Everybody Hatin' on BUSM

[0919mmk]

Why do I keep hearing this? I'm on their waitlist, and honestly when I visited, I got a really good vibe from BU, and I hope I get a shot at this place. People seemed happy, the location is awesome, and I just thought the school was really cool. Tons of research opportunities, nice facilities. But everyone I talk to tells me that the students there are "miserable", and that on their interview day, the students they had lunch with told them not to go there. Not my experience at all.

So what gives? Can any current BUSM students give me the 411 on student happiness and school spirit?

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[NickNaylor]

I know absolutely nothing about BU, but each visit is likely going to be different as interviewees interact with different groups of current students. It's amazing how one or two bad interactions can completely ruin your perception of a school.

I wouldn't be worried about what other people think about a particular school, ESPECIALLY if you're trying to decide where to go. Go based on your experience and what you liked, not what others liked or didn't like.

 

[thlaxer]

Some of them might just be bitter from rejection . BU does receive and reject a lot of applications.

 

[KinasePro]

I wouldn't be worried about what other people think about a particular school, ESPECIALLY if you're trying to decide where to go. Go based on your experience and what you liked, not what others liked or didn't like.

While I generally agree with this... keep in mind, that where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

 

[Sephiroth]

yeah, BU did their pre-interview rejections pretty early, which honestly I'm cool with. But I haven't seen much hating on BU. I've never been there, but it seems like a good school.

As far as interview experiences, just speaking generally, I try not to let more isolated things this a few students having poor demeanor or one interviewer irritating me influence my perceptions as this generally isn't indicative of a school (or at least I don't see why it should be)

 

[UnclePhil]

I hate BU because their secondary takes forever, is expensive and got rejected within hours of submitting my secondary despite having GPA/MCAT pretty significantly above their average.

I'm 99% sure that no one there even read my secondary application and were simply happy to take my money. That's why BU rubs me the wrong way and I guarantee you that I am not hte only person on this forum that shares this sentiment. This has happened to a lot of people by now.

I don't care that I got rejected, but a $100+ secondary should at least buy an applicant the feeling that a school read their app before giving them the axe. Or at the very least, wait until an applicant's AMCAS is even verified before sending them a secondary. It would go a long way into making their secondary seem like an actual application and less like a money making tool for their admissions office.

 

[Thego2guy]

I hate BU because their secondary takes forever, is expensive and got rejected within hours of submitting my secondary despite having GPA/MCAT pretty significantly above their average.

I'm 99% sure that no one there even read my secondary application and were simply happy to take my money. That's why BU rubs me the wrong way and I guarantee you that I am not hte only person on this forum that shares this sentiment. This has happened to a lot of people by now.

I don't care that I got rejected, but a $100+ secondary should at least buy an applicant the feeling that a school read their app before giving them the axe. Or at the very least, wait until an applicant's AMCAS is even verified before sending them a secondary. It would go a long way into making their secondary seem like an actual application and less like a money making tool for their admissions office.

Well put. BU gets a ton of applicants a year (10,000+?), for only ~150 spots. So I am not surprised at the hating that is going on.

The fact that you ^ got rejected a few hours after your secondary is messed up though.

 

[davidb25]

BU receives an incredible amount of applications and has a very unique criteria for screening out students who don't fit their mold.

I know someone who had a 3.9 GPA 38 MCAT who was interviewing at Harvard Med but didn't get an interview invite from BU.

From what I've been told BU looks for things such as Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, and other humanitarian activities more so than another school. Also, from volunteering at BMC, that hospital is as fast paced, urban, see everything in a day type of hospital as you can get. People want to go to school there, so they have to reject a-lot of people.

 

[0919mmk]

I know absolutely nothing about BU, but each visit is likely going to be different as interviewees interact with different groups of current students. It's amazing how one or two bad interactions can completely ruin your perception of a school.

I wouldn't be worried about what other people think about a particular school, ESPECIALLY if you're trying to decide where to go. Go based on your experience and what you liked, not what others liked or didn't like.

Agreed - I am definitely forming my own opinion based on MY experiences with the school. Having said that, if there was some kind of systemic issue with the school that only insiders find out about, I'd like to try to root that out earlier rather than later. But yes, as far as I am concerned, knowing what I know today, I think it's an awesome school that I would be really excited to attend.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I hate BU because their secondary takes forever, is expensive and got rejected within hours of submitting my secondary despite having GPA/MCAT pretty significantly above their average.

