| Location: | Northeast |
| Setting: | Large City Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Size: | Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Terriers |
| Nickname: | BU |
Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Although chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1869, Boston University traces its roots to the establishment of the Newbury Biblical Institute in Newbury, Vermont in 1839. The University organized formal Centennial observances both in 1939 and 1969.
With more than 3,000 faculty members and nearly 30,000 students, Boston University is the fourth-largest private university in the country and the city's fourth-largest employer. The University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through 18 schools and colleges and operates two urban campuses. The main campus is situated along the Charles River in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, while the Boston University Medical Campus is in Boston's South End neighborhood.
On 24-25 April 1839 a group of Methodist ministers and laymen at the Old Bromfield Street Church in Boston elected to establish a Methodist theological school. Set up in Newbury, Vermont, the school was named the Newbury Biblical Institute.
In 1847 the Congregational Society in Concord, New Hampshire, invited the Institute to relocate to Concord and made available a disused Congregational church building with a capacity of 1200 people. Other citizens of Concord covered the remodeling costs. One stipulation of the invitation was that the Institute remain in Concord for at least 20 years. The charter issued by New Hampshire designated the school the "Methodist General Biblical Institute", but it was commonly called the "Concord Biblical Institute."
With the agreed twenty years coming to a close, the Trustees of the Concord Biblical Institute purchased 30 acres on Aspinwall Hill in Brookline, Massachusetts as a possible relocation site. The Institute moved in 1867 to 23 Pinkney Street in Boston and received a Massachusetts Charter as the "Boston Theological Institute."
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| Percent of Students International: | 12% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 39% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (America East) Track (America East) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 31,966 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 31,530 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 436 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 4,457 | 13% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,127 | 7% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 17,411 | 62% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 5,560 | 55% | |
Any Aid: |
69% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 55% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 97% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 600, Math: 610 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 690, Math: 700 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 24% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 26, Verbal: 26, Math: 26 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 30, Verbal: 31, Math: 30 |
| Application Fee: | $ 60.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
College Advice
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The following is a list of schools I am considering applying to. If anyone goes to any of these schools I would greatly appreciate hearing your comments on them. How challenging are they academically? What's the social scene like? How accessible are your professors? What's the campus like? Overall, do you like the school? Any other comments? Also, if you go to another school and like it, please tell me the name of it and answer the questions that I have already presented.
Boston University (Boston, MA)
Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Columbia University (New York, NY)
Marlboro College (Marlboro, VT)
North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC)
Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
I thank you greatly in advance for anyone who answers this. I will choose a best answer.
12 months ago
Best Answer
BU: good school lots to offer in terms of activities and its in boston so the city and everything is right there...the dorms stink especially for underclassman alot of people live off campus...the fitness ctr is awesome (new in 05) with a variety of classes like rock climbing or boxing or hip hop and they have a good amount of intramurals...the classes are usually big lectures with discussions sections...for applying try to look at other schools within BU like the school of management or college of general studies(CGS) or sargent (health sciences) instead of art & sciences b/c its a pain to transfer (except for CGS which you have to transfer) between the different schools.AP's are accepted with a 4 or above...i go to BU and if you have any questions just email me as for the other schools...
carnegie melon is a good business school or sciences
columbia is really hard to get into but its in an nice location
ohio state is really really big and football apparently really good
syracuse is nice but in the middle of nowhere even though its in a city
good luck with applying
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Do I have a chance of getting into Boston University? How about any other good schools in the US?
-I have a 3.6 GPA
I scored 1860 on SATs
-I am aiming for an IB diploma (hoping to stand out as there arnt many IB diploma candidates applying to US universities.)
- I am an international student studying in another country. The school is pretty big...good school..
-I am part of the Key Club, Stu Gov, National Junior honor society, Chinese honor society, a leadership position in Orphanage Club, a leadership position in World Vision, and I am also part of the chamber music group (an auditioned musical group with string instruments that takes only 2-3 players of each instrument...very hard to get in!)
-I have done 106 hours of volunteer work and 2 summers of internship with 2 big computer companies.
-I've gotten a few awards for community service for clubs at school.
- i write pretty good essays...
-Potential majors are something to do with science.maybe computers.
THANKS!
12 months ago
Best Answer
sounds good to me, but if memory serves me right, you have a greater chance of getting in, if you APPLY EARLY.
also, make sure your application package is spotless! no mistakes, white outs. when you fill the application, make copies so that you can start writing on the copies and when ready do the hard copy and send that in (or get mutliple hard copies and pick the best handwritten one)
make copies of all application materials and make sure that your essays are proofread by many people, no spelling errors or grammer mistakes.
put all information together (dont write on the envelope itself, have it typed to make it professional) and send through the mail good luck
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My friend wants to know about transportation to and from Boston. She's attending the school in the fall. If you have any insider info about what it's like to go there, and not have a car, let me know. Thanks!
