2014-2015 Boston University Application Thread

[halfwaycrooks]

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I would have a friend/family member take a photo. Mirror selfie sounds like a bad idea.

Only joking

 

[death prophet]

I would have a friend/family member take a photo. Mirror selfie sounds like a bad idea.

Struggle is real tho.

 

[daenschl]

Finally got the secondary just now. Verified 6/27.

 

[chromealt]

Just got a secondary as well 🙂

 

[BMC11]

I got an e-mail today noting that my application is complete. Secondary received 7/4 and submitted 7/5.

 

[mdblues]

Haven't received one yet either and was verified the day after amcas opened. Though my numbers are really low.

I was also verified the second day and just got my secondary today. I have no idea how they decide when to send out secondaries to people, but it does not say on their website that they do any pre-secondary screening?

 

[CitrusJ]

It's most likely sent out in batches. I doubt there's a correlation between when you receive one and anything on your app whatsoever

 

[toastytoes]

Anyone having trouble uploading a picture on the app? I can upload it fine but then it looks distorted on the preview page and I'm afraid it's making me look 300 pounds heavier...

 

[Surgeon's Cuffs]

Anyone having trouble uploading a picture on the app? I can upload it fine but then it looks distorted on the preview page and I'm afraid it's making me look 300 pounds heavier...

I had the same issue, but I have hover zoom, and whenI look over the upload it looks exactly how it was supposed to be. I think it might just be the size of the preview box that they set. It would be interesting to know whats up with it though.

 

[nOchemallday]

Secondary received today. AMCAS submitted June 26, but not verified. Same thing happened with Johns Hopkins. If anyone else is in this situation, the advice given by JHU was to wait until you are verified before beginning the online secondary. I imagine Boston will give similar advice.

 

[Silviae_Puella]

Can someone post the essay prompts? Or confirm if they are the same as last year's?

 

[onceawolverine]

Can someone confirm that these are the prompts for 2014-2015?

If you did not go to college directly after high school, please explain: (1400 character limit, approximately 280 words)

If you are not expecting to go directly to medical school after completing your undergraduate work, please explain. (1400 character limit, approximately 280 words)

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.)

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. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. (2000 character limit, approximately 400 words)

We have found that for most applicants, an extra essay written expressly for Boston University adds little to the information content of the portfolio. While we no longer require an essay, some applicants feel that additional information is necessary in order to provide us with a comprehensive understanding of their strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. If you wish, use the space below to offer an essay or any other information, addressing any issue you feel is of importance. If you choose to use the space, please do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in this Supplemental Application or in material you have submitted to AMCAS.
For most applicants, no supplementary essay will be necessary and this space can be left blank.

These prompts are correct. It should be noted that "it is not necessary to write anything in this section" and "for most applicants, no supplementary essay will be necessary and this space can be left blank" should be taken seriously. I've seen people discuss this issue in relation to BU, and the general consensus is that, unless you have something very important to say, just leave it blank.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

These prompts are correct. It should be noted that "it is not necessary to write anything in this section" and "for most applicants, no supplementary essay will be necessary and this space can be left blank" should be taken seriously. I've seen people discuss this issue in relation to BU, and the general consensus is that, unless you have something very important to say, just leave it blank.

There is also an additional essay if you are a re-applicant. I was prepared to put that in the optional essay space, but now I just left it blank.

 

[virginiayankee]

.

 

[geeyouknit]

Save it - no one wants to hear your soliloquy. Don't worry about me, I've survived things much harder than residency. Stop being a troll.

I actually enjoyed his soliloquy, which I guess makes it a monologue instead.

Question about letters. The website says "...substitute a minimum of three individual letters, two of which must be from a professor who has taught you in Biology, Chemistry or Physics." In your guys experiences, are they flexible at all with this? Do you all have such letters?

Thanks.

 

[halfwaycrooks]

I actually enjoyed his soliloquy, which I guess makes it a monologue instead.

Question about letters. The website says "...substitute a minimum of three individual letters, two of which must be from a professor who has taught you in Biology, Chemistry or Physics." In your guys experiences, are they flexible at all with this? Do you all have such letters?

Thanks.

I would call because every situation is unique, I personally am going the committee route. If your school has one, it may be frowned upon to avoid that process.

 

[geeyouknit]

Thanks. Unfortunately, my school doesn't have one - that would make life easier.

 

[phunky]

Submitted. Did not write optional essay.

 

[toastytoes]

I had the same issue, but I have hover zoom, and whenI look over the upload it looks exactly how it was supposed to be. I think it might just be the size of the preview box that they set. It would be interesting to know whats up with it though.