I'm 99% sure that no one there even read my secondary application and were simply happy to take my money. That's why BU rubs me the wrong way and I guarantee you that I am not hte only person on this forum that shares this sentiment. This has happened to a lot of people by now.

I don't care that I got rejected, but a $100+ secondary should at least buy an applicant the feeling that a school read their app before giving them the axe. Or at the very least, wait until an applicant's AMCAS is even verified before sending them a secondary. It would go a long way into making their secondary seem like an actual application and less like a money making tool for their admissions office.

That about sums it up right there.

 

[KinasePro]

BU receives an incredible amount of applications and has a very unique criteria for screening out students who don't fit their mold.

...

From what I've been told BU looks for things such as Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, and other humanitarian activities more so than another school.

Eh, that sounds like admissions office kool aid to me. I know a ton of people who attend BUSM, and none of them participated in any particularly unique humanitarian activity.

The common theme for the accepted students I know is that they had palpable intentions to attend BU if they were admitted. Either they did their undergrad at BU/Tufts/BC/etc... or they had other significant ties to the area. Schools that get 10k+ applicants are sensitive to the notion that they're safety schools, and are searching feverishly for reasons to reject good applicants.

 

[MT Headed]

Some of the old hate might have been from me (other posters have commented on it), but after completing an application cycle I have the utmost respect for BU and their admissions policies. They do not accept based on stats, which can be confusing to us premeds, but they have other criteria that allow them to very quickly eliminate students that do not fit their mold.

 

[penguinism]

Eh, that sounds like admissions office kool aid to me. I know a ton of people who attend BUSM, and none of them participated in any particularly unique humanitarian activity.

The common theme for the accepted students I know is that they had palpable intentions to attend BU if they were admitted. Either they did their undergrad at BU/Tufts/BC/etc... or they had other significant ties to the area. Schools that get 10k+ applicants are sensitive to the notion that they're safety schools, and are searching feverishly for reasons to reject good applicants.

I was accepted to BU but I haven't done any huge humanitarian things, nor am I from Boston. I have one family member that is in Boston for college, but that's really only a short-term thing. I threw an application in to BU and was lucky enough to receive an interview and an acceptance. I had a wonderful time at my interview, and I even hung out with a lot of the med students that evening. They treated me like royalty for being an interviewee, and they all said that they loved the school. The 4th years that I talked to on my interview day seemed to be receiving really great residency interviews. I certainly did not get a negative vibe from the school, so I'm not sure where everyone else is getting it from.

 

[UnclePhil]

That about sums it up right there.

I got the axe from a ton of schools, almost all of which I wanted to go to way more than BU, none of which that stand out the way that BUSOM does.

 

[thlaxer]

I was accepted to BU but I haven't done any huge humanitarian things, nor am I from Boston. I have one family member that is in Boston for college, but that's really only a short-term thing. I threw an application in to BU and was lucky enough to receive an interview and an acceptance. I had a wonderful time at my interview, and I even hung out with a lot of the med students that evening. They treated me like royalty for being an interviewee, and they all said that they loved the school. The 4th years that I talked to on my interview day seemed to be receiving really great residency interviews. I certainly did not get a negative vibe from the school, so I'm not sure where everyone else is getting it from.

+1, similar experience here. No connections to MA at all and didn't have some super humanitarian activity on my application. I did spend a lot of time on their secondary though and somehow got an interview invite 😳.

 

[pietachok]

Could it be a bit of myth perpetuated by their tragic history of having Phillip Markoff & Daniel Mason as students? It was obviously random bad luck for BU, but it would be incredible fodder for myths that their students must be more miserable than others.

That said, I can't imagine anybody who would tell interviewees at my school that we're miserable. So, if it's verifiable that it was said, I wouldn't disregard it but would try to get more opinions.

 

[ppfizenm]

That about sums it up right there.

Yes, I am sure it is exactly that simple. I guess the only two emotions pre-meds can feel are superiority and resentment. If we boil it down some more maybe we can find out that it's not really about him hating the school but that as a child he really wanted to kill his father and sleep with his mother.

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to the school-specific discussions forum.

