2015-2016 Boston University Application Thread

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commenting for notifications in the future, submitted secondary 7/12 and marked complete 7/14 good luck everyone!
 
Giovanni_TR said:
commenting for notifications in the future, submitted secondary 7/12 and marked complete 7/14 good luck everyone!
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For future use, you can just click the "watch thread" button at the top right of the page, under the search bar.
 
I might be way too stressed out, but are we supposed to receive the pre-registration email, the web account registration email, then the initial contact email, and then we wait for another email to be invited for the secondary after those initial three emails (however long that takes...weeks?)? I'm just making sure so I don't end up finding out that the link to the secondary was there the whole time, the website was being buggy, and I'd been waiting for another email.
 
annaboo said:
I might be way too stressed out, but are we supposed to receive the pre-registration email, the web account registration email, then the initial contact email, and then we wait for another email to be invited for the secondary after those initial three emails (however long that takes...weeks?)? I'm just making sure so I don't end up finding out that the link to the secondary was there the whole time, the website was being buggy, and I'd been waiting for another email.
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Initial contact email = you can now fill out the secondary.
 
medic86 said:
Initial contact email = you can now fill out the secondary.
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Hm. I was under the impression that I hadn't been invited yet because every time I try to login, I get an error. I'm sure my login info is correct. I may have to contact them.
 
annaboo said:
Hm. I was under the impression that I hadn't been invited yet because every time I try to login, I get an error. I'm sure my login info is correct. I may have to contact them.
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I had the same issue. I contacted them and they replied with a fix/link pretty quickly.
 
I'm a bit confused about the grid. It specifically states "count each course only once," so if I count a class as a 'Required Areas of Study,' I should omit it from the 'Recommended Areas of Study'? Took Cell Bio, Genetics, and Biochem, but if I count them in the top, do I have to put 0 for those classes on the bottom? I apologize in advance if this question has already been answered elsewhere in this thread.
 
Hey guys quick question about this secondary. I received it about a week ago, and I want to submit it, but my letters of recommendation haven't showed up on the secondary yet. I only submitted my primary about a week ago, so it will be a while before it is verified. Must I wait until my primary is verified to submit this secondary? Or can I submit the secondary, and BU will receive the letters once my app is verified? Please let me know if you know the answer to this, I don't want to wait much longer to submit this if I don't have to. Thanks!
 
So did anyone figure out how to make it save on the Personal Preferences page? Still says "failed to save" 😕
 
StoicHotMess said:
So did anyone figure out how to make it save on the Personal Preferences page? Still says "failed to save" 😕
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there is an error note on the page instructing you to email them your prefernces
 
AngelintheOutfield said:
Hey guys quick question about this secondary. I received it about a week ago, and I want to submit it, but my letters of recommendation haven't showed up on the secondary yet. I only submitted my primary about a week ago, so it will be a while before it is verified. Must I wait until my primary is verified to submit this secondary? Or can I submit the secondary, and BU will receive the letters once my app is verified? Please let me know if you know the answer to this, I don't want to wait much longer to submit this if I don't have to. Thanks!
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Found my own answer on the secondary app. If anyone is interested.....

"You will be unable to submit this Supplemental Application until all required elements have been received AND your AMCAS application/transcript has been verified by AMCAS. "
 
StoicHotMess said:
So did anyone figure out how to make it save on the Personal Preferences page? Still says "failed to save" 😕
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They mention that they have been having issues with that page and you will need to email them at [email protected] with the information. Just make sure you include your AMCAS number in the email so they can match it to your file!
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
They mention that they have been having issues with that page and you will need to email them at [email protected] with the information. Just make sure you include your AMCAS number in the email so they can match it to your file!
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Is this in addition to submitting the secondary? Do we need to do anything if our file is complete and under review?
 
AngelintheOutfield said:
Found my own answer on the secondary app. If anyone is interested.....

