2013-2014 Boston University Application Thread

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Do you think it would be a good idea to put my diversity essay for the optional essay section?
 
TheBossDoctor said:
Do you think it would be a good idea to put my diversity essay for the optional essay section?
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It depends. They state that they only want information if it is relevant and pertaining to your candidacy AND if you haven't stated it already in your primary. I put my diversity essay there because I didn't state it in my primary, but I felt that it was relevant to my goals for medicine later down the line.

Also, another way of thinking about this: putting the essay isn't going to make or break you. If you think it's relevant, than do it 🙂.
 
Ahh, finally got an email saying my app is complete. Took quite awhile!
 
Has anyone figured out how to fix the squashed picture issue? I don't understand the suggestions earlier in the thread.

Other secondaries I've uploaded my pic too look fine.
 
SN12357 said:
Has anyone figured out how to fix the squashed picture issue? I don't understand the suggestions earlier in the thread.

Other secondaries I've uploaded my pic too look fine.
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Ah yes. I remember my all-purpose photo being squished as well -- the problem is that their application program takes whatever you put in and turns it into a square (i.e., a 3x4 picture will either be stretched to 4x4 or squished to a 3x3 resolution).

Just edit your photo to make it a square (e.g., 4x4) before you upload and you won't have that problem.
 
johnamo said:
Ah yes. I remember my all-purpose photo being squished as well -- the problem is that their application program takes whatever you put in and turns it into a square (i.e., a 3x4 picture will either be stretched to 4x4 or squished to a 3x3 resolution).

Just edit your photo to make it a square (e.g., 4x4) before you upload and you won't have that problem.
Click to expand...

IIRC it's 600x600 pixels /anal
 
It wasn't working for me a little while ago, but I just tried it again and it seems to be fine now.
 
flippedtungsten said:
It wasn't working for me a little while ago, but I just tried it again and it seems to be fine now.
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It's still not working for me... Any tips on how to fix it?

UPDATE: Worked on a different browser... Nevermind hah
 
when do you guys think BU's sending out II's? Traditionally, they've already started sending out II's already.
 
wannabeMD19 said:
Maybe things are pushed back because AMCAS submission was pushed back..?
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It wasn't though - they sent on the date they originally anticipated. As for BU, things happen, office capacities and application volumes and all these things fluctuate. It's all whatever, really. Can't really gain much from speculating from it, you know?
 
Only took me a day to be notified I was complete... submitted 7/23 complete 7/24
 
Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be 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 or your AMCAS application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section.
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Is this supposed to be your typical diversity essay? Or perhaps some sort of extracurriculars essay?

Or is it truly suppose to be for something extraordinary like "I was a MLB baseball player" or "I'm a refugee from Pol Pot Cambodia" type of essay?
 
chillaxbro said:
Is this supposed to be your typical diversity essay? Or perhaps some sort of extracurriculars essay?

Or is it truly suppose to be for something extraordinary like "I was a MLB baseball player" or "I'm a refugee from Pol Pot Cambodia" type of essay?
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Extra essays are not needed for BU. It's better to not write anything unless you have something extraordinary to say that it not in the rest of your application.
 
eagle34 said:
Extra essays are not needed for BU. It's better to not write anything unless you have something extraordinary to say that it not in the rest of your application.
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why do you think it's better to leave it empty? to me it just seems like you have nothing to say and/or you're lazy
 
yoyohomieg5432 said:
why do you think it's better to leave it empty? to me it just seems like you have nothing to say and/or you're lazy
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Because BU specifically says that adding a "Why BU?" essay offers very little to an applicant's profile. When forced to write a "Why us?" essay, 90% of applicants just go on the website, look up the curriculum, facilities, different programs, research opportunities, etc. and say why it sounds so great for them. Those just aren't convincing because they all sound the same. HOWEVER, if you went to BU for undergrad, are from Boston, have family members associated with the school, had your cancer cured in their hospital, etc. then that's worth writing about. Again, something extraordinary.
 
Gene Parmesan said:
Because BU specifically says that adding a "Why BU?" essay offers very little to an applicant's profile. When forced to write a "Why us?" essay, 90% of applicants just go on the website, look up the curriculum, facilities, different programs, research opportunities, etc. and say why it sounds so great for them. Those just aren't convincing because they all sound the same. HOWEVER, if you went to BU for undergrad, are from Boston, have family members associated with the school, had your cancer cured in their hospital, etc. then that's worth writing about. Again, something extraordinary.
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👍
 
Gene Parmesan said:
Because BU specifically says that adding a "Why BU?" essay offers very little to an applicant's profile. When forced to write a "Why us?" essay, 90% of applicants just go on the website, look up the curriculum, facilities, different programs, research opportunities, etc. and say why it sounds so great for them. Those just aren't convincing because they all sound the same. HOWEVER, if you went to BU for undergrad, are from Boston, have family members associated with the school, had your cancer cured in their hospital, etc. then that's worth writing about. Again, something extraordinary.
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but it's not a why BU essay, it's giving you an option to talk about your strengths as a candidate.

why would you pass on an opportunity to sell your skills and what you bring?
 
yoyohomieg5432 said:
but it's not a why BU essay, it's giving you an option to talk about your strengths as a candidate.

why would you pass on an opportunity to sell your skills and what you bring?
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Basically, as long as you don't blow it completely, it's a good opportunity to sell yourself. If you feel like you're likely to blow it, don't attempt it. Otherwise, do. Easy.
 
eagle34 said:
Extra essays are not needed for BU. It's better to not write anything unless you have something extraordinary to say that it not in the rest of your application.
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I agree with this statement. I'm in BU's SMP program and did my undergrad there as well, and have heard from multiple sources that they would rather you leave the essay blank than write for the sake of writing.
 
My LORs are marked received on AMCAS, but still pending on my BUSM secondary. Should I still submit my secondary, or wait until they aren't "pending" anymore?
 
INTERVIEW INVITE! My first one 🙂))) I am so beyond thrilled!
 
Interview invite via email around 11:00am. First one and I'm sooo excited! Scheduled for October 2, 2013.
 
Congrats on the IIs ! Would you mind sharing when you were complete?
 
For those of you that don't have MDapps profiles linked to your accounts...we inquiring and nosey people would love some stats 🙂
 
msquaredb said:
Encouraging to see! I am a GPA heavy splitter as well.
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Yes! I was expecting to have to wait this cycle out because of the 30, but I am proud of it nonetheless 🙂

Edit: I didn't write the optional essay 😉
 
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It seems like they're doing big GPA invites. Also seems like it all went out at the same time.
 
BundleofHis said:
Yes! I was expecting to have to wait this cycle out because of the 30, but I am proud of it nonetheless 🙂
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I think if you applied broadly and smartly you will find success with those stats.
 
Interview Invite!!! Complete on 7/3/2013

Edit: Wrote the optional essay, II came at 11:00am
 
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