 

[coffeekid15]

I think everyone acknowledges that you should take what you read here with a grain of salt. Group think is rampant. A lot of people formed their opinions from reading previous posts. Then, the newly indoctrinated go on and perpetuate the same stereotypes for or against schools with significant fervor, as if they actually had formed those opinions on their own. Granted, those ideas had to originate from somewhere. Use them as starting points for more of your own research.

 

[RedSox10]

I'm from Boston, with lots of humanitarian experience, didn't get an interview at BU and still think it's a great school.

Do I think my application was never looked at by a human eye? You betcha! Is that annoying? Of course. However, now that this cycle is almost over, I can say I appreciate the "quick" rejection versus the long and drawn out "decision pending" or holds.

I think that the sentiment towards BU on SDN is similar to GW (a school I did get accepted to). GW has more applicants than any other med school (14K) and accepted 2.5% last year. Both schools get a lot of hate because literally 1/3 or 1/4 of the total med school applicant pool applies and subsequently gets rejected.

This whole process is a major crap shoot and I think the realization of that angers a lot of people.

Best of luck with your waitlist to BU and if you get in I'm sure you'll love it. Boston is great!

 

[western1]

Eh, that sounds like admissions office kool aid to me. I know a ton of people who attend BUSM, and none of them participated in any particularly unique humanitarian activity.

The common theme for the accepted students I know is that they had palpable intentions to attend BU if they were admitted. Either they did their undergrad at BU/Tufts/BC/etc... or they had other significant ties to the area. Schools that get 10k+ applicants are sensitive to the notion that they're safety schools, and are searching feverishly for reasons to reject good applicants.

I tend to disagree with both of these notions. I have average stats for the school, no peace corps/other humanitarian ties, and grew up in a town of 2500 people in the rural midwest (Absolutely NO ties to boston/anywhere east of Illinois).

In my opinion I loved BU and am looking forward to their second look day. The school impressed the hell out of me, and it seems like a LOT of people are sour about rejections and have let those rejections manipulate their view of the school (although this is justifiable on their part).

I think BU has a very good idea of the students they want (genuine, honest, dedicated, community oriented students), and they "stick to their guns." This may tick a lot of people off who think they deserve an interview at BU, but BU doesn't feel the same way back. All in all, I don't think any sort of speculation will make anyone who hates BU change their mind. If you like BU, then like it. Don't pay attention to those haters, because there's a good chance if you go to BU you'll be surrounded by 150 other students who love BU as well.

 

[sibitrum]

My main problem is that they appear to be overly concerned with protecting their yield. Granted this might be because they have such a large applicant pool and are a "safety" for a lot of people, but it can still be annoying.

 

[RedSox10]

My main problem is that they appear to be overly concerned with protecting their yield. Granted this might be because they have such a large applicant pool and are a "safety" for a lot of people, but it can still be annoying.

If I'm correct, BU still interviews approx 1,000 students which is on the HIGH end for most med schools (I've interviewed at many that only interview approx 500). So, I'm not quite sure how concerned they are with yield unless you mean they wait-list most people instead of outright accept (I'm not sure about this answer)?

 

[eagle34]

My main problem is that they appear to be overly concerned with protecting their yield. Granted this might be because they have such a large applicant pool and are a "safety" for a lot of people, but it can still be annoying.

They're a safety for a lot of people? Really? Then why aren't schools that are "ranked" lower or even the same, like Dartmouth, receive the same number of applications?

 

[Studly]

They're a safety for a lot of people? Really? Then why aren't schools that are "ranked" lower or even the same, like Dartmouth, receive the same number of applications?

It feels pretty cruddy to think one of my top choices is a safety school. Lol, then what are my "safety" schools, chopped liver? Yeesh, a school with a <5% acceptance rate is safety, life must be good.

 

[RedSox10]

They're a safety for a lot of people? Really? Then why aren't schools that are "ranked" lower or even the same, like Dartmouth, receive the same number of applications?

I get what the poster is saying--perhaps people who will eventually get into a top 10 will apply to a school ranked around #30 (ie BU) as a "safety" ...and I've heard people with 3.9/38s complain about getting rejected from BU believing they were unfairly rejected because of their "high" stats (of course, given the option they'd choose Harvard over BU anyway).....but the reality is that 40,000 people apply to med school per year and the top 10 schools only have slots for approx 1,500 student (150 students x 10)...so BU is really only a safely for a very small percentage.