"You will be unable to submit this Supplemental Application until all required elements have been received AND your AMCAS application/transcript has been verified by AMCAS. "
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very annoying =( paid the fee and everything!
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
They mention that they have been having issues with that page and you will need to email them at [email protected] with the information. Just make sure you include your AMCAS number in the email so they can match it to your file!
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What if I just utterly don't care whether they think of me as a guy, a girl, neither, other, nor which pronouns they use to refer to me when I'm not present? I appreciate that the school is taking the effort to ask and clarify for students who are concerned about these things, but I'm not.
 
mehc012 said:
What if I just utterly don't care whether they think of me as a guy, a girl, neither, other, nor which pronouns they use to refer to me when I'm not present? I appreciate that the school is taking the effort to ask and clarify for students who are concerned about these things, but I'm not.
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I feel the same way. Does anyone know if this is required or if it's personal preference as to whether we want to submit our personal preferences...? 😛 I feel like it's the latter but if anyone has more info, then that'd be appreciated!
 
oneirologist said:
I feel the same way. Does anyone know if this is required or if it's personal preference as to whether we want to submit our personal preferences...? 😛 I feel like it's the latter but if anyone has more info, then that'd be appreciated!
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Meh. I just sent in a 2 line email with my name and ID# as one line and preferences as the second. If they care they can read it, if not, I don't really care either.
 
Is statistics a prerequisite for matriculation at BU? On their admissions page, it says a semester is required, but on the pre-req grid page in the secondary, it doesn't say that statistics is required like it says for biology, chemistry, and physics, though there is a line to enter your statistic classes.

If it is indeed a prereq, can I just put 1 semester and then indicate that I will take it prior to matriculation in the notes, even if I did not list the class as a future class on my AMCAS application?

EDIT: I just realized that the statistics line on the pre-req grid is under "RECOMMENDED areas of study." Does this mean that it isn't required, though it is indicated as required here?: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/gms/m-s-genetic-counseling-program/admissions-requirements/
 
winterwind_23 said:
Is statistics a prerequisite for matriculation at BU? On their admissions page, it says a semester is required, but on the pre-req grid page in the secondary, it doesn't say that statistics is required like it says for biology, chemistry, and physics, though there is a line to enter your statistic classes.

If it is indeed a prereq, can I just put 1 semester and then indicate that I will take it prior to matriculation in the notes, even if I did not list the class as a future class on my AMCAS application?

EDIT: I just realized that the statistics line on the pre-req grid is under "RECOMMENDED areas of study." Does this mean that it isn't required, though it is indicated as required here?: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/gms/m-s-genetic-counseling-program/admissions-requirements/
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Doublecheck that link you just posted and tell me what you think is wrong with it.
 
I honestly cannot think of anything to write for the educational history essay. Will it hurt me that my educational history is not unique? I don't have any advanced training in anything, and I didn't study abroad. 🙁

For the optional essay, I was thinking about writing about my first-generation, low-income background and how it has motivated me to work with underserved communities and be more empathetic and compassionate to all people. Would this be a good topic?
 
winterwind_23 said:
I honestly cannot think of anything to write for the educational history essay. Will it hurt me that my educational history is not unique? I don't have any advanced training in anything, and I didn't study abroad. 🙁

For the optional essay, I was thinking about writing about my first-generation, low-income background and how it has motivated me to work with underserved communities and be more empathetic and compassionate to all people. Would this be a good topic?
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I think that would be a great topic!

As far as the educational history essay, maybe you can write something about an academic or recreational interest that you're very passionate about? For example, I also didn't study abroad and don't have advanced training in music or arts, but I talked about my obsession of sports and advanced statistics and how those interests spurred me to take up sportswriting.
 
sharkbyte said:
I think that would be a great topic!

As far as the educational history essay, maybe you can write something about an academic or recreational interest that you're very passionate about? For example, I also didn't study abroad and don't have advanced training in music or arts, but I talked about my obsession of sports and advanced statistics and how those interests spurred me to take up sportswriting.
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Thanks! I will go with the first-generation college student topic for my optional essay. As for the educational history essay, I'm thinking about writing about playing the piano. Though I don't have many achievements or official ECs related to piano, I would like to talk about how playing the piano has taught me perseverance through long hours of practice, and has given me an appreciation for music. I also played the piano in my high school orchestra, so I might talk about learning to work together. Would this be a good topic?
 
I submitted my Secondary yesterday and then emailed them with my personal preferences.

