secondaries are, I think they don't want to be bothered by such a trivial question (to them, that's what it is). We just have to "wait our turn". Even if we submitted early, if they're taking their precious time processing apps, we just gotta wait....I know it's a pain/annoying. At least we have the prompts *unlike the rest of the applicants that are not on SDN!*

haha they were like that before I even asked anything. The first lady who answered me barely even gave me time to speak before she hung up on me the first time, and when I called back she transferred me to student affairs without me letting me finish my question (which was the wrong department)

 

[Mute98]

sorry if I sound whiny but you are right alk3 fan-- at least we do have the prompts so we can work on it and submit right away.

 

[OGMD]

Got this email today, submitted it 6/30, so I assume they are just waiting to download letters?
"This is to confirm that your finalized electronic supplemental application for Boston University School of Medicine has been registered in our office. We appreciate your interest in our program and look forward to receiving the other items required to complete the application."

 

[eight sat up]

No secondary here...verified 6/4. =/

 

[Mute98]

im trying to figure out if there is some sort of order.. maybe its by AMCAS ID #? haha hopefully by the end of next week I will have this

 

[whimsical]

Hm, that's weird. Yeah I definitely have been verified for weeks and I haven't gotten this yet. I'm not in a hurry, though - I have a few more secondaries on deck that I'd like to get through.

 

[OGMD]

its really odd but I think they sent it to unverified people first oddly enough. I got it right away but my friends have yet to get it. I submitted June 1st but my transcripts were not received til end of June like June 22nd. so I'm still in line to be verified.

I was verified June 2nd and among the first to get it. I think its just random, who knows if they have a system for it.

 

[mosbius designs]

how long does it take for the application status to update the payment status? i paid a few days ago and it still says payment not received so i cannot submit the secondary ..

 

[OGMD]

how long does it take for the application status to update the payment status? i paid a few days ago and it still says payment not received so i cannot submit the secondary ..

mine was instant

 

[Longshanks]

yeah its a little odd how its getting sent out.

I got the secondary within an hour of submitting the primary.

 

[Doodl3s]

I'm still waiting too. verified mid-june....

 

[Mute98]

that sounds plausible.. our apps are with the dude who said to himself "ill take care of it later!"

 

[med8866]

No email here either - so frustrating!

 

[BrainBuff]

Just got my secondary a couple of hours ago. Isn't today a holiday? There is definitely no way of predicting how these secondaries are sent.

It is an easy one though!! yeay

 

[BrainBuff]

Their system has been a bit wonkers...as in I got my login information 15 minutes prior to the email saying I will receive a login information email within a few hours...

Also, based on what I read in the little "checklist" that BUSM attached in the application system, it seems that if you: 1) went to college directly after HS, 2) finished university in four years or less (or are currently in university), and 3) don't have any type of travel/educational experiences outside of school....you won't have to fill out any of these essays?

Also, for the pre-req grid, are we supposed to fill it in with all the courses we have taken or will take at university?

Ditto

 

[eight sat up]

Sittin waitin wishin on this secondary...hopefully they'll pull through soon! (CA resident btw).

 

[ShameFame]

finally got mine

 

[Longshanks]

For the prerequisite grid:

It says "humanities" include literature, social science, philosophy, arts, and language... now by including literature that has overlap with the "English" section, so do I include my English courses in humanities?

 

[Longshanks]

Ugh, all ready to send this off but I can't until AMCAS is verified and they receive my LOR information so I can say they will be receiving my committee letter. Oh well.

 

[Goirish9]

Has anyone else still not received this secondary? I haven't. Should I call their office at this point, or just wait it out some more? It's not that I'm itching to get this, but just concerned that there might be some sort of mix-up with my application.

 

[dramaqueen14]

Has anyone else still not received this secondary? I haven't. Should I call their office at this point, or just wait it out some more? It's not that I'm itching to get this, but just concerned that there might be some sort of mix-up with my application.

I would just wait for it. I haven't gotten it either but I'm not that worried since there are other people who haven't gotten it and I'm sure it will come eventually.

 

[MB333999]

just got it today, verified june 24.

so whats special about this place? is boston a nice city?

 

[MB333999]

Hmm the city is quaint. Its diverse but not chaotic in the NYC sense and easy to get everywhere on foot bus or train in relatively short time compared to London or NYC.

Most well known probably for
1. Its historical nature as an original city and part of an original US colony of the 13 involved in american history.

2. MIT and Harvard. that's where tourists go. lol

3. 3 major med schools and dental schools in one city.

ah ic ic, I think im more of a big city kinda guy. but the school seems pretty good. thanks for the reply

 

[obgyny]

For this secondary question:

3. If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below. (You may skip this question if you have graduated within 4 years.) (1400 character limit)

I technically started college while I was a high school senior. I did a dual-enrollment program where I did full-time college classes at a community college while I was still enrolled in high school full-time. After I graduated high school, I completed my undergrad degree in 4 more years. So all together, it technically took me 5 years to graduate college. But when I input my grades into AMCAS, they count this "dual-enrollment year" as a high school year, not my freshmen year.

So does that count as 4 years? Or should I explain this all in that essay question?

Thanks, this dual-enrollment thing I did always complicates everything.

Edit: I have another question. For the other essay questions (like was there a gap between high school and college? if not, please explain), if the answer is "no," do we just leave the space blank, or should we write something like, "There was no gap between my high school and college education."?

 

[DoctorLiuser]

For this secondary question:

3. If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below. (You may skip this question if you have graduated within 4 years.) (1400 character limit)

I technically started college while I was a high school senior. I did a dual-enrollment program where I did full-time college classes at a community college while I was still enrolled in high school full-time. After I graduated high school, I completed my undergrad degree in 4 more years. So all together, it technically took me 5 years to graduate college. But when I input my grades into AMCAS, they count this "dual-enrollment year" as a high school year, not my freshmen year.

So does that count as 4 years? Or should I explain this all in that essay question?

Thanks, this dual-enrollment thing I did always complicates everything.

Edit: I have another question. For the other essay questions (like was there a gap between high school and college? if not, please explain), if the answer is "no," do we just leave the space blank, or should we write something like, "There was no gap between my high school and college education."?

1. My hunch is that it counts as four years, but I would call them and ask.

2. I just left it blank and it submitted fine.

 

[Mute98]

still waiting for this..

 

[garyinthehouse]

waiter here as well 😕

 

[kjb19]

finally got mine...hopefully more people will too 🙂

 

[TFS]

same 👎

 

[lollybo]

Still waiting.

 

[eight sat up]

Still waiting on this one...complete at several other schools. Maybe I got stuck in the internet somewhere.

 

[brussellnhes]

Is anyone here a re-applicant to this school? A lot of my answers (except for the optional section/re-applicant question) are the same. Is that okay?

For example, for the question, "4. Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be of particular interest to us." my answer will essentially be identical as last years because it was important. Do you think this is okay?

Also, what does Boston U specialize in? From my research, it seems like it graduates a lot of students in internal medicine and surgery. Can someone correct me on this?

 

[athenalux]

For Letters of Rec, would a letter from my undergrad dept chair be equivalent to an "advisor letter"? My dept doesn't have an otherwise specified advisor...

 

[Slack3r]

Do they send these out to everyone (the secondarys that is)?