 

[eagle34]

It feels pretty cruddy to think one of my top choices is a safety school. Lol, then what are my "safety" schools, chopped liver? Yeesh, a school with a <5% acceptance rate is safety, life must be good.

I can assure you that many of my classmates chose BU over a "higher ranked school" because of what BU and BMC has to offer (mainly clinical education). It doesn't seem like there are many "safety" schools nowdays - getting into any medical school is not easy and a great accomplishment.

 

[eagle34]

I get what the poster is saying--perhaps people who will eventually get into a top 10 will apply to a school ranked around #30 (ie BU) as a "safety" ...and I've heard people with 3.9/38s complain about getting rejected from BU believing they were unfairly rejected because of their "high" stats (of course, given the option they'd choose Harvard over BU anyway).....but the reality is that 40,000 people apply to med school per year and the top 10 schools only have slots for approx 1,500 student (150 students x 10)...so BU is really only a safely for a very small percentage.

There is a reason why BU admissions prides itself for choosing a very cohesive and well-rounded class. I can name more than a few classmates who had 3.9/38s. And they've matched at some awesome residencies (BWH, BI, MGH, Hopkins).

 

[RedSox10]

There is a reason why BU admissions prides itself for choosing a very cohesive and well-rounded class. I can name more than a few classmates who had 3.9/38s. And they've matched at some awesome residencies (BWH, BI, MGH, Hopkins).

Relax, you don't need to get defensive. I was, in fact, agreeing by saying that besides the top .5% of applicants, the VAST majority of students not only don't see BU as a safety, but actually see it as a reach. I'm surprised you know the MCATs and GPAs of your friends in med school--I haven't started school yet, but my impression is that at some point those numbers are irrelevant and not oft shared. Either way, BU is a great schools and since lots of those residencies you mentioned (3/4) are Harvard its also possible that there's a home city advantage to going to BU if you're looking to stay in Boston. BU is a GREAT school. I do think it's naive to say that it inst a safety for ANYone, but it's also naive to say it is a safety for MOST.

 

[sibitrum]

If I'm correct, BU still interviews approx 1,000 students which is on the HIGH end for most med schools (I've interviewed at many that only interview approx 500). So, I'm not quite sure how concerned they are with yield unless you mean they wait-list most people instead of outright accept (I'm not sure about this answer)?

Part of it is the extensive waitlist and part of it is having two distinct rounds of acceptances. It seems as though you have to write something of a letter of intent in order to be considered a serious applicant. Basically, you have to tell them that you will go to their school if accepted, before they accept you. Now this not be true in every case, but I have talked to someone who experienced this attitude first hand.

They're a safety for a lot of people? Really? Then why aren't schools that are "ranked" lower or even the same, like Dartmouth, receive the same number of applications?

By safety, I meant that many people who apply primarily in the top 20 will include a school like BU, because its in a good location and has a decent reputation.

 

[KinasePro]

ITT: defensive BU admits and med students, no one answering OP's question

Regarding admissions: There are always anecdotes to counter every trend, but they don't really add to the discussion. Bottom line is that BU is looking for students who actually want to matriculate, just like the other schools that receive 10k+ applications (Georgetown, GWU). One proxy for that desire is geographic preference (one that I find very common in the BUSM students I know), and another is a convincing, well-tailored secondary essay or even an LOI. All this stuff about BU wanting humanitarians is just noise, and they're only looking for those qualities as much as any other medical school.

[FTR, I got into BU as well, so I have no beef with their admissions committee or w/e]

 

[Studly]

I don't know how serious the whole ,"they only want people who will for sure matriculate" stigma is. I'm from the Midwest and my interview at BU was the first time I've ever been to the east coast, I didn't even fill out any of the essays on the secondary, nor did I write any letters of interest and I'm on the W/L for what its worth. Its almost pointless to speculate on the specific formula each school uses, especially a school like BU whose students are extremely diverse. I had by far my worst interview experience there and still feel that the school is amazing. I personally would never take into account things said on SDN when considering a school. You have eyes and visited the school. If you don't like what you saw then the school isn't for you, plain and simple. Unfortunately every school has qualities that are awesome and one thing my interviewer did say was that at the level of school BU is at, its like choosing between a BMW or a Mercedes, or a lexus. It's all personal preference and its a good problem to have.