12 months ago
Best Answer
I heard it is a great school and it does not matter if you have a car, because you can walk or take the T-line to where ever you need to go. Plus Boston is such a fun city. Great schools. There is a lot of history in Boston too. Oh yeah, The Red Sox Rule, got to go to Fenway Park and catch a game.
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Question:
BU .. boston university?
what do think about it ?
is it really alot of fun ??
i wanna study pre-med there ?
and could tell me about boston as a city is it fun and intersting ?
thanks alot
13 months ago
Best Answer
I just graduated from BU last year taking Computer Science and a minor in Biology.
The intro class sizes for premed are pretty large, as I had been trying to get a major in Biology, I split most of my first year and a half predominantly in Intro Chem, Intro Bio, Cell Bio, Foreign language, etc. You will be guaranteed in the intro classes you need for premed, however I believe the advisors push you to take them again even if you would have had exemptions from AP classes. You're classes for the first two years will likely be somewhat strict, with a foreign language, 1-3 writing classes depending on how well you test in an entrance exam, a year of intro bio, intro chem, and a couple of free choices of a history, religion, or other liberal arts class.
I enjoyed the city much more than NYC, just because people aren't in a rush to get around. The school is not in the center of the city of Boston, it is actually on the western outskirts, however the T goes right through the center of campus to let you get anywhere rather quickly. Also, Boston is only about two miles across, making walking not so much of a chore.
In the first year, 90% of freshman are put in one of two large dorms with either . About 60% of students are able to move out of these into brownhouses, smaller dorms, or apartments by sophomore year. It is very easy to meet friends in these dorms, which is the main upside to them.
I was personally rather shy so I did not go out every weekend, but there are many parties around the "campus" most weekends. The city is much quieter than NYC, so expect shops to close around 5 -7 on Fridays, and bars, restaurants, and clubs to die down around midnight rather than around 3am you'd see in NYC. Don't expect to be able to get into a bar if you're underage.
All the class buildings are in a centralized area, so you'll be able to get to and from everywhere without traveling around the city like at NYU. Also, don't expect to be able to have a car in Boston due to the heavy traffic, limited parking, and expensive BU parking passes.
If you are entering on a scholarship, be aware that grade deflation has been known to exist in certain classes. For example in my Organic Chem class the average grade was an 88%, which translated to a 3.0 avg, meaning in some classes you may need a 92% avg, which can be difficult, just to maintain a scholarship. However, BU has also been known to give completely covering grants to students who lose their scholarships if they only have a year or two left.
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I graduated from a very prestigious high school with mediocre grades (mostly Bs, some As, one or two Cs in freshman year). I got a 1800 on my SAT with high scores in English and Writing and a below average score in math. I went on to go to the University of New Hampshire and did pretty well there. I took 8 classes, and recieved 2 As, 1 A-, 3 Bs, 1 B-, and 1 C-. I am very concerned about the C-. Do you think I would have a chance in getting into Boston University as a transfer student? I have 3 family members that currently go there and I have strong recommendations from both high school and college. Do I have a chance or is it not worth my time to apply?
13 months ago
Best Answer
I"m a current BU student. I think you would be able to get into BU as a transfer. I have a friend who was in a similar situation and she got in.
UNH is a great school too. It's harder if you were coming from community college.
Hope to see you on campus!
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Question:
Boston, University?
Sorry for the double post but I missed putting a few details. Let start again. I have a 2.1 GPA (most likely its going to go down even lower with my summer school grades coming in) I got to a very well school (I am ranked the bottom 10% of my class), the school has been rated # 87 or 85 by NewsWeek so that explains why everyone has a 4.0 I did take several ap classes, AP EURO (bombed the class but got a 4 on the exam) I took AP ENGLISH (also bombed the class but got a 3 on the exam) I took AP US (i got a B but the results havent come in), learning is really hard for me especially since the school refuses to help me out with my learning disability. I been having D's and F's throughout my entire education. I want to go to either Boston College or Boston University (i thought they were the same thing) or U of I or Unversity of California.
i took the act but got an 11 scored wiped but im not going to take the act again.
What are my chances of being accepted into the universities?
I dont plan on taking the act again because I have studied greatly for it and nothing good came out of it.
Also, universities are my last choice because none of the community colleges will accept me (those that are in at least 7 hours of me). I have thought about joining the armed forces but i get conflicting reports about whether the army will force colleges to accept me. Any ideas?
Any suggestions/ideas on what to do?
I currently reside in IL but U of I already have stated very clearly that they will never accept me. As far as community colleges go I have asked nearly every single one in my entire state and no acceptance.
Is there a way to perhaps dispute my GPA with the school?
Any ideas?
13 months ago
Best Answer
Sadly I have to agree and I'm a BU student now. I think that your grades, ACT scores are a bit too low. Often times Universities don't weight grades and scores as heavily as your extracurricular activities, community service, entrance essay and recommendations. Colleges want students who will work hard, make the most of their experiences and will contribute to the university community.