They emailed me back and said that they fixed the site and to go update my prefs. If you already submitted the Secondary, you can still update that page. 🙂
 
winterwind_23 said:
Thanks! I will go with the first-generation college student topic for my optional essay. As for the educational history essay, I'm thinking about writing about playing the piano. Though I don't have many achievements or official ECs related to piano, I would like to talk about how playing the piano has taught me perseverance through long hours of practice, and has given me an appreciation for music. I also played the piano in my high school orchestra, so I might talk about learning to work together. Would this be a good topic?
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I think that's great! The prompt also mentions music as a possible topic, so it would fit very well with what they're asking.
 
sharkbyte said:
I think that's great! The prompt also mentions music as a possible topic, so it would fit very well with what they're asking.
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Thanks! I'm actually really happy about how my essay turned out. Through writing so many secondaries, I honestly believe that you write your best if it's a topic you truly feel passionate about. I'm really passionate about piano and music, and I think it comes through in my essay. And I also realized how much I've learned about perseverance, collaboration, performing under pressure, among other things, from my training in piano!
 
winterwind_23 said:
Thanks! I'm actually really happy about how my essay turned out. Through writing so many secondaries, I honestly believe that you write your best if it's a topic you truly feel passionate about. I'm really passionate about piano and music, and I think it comes through in my essay. And I also realized how much I've learned about perseverance, collaboration, performing under pressure, among other things, from my training in piano!
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That's exactly what I felt!! I got so bored and exhausted of writing a lot of the same essays but I really enjoyed writing essays about my hobbies and non-academic interests.
 
So i have 4 letters of recommendation: 3 science and one community service. However, only the three science ones are showing up on the secondary portal, although the community service one has already been submitted. Is this happening to any one else?
 
ineedsleep93 said:
So i have 4 letters of recommendation: 3 science and one community service. However, only the three science ones are showing up on the secondary portal, although the community service one has already been submitted. Is this happening to any one else?
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How long did it take for the portal to show your letters after you assigned them to the school through AMCAS?
 
I decided to submit an essay; good luck everyone!
 
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Got an email from BU, had a small heart attack, turns out one of my LORs is missing letterhead -__-
 
maybedeadcat said:
Got an email from BU, had a small heart attack, turns out one of my LORs is missing letterhead -__-
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classic mini heart attack from every email notification we get. Is it only me who doesn't wanna receive any more secondaries solely in order to avoid such heart attacks?
 
BurghMed said:
classic mini heart attack from every email notification we get. Is it only me who doesn't wanna receive any more secondaries solely in order to avoid such heart attacks?
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Or just emails in general, really. Every notification is a bit of hope until I see that it's just from Starbucks or something. -_-
 
Glad to know I'm not the only one who freaks out every time I hear my email notification go off lol.
 
mazarine said:
Or just emails in general, really. Every notification is a bit of hope until I see that it's just from Starbucks or something. -_-
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Yes.... I serious regret signing up for so many store's newsletters.
 
Haha my top choice med school is my undergrad university's med school, so every time I get an email with the school name in the subject line I freak out thinking it's from the med school, and then it ends up being like my tuition bill or something. This happens several times a day :laugh:
 
Little tip for Apple iPhone users: I put all of the medical schools on my VIP e-mail list which has a different notification than standard e-mail =) it makes the mini heart attacks less frequent and specific only to medical school e-mails!
 
tick_tock_tick_tock said:
Little tip for Apple iPhone users: I put all of the medical schools on my VIP e-mail list which has a different notification than standard e-mail =) it makes the mini heart attacks less frequent and specific only to medical school e-mails!
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I used a different email for med school apps (it sounds more professional and isn't associated with any social media), so I just forwarded that account to a Med Apps folder in my main gmail. Now everything is consolidated, and that folder has its own notification sound!

Edit: if you're a non-Apple user who didn't do what I did, you can still easily replicate it by filtering all med school related emails into their own folder with a unique notification!
 
My diversity essay is drawn from competing nationally at a sport BUT I was much younger, would that be appropriate for the optional essay?
 
want someone to help my neuroticism - if we are doing the educational history essay, it's okay if it's like 800 characters right? or should i expand on it more since its a 2000 character limit and i don't want to seem disinterested.
 
I think you should write as much as needed to get your point across. You don't want to put unnecessary details. I think that if you can write what you want effectively in 800 characters, then that's good!
 
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