Figured it out! You have to upload a square picture otherwise it tries to make it square. Not sure if it shows up on their screens as that, but I made my square just in case.
Good luck to everyone! Just submitted, though my MCAT scores are going to be holding me up so I don't expect they'll see my app until late August. sigh...
And I did the optional essay, but I truly felt that what I had to say added to my application.

 

[sundancing]

Ok maybe I'm being dumb but this prerequisite grid has got me SO confused. Does 1 semester = 1 course? I.e. if we took 30 credits of 3-credit humanities courses during college, that would be 10 semesters? And do we enter ALL courses of each type, or only enough to satisfy each prerequisite? I would really appreciate some help with this!

Edit: Never mind, figured it out!

 

[halfwaycrooks]

Ok maybe I'm being dumb but this prerequisite grid has got me SO confused. Does 1 semester = 1 course? I.e. if we took 30 credits of 3-credit humanities courses during college, that would be 10 semesters? And do we enter ALL courses of each type, or only enough to satisfy each prerequisite? I would really appreciate some help with this!

I only entered enough courses to take care of their pre reqs. I saw no sense in repeating the data they already have from amcas

 

[won'tstop]

Just got an email saying my application was put on hold because one of my rec letter does not have letterhead and they ask me to resubmit the letter. WTF. I don't think it's a good idea to go back and ask the professor to resubmit the letter right...

 

[slopes23]

I don't know if it's a good idea or not. But it's certainly not a good idea to ignore the reason for their hold.

 

[ndafife]

Just got an email saying my application was put on hold because one of my rec letter does not have letterhead and they ask me to resubmit the letter. WTF. I don't think it's a good idea to go back and ask the professor to resubmit the letter right...

You probably should if you plan on using that LOR.

 

[houston9]

Just got an email saying my application was put on hold because one of my rec letter does not have letterhead and they ask me to resubmit the letter. WTF. I don't think it's a good idea to go back and ask the professor to resubmit the letter right...

Many schools have that policy. Definitely ask the person to resubmit.

 

[chromealt]

Regarding the question about additional learning experiences. If I briefly mentioned studying abroad in my primary (one bullet point), do you think I should expand on this here? Or would this be bad as it says to describe experiences that may not be covered in other areas of your application or AMCAS.

 

[504196]

Just got an email saying my application was put on hold because one of my rec letter does not have letterhead and they ask me to resubmit the letter. WTF. I don't think it's a good idea to go back and ask the professor to resubmit the letter right...

I also got that email and I had told the professor to have it signed and on letterhead but he forgot. Anyways, he will be resubmitting his letter soon. I don't think it will be too big of a deal. Just really annoying.

 

[timeturner]

Just submitted. This one was relatively painless?

 

[looncat]

Regarding the question about additional learning experiences. If I briefly mentioned studying abroad in my primary (one bullet point), do you think I should expand on this here? Or would this be bad as it says to describe experiences that may not be covered in other areas of your application or AMCAS.

I'd also like to know the answer to this. For me it was just volunteering abroad for a couple weeks in the summer though...or is it a good idea to just use a diversity essay I already have?

 

[ndafife]

I'd also like to know the answer to this. For me it was just volunteering abroad for a couple weeks in the summer though...or is it a good idea to just use a diversity essay I already have?

I think the point is more not repeating the same ideas... Expanding on a point is different than repeating the same idea. Its not black and white, so write up a rough draft and ask yourself, "Does this add to my application? Or will the admissions committee get these same points/ideas and create the exact same picture of me based on my primary alone?"

 

[cupcakesandcadavers]

for this terrible grid, they tell us to include classes we intend on taking. if we don't know yet (aka spring semester especially, I'm a rising senior), should we guess at what we might take? or ignore it altogether?

 

[virginiayankee]

@cupcakesandcadavers I just made it match what is in my "Expected Coursework" on AMCAS...

 

[DoTheTrick]

I finally submitted, without writing the optional essay. I decided to play with the fire...

 

[childish93]

Ya, try growing up in South Central, Los Angeles.

Anyways, let's put this behind us.

 

[Mayday_]

Got the dreaded "one of your letters is missing letterhead" email 🙁

That professor is out of the country right now too.. I hope she's checking her email

 

[peytcram]

When do II's usually come out?!

 

[RussianFrolic]

Diversity essay was their first question essentially. But if you feel you can add to it go for it. Its your funeral. 🙂

What do you mean by that? The only essay question they really have is the one where you can describe living in a different country/culture and the optional one. I wouldn't say the experiencing a new culture one necessarily counts as a diversity essay. Some people are more diverse than just experiencing other cultures.