You could still try to apply and write about your learning disability, which will explain your grades. You did well on your AP tests, which is a feat, so you must be very smart.
I always think that there's hope and would never discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams.
My other concern is - what will happen if you do get in. Classes at BU are hard - will you be able to survive academically in an environment where everyone is JUST as smart as you. Think about it.
Good Luck
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Question:
boston college...?
Is Boston college like a suburban campus in a city? also, how close is it to Northeastern?
13 months ago
Best Answer
Boston college not in Boston proper; it's actually in Chestnut Hill. . It is a beautiful campus that is removed from downtown Boston - if you want to be in the middle of the city, you should look at Boston University or Northeastern, both of which are actually in Boston city boundaries.
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In addition tell me what factors have contributed to your opinion of Boston University's theatre program.
14 months ago
Best Answer
BU theater program is good, but certainly not the best -- we have had famous alums like Jason Alexander, Geena Davis, and Julianne Moore.
I'd say the emphasis is more on the craft than performance. On campus there are TONS of opportunities to get involved acting in student films, musicals.
I would look into another major and minoring in theater.
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The School of Theatre at Boston University offers a high-level of instruction in the theatre arts. The school offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and the Master of Fine Arts (MFA, as well as Artisan Certificates for production students. Students can major in acting, theatre arts, theatrical design and production, stage management, theatre education, and directing.
The main operating facility for the School of Theatre is the Boston University Theatre - located on Huntington Avenue (Avenue of the Arts) in Boston. It has strong relationships with other theatre organizations in the Boston area, most notably the Huntington Theatre Company.
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I recently visited BU and I really like how the campus was layed out on the road and river. But I have some questions:
1. I'm from Minnesota and when I was there most of the people I talked to were from the east coast. Will I be welcomed?(By the way I'm a never changing gopher hockey fan...hahah :) not a Boston hockey fan)
2. How long did it take you to make friends?
3. Was it really safe?
4. How often do you go Downtown, and how are the dorms, I saw some but i know there all different.
Okay thanks guys if I think of any more questions i'll add 'em.
14 months ago
Best Answer
1. You're right a lot of BU kids are from the east coast, but I guarantee you that it won't matter. You'll find your clique relatively quickly especially if you live in Warren or West.
You have to remember that in college, most people don't have friends going, so many people are open to seeking out new people. Just stay true to who you are and you'll find nice people in no time.
2. My best friends I met during Orientation. We've been friends ever since. I was really outgoing and had a lot of fun.
3. I've walked back from fitrec (the gym) at midnight and I've felt safe. I will be living in South Campus next year which is a little creepy. I've always felt really safe though. As long as you're aware and don't do anything stupid, the you will be ok.
4. I usually go downtown during the weekends. Either to see a show or have dinner.
5. The freshmen dorms are dorms, but I really like where I live now. I love bay state. The rooms are really nice and feel like home.
:) Good luck.
I cross posted.
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In my school you can only take AP classes junior and senior year and the most that I can fit into my schedule is 5 AP classes. Is this enough to get into Boston University?
15 months ago
Best Answer
BU is more about the overall person than how many AP classes you take.
Hopefully you have awesome grades, a bunch of extracurricular activities and great admission essays and recommendations.
If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.
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I am a high school student and Boston University is my first choice for college. What does it take to get accepted?
What should be my GPA?
My SAT score?
How many AP classes should I take?
How many extracurricular activities/ volunteering should I have?
Should I do a pre-college summer program at a university?
Please be specefic.
Thanks for the help.
15 months ago
Best Answer
You should be as well-rounded as possible. BU wants students who push themselves academically and in extracurriculars.
I got a low SAT score, but I had some awesome references and essays. Not to mention I had a lot of extracurriculars. I had taken three AP classes, but only got credit for one of them at BU.
I didn't go to a pre-college program.
You should have good grades in ALL your classes.
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My GPA is 3.0, which isn't very good and could've been better. For my SAT i got a 600 in math , 610 in reading, & a 600 in writing. I have also taken the time to write an amazing essay. I have been involved with various organizations throughout all my high school carreer such as DECA, Habitat for Humanity, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Bussiness Professionals of America, and Spanish Club. I have also served about 200 hours of voulunteer work. Despite my low GPA what are my chances of getting into Boston University? and if needed do i need to get my SAT scores higher , or are the reletively good enough?
15 months ago
Best Answer
Realistically, your chances of getting in aren't great -- but they aren't zero either. Everyone should apply to at least one school that is a reach. If you really want BU -- make sure that your essay really is amazing (let some well educated people who m you trust look at it).
Princeton Review has a lot of statistics about admitted students at a large number of universities. You can compare your states to the ones they have posted.
The average GPA at Boston University is 3.46. Your SAT scores are almost exactly at the 25th percentile of admitted applicants.
You need a backup plan. You should be able to get into some decent universities. Princeton Review also has a tool where you tell it about your background and interests and it spits out a number of schools that are good fits for you.
Good luck.
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