2015-2016 Boston University Application Thread

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shoopshoop said:
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.
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I'm aiming for > 60% of the max count, but I'm not gonna force it with verbosity.

My graduate degree stuff should get me there comfortably though.
 
BU is my top choice and I am currently in their MAMS program. I thought the secondary would have a place to put "why BU" since I have specific reasons. I want to express how important BU is to me and how much I want to go there, but don't know how to do that given their essay prompts. In fact, I don't even know if I should write the essays at all, or if they would merely be further detailing things I already said in my personal statement. My educational experience was unique in that I took animal science classes and the majority of my in depth clinical experience is veterinary, but I briefly explained this in my personal statement. Should I not bother writing the educational essay? Or should I not bother writing the medical candidate essay?
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
BU is my top choice and I am currently in their MAMS program. I thought the secondary would have a place to put "why BU" since I have specific reasons. I want to express how important BU is to me and how much I want to go there, but don't know how to do that given their essay prompts. In fact, I don't even know if I should write the essays at all, or if they would merely be further detailing things I already said in my personal statement. My educational experience was unique in that I took animal science classes and the majority of my in depth clinical experience is veterinary, but I briefly explained this in my personal statement. Should I not bother writing the educational essay? Or should I not bother writing the medical candidate essay?
Click to expand...

I was in Tufts SMP program and their app has a similar additional info optional essay. I used it to write a short and sweet reason why I wanted to go there. I think its appropriate to do that when you have really really specific reasons for going there. I mentioned a lot of things that an adcom/doctor/student at tufts would instantly recognize as "Tufts". Not just fluff.
 
Was wondering if some one could help me out.. got an email today from BU saying my secondary is on hold because one of my letters didn't sign their LOR and one of them didn't sign or put a letter head. Does this mean their letters will be messed up for every other secondary too?
Once they fix the letters and resend them to AMCAS will every secondary be updated also?

Thanks in advance for the help!!
 
TurknJDandJD said:
Once they fix the letters and resend them to AMCAS will every secondary be updated also?
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Yeah AMCAS forwards stuff and schools download data every single day. Now how quickly each school's system will process the new letter is a completely different story. Either way, you should be ok as long as he fixes it ASAP
 
I am confused with the Grid.
Am I suppose to only include the basic requirements (bio 1 & 2, chem 1 & 2, etc.) or include all the classes we have taken?
For example: For Biological Sciences do count only Bio 1 and 2 or every singles biology class I have taken?

Same for the Humanities, do I just put 2, the minimum required, or all the Humanities classes I have taken?
 
PhillipJFry said:
I am confused with the Grid.
Am I suppose to only include the basic requirements (bio 1 & 2, chem 1 & 2, etc.) or include all the classes we have taken?
For example: For Biological Sciences do count only Bio 1 and 2 or every singles biology class I have taken?

Same for the Humanities, do I just put 2, the minimum required, or all the Humanities classes I have taken?
Click to expand...
Since they give you an opportunity to list any cell bio, genetics, etc. courses you took, I would put those that apply under the recommended areas of study and the rest of your bio courses above with biological sciences. For humanities, I would count all of them. Just what I did, not sure if it's right.
 
Jody+Tinkles said:
Since they give you an opportunity to list any cell bio, genetics, etc. courses you took, I would put those that apply under the recommended areas of study and the rest of your bio courses above with biological sciences. For humanities, I would count all of them. Just what I did, not sure if it's right.
Click to expand...
So pretty much input everything credit I have earned.
Where does History fall under? Humanities?
 
II!!! complete 7/13. Anyone else interviewing on 9/28?
 
avgn said:
Congrats! That's a huge hurdle to get past for BU haha
Did either of you write any of the optional essays (education history/anything else)?
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Yea I used the optional essay to talk about diversity I would bring not well explicated in my primary--from a rural area medically underserved, LGBT activism I've done with doctors and healthcare staff, and my biomedical research. I didnt use it as a "why BU" essay, but I know some of my friends did (although most left it blank).
 
avgn said:
Congrats! That's a huge hurdle to get past for BU haha
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Why do you say that? Do you know how many acceptances they give relative to interviews? I see that last year on MSAR they gave 1069 interviews. You think they're accepting like ~400 people out of that? More?

Or maybe you just mean 1069/~11,000 is the hurdle... Just got it...
 
stvr said:
Why do you say that? Do you know how many acceptances they give relative to interviews? I see that last year on MSAR they gave 1069 interviews. You think they're accepting like ~400 people out of that? More?

Or maybe you just mean 1069/~11,000 is the hurdle... Just got it...
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Yes, I mean that getting in the 9% of interviews given out is huge. I know the post-interview acceptance rate from USNWR Grad Compass but I'm pretty sure I can't release proprietary information like that haha.
 
Gah, I gotta pony up the $29.99...
 
If your status is "under review" does that mean much? For those of you who got II's, how long was your app under review before you were notified? :zip:
 
TurknJDandJD said:
If your status is "under review" does that mean much? For those of you who got II's, how long was your app under review before you were notified? :zip:
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Mine has said "complete and under review" basically since I submitted it. I have not received an II, so I think that is just the default status.
 
I was just wondering how many of you guys with II's ended up leaving the optional essay blank?
 
happyasaclam said:
II this morning, via portal. The portal said they'd sent an email notification, but I didn't get it (gmail). Maybe others will have some happy news when they check the portal. 🙂
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Congrats! Did your portal change from "your application is complete and under review" in yellow at the top to something else? And when were you complete?

Thanks!
 
ilikedogsandscience said:
Congrats! Did your portal change from "your application is complete and under review" in yellow at the top to something else? And when were you complete?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yep, changed to "invited for interview" and then there were dates to choose on the interview tab on the left. I was complete 7/14.
 
Gah, a letter that AMCAS received a week ago is still listed as pending on the portal and it's keeping my application in limbo.
 
Do they offer a student host program for overnight stay before the interview? I haven't seen anything about it on the information sent out.
 
Is anyone else on hold pending a final update about their gap year plans? I've been on hold since 7/22 and they said they'd lift it when I know what I'll be doing next year.
They just sent me a reminder email that I'm still on hold- trust me BU I wish I knew what I was doing next year too QQ
 
SoCalPipeDreamer said:
Is anyone else on hold pending a final update about their gap year plans? I've been on hold since 7/22 and they said they'd lift it when I know what I'll be doing next year.
They just sent me a reminder email that I'm still on hold- trust me BU I wish I knew what I was doing next year too QQ
Click to expand...
I didn't know schools could put you on hold for something like that! Could you say, "I'm looking for a job in XYZ field and hoping to volunteer at ABC etc etc" - something general and honest but basically just saying you don't know what you're doing, only in more proactive terms?
 
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