 

[sujc]

anyone getting 404'd when trying to log in to the app?

 

[eatkalteenbars]

For the personal connection to BUSM or BMC question, is that more about relatives or can I put down employers/professors? I went to BU as an undergrad and took some courses on the med campus. Also, I currently work at BMC.

 

[radejs]

For the personal connection to BUSM or BMC question, is that more about relatives or can I put down employers/professors? I went to BU as an undergrad and took some courses on the med campus. Also, I currently work at BMC.

In my opinion that is a personal connection, your work now and previous course work, and should be disussed

 

[radejs]

Anyone applying ED to BUSM?

 

[death prophet]

Dropping my hat in the mix.

 

[sujc]

nvm

 

[rainingbunnies]

Hey guys, I was wondering if yall are putting ALL your classes in the science pre-req section. Like if you have a lot more bio classes that what they need, are you entering those as well?

 

[zinthafan]

Hey guys, I was wondering if yall are putting ALL your classes in the science pre-req section. Like if you have a lot more bio classes that what they need, are you entering those as well?

I put only the pre-reqs for this one I think; not any more.

 

[radejs]

Hey guys, I was wondering if yall are putting ALL your classes in the science pre-req section. Like if you have a lot more bio classes that what they need, are you entering those as well?

I also only put in the pre-reqs, but if you click on and read the Help on top of the page, you see the FAQ's, and the biggest section is for the grid, no surprise, and in a couple places it says they all CAN be included. I Should have read this BEFORE submitting. Check it out. Hopefully not a big deal, it says CAN not SHOULD and admissions is pretty laid back at BUSM and looks at the big picture.

 

[mike wang]

Hey guys I have two questions regarding the secondary application:

1) Which courses count as biological sciences courses? Can we put physiology and pharmacology courses or is it strictly general biology courses?

2) on the MCAT section of the II, there is an option to put your application on hold until they receive your new MCAT. I wrote my MCAT July 12 so i'm guessing I would be getting the results August 12-17. People tell me that the admissions committee takes long to process the application, so if I don't tell BUSM to hold my application do you think they would finish looking at my application by mid August? Basically my concern is that if I tell BUSM to look at my application in mid August, would I be considered a late applicant?

 

[ndafife]

1. Look at the course. If you were doing that subject in grade/middle school, what course would it be taught in (Bio/Chem/Physics)? If you say biology (which I would for physiology and pharmacology) I would say it falls under the web of biological sciences.

2. I dont get what you are saying. You don't tell a school when to look at an application. You (and AMCAS) tell a school when an application is complete. When its done the application is thrown in with all the other applications and BUSM decides when to look at it.

 

[houston9]

2) on the MCAT section of the II, there is an option to put your application on hold until they receive your new MCAT. I wrote my MCAT July 12 so i'm guessing I would be getting the results August 12-17. People tell me that the admissions committee takes long to process the application, so if I don't tell BUSM to hold my application do you think they would finish looking at my application by mid August? Basically my concern is that if I tell BUSM to look at my application in mid August, would I be considered a late applicant?

Have you taken the MCAT before? If you don't tell them to hold it they will look at your current score and potentially reject you based on it. If July was your first MCAT then you have to hold/they won't look at your app anyway until they get a score. Having a good score/any score is more important than whether the SDN gods think your app is late.

 

[mike wang]

1. Look at the course. If you were doing that subject in grade/middle school, what course would it be taught in (Bio/Chem/Physics)? If you say biology (which I would for physiology and pharmacology) I would say it falls under the web of biological sciences.

2. I dont get what you are saying. You don't tell a school when to look at an application. You (and AMCAS) tell a school when an application is complete. When its done the application is thrown in with all the other applications and BUSM decides when to look at it.

Have you taken the MCAT before? If you don't tell them to hold it they will look at your current score and potentially reject you based on it. If July was your first MCAT then you have to hold/they won't look at your app anyway until they get a score. Having a good score/any score is more important than whether the SDN gods think your app is late.

Thank you both for your responses. I'll try to clarify what I'm saying. Basically I took the MCAT once last summer and I wrote it again this summer. I am worried that if tell BUSM to wait until my new MCAT scores are out (mid August), my application would be late since they would start reviewing then. The other option is to not put my application on hold so that they would start reviewing my application whenever I submit my II. So if BUSM takes a few weeks to review my application, would it be smarter not to put my application on hold since by the time they start reviewing my application, my new MCAT scores would be out. I hope that makes sense, thanks for all your help guys!