BU Class of 2021 RD Decisions

2017journalismhopeful
Sat, 18 Mar 2017 23:23:09 +0000

Decision: Accepted **

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 800 Reading + Writing, 770 Math (1770)

ACT: 35 (36 English, 12 Writing, 36 Reading, 34 Science, 35 Math)

SAT II: 800 - Literature, 770 - World History, 760 - Math Level 1, 750 - US History, 750 - French

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.88

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t rank

AP (place score in parenthesis): - World History - 5 , Lang + Comp - 5, US History - 5 ,European History - 4

IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: High Honors English, History, and French that qualify me to take the AP tests for Lit, French, and Gov, AP Physics, AP Calc AB, Broadcasting
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Illinois State Scholar.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

-Writer at moderately well known online magazine, have an editorial position on there - 4 Years

School Newspaper - 3 Years - Editor in Chief this year

School Broadcasting Team - 4 Years - Co station manager this year, have had own radio show for 3 years

Speech Team - 3 Years - Chair of Prose Reading this year, made it to nationals three years in a row

GSA - 4 Years - Board Member

Feminism Club - 4 Years - Board Member

Key Club - 4 Years - VP

Literary Magazines - 4 Years - Editor in Chief for upperclassmen one this year

Thespians - 2 years, been in some school productions.

Member of National Honor Society and World Languages Honor Society.

Job/Work Experience:

Job in retail for two years

Volunteer/Community service:

Volunteering through Key Club, the public library, and other organizations, about 300 hours total.

Summer Activities:

Northwestern Cherubs Journalism Program and Northwestern Summer Screenwriting Program

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App: 10/10, i went for the basic “tell us about your background” story - my experiences as a middle class white passing lesbian in a very rich + conservative suburban town, my awful relationship with my immigrant parents and the pressures i faced as a first gen college student etc and how writing + journalism and a passion for social issues managed to save my life through the years.

Why “BU”: 9/10, I talked about Boston and my visit to the campus and how it had pretty much everything I’d dreamed of as a kid in relation to the theme of feeling like an outcast all the time growing

Teacher Recommendation:

1: 10/10, the sponsor for the Newspaper at my school, he loves me a lot and this rec letter almost made me cry

2: 10/10, my current history teacher, runs the advanced humanities program at my school,. knows me + my aspirations well lmao

Counselor Rec:

8/10, I wasn’t close with her until junior year, which I regret. but i think she liked me well enough.

Additional Rec:

10/10, My speech sponsor, who’s also co sponsor of the gsa, and one of my favorite teachers i’ve ever had

Interview: 9/10, i tend to give decent interviews and this went very well

Other

State (if domestic applicant): Ilinois
Country (if international applicant): United States
Intended major(s): Journalism
School Type: Public, Large
Ethnicity: Mixed (South Asian/White)
Gender: F
Income Bracket: 80k - 90k a year
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): first generation college student,

Reflection

Strengths: Test Scores and GPA high for BU, EC showing interest in major, recs

Weaknesses: not many APs?

Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Scores and Essay

Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted at Northwestern, waiting on the rest, esp Emerson

General Comments: Do not underestimate the importance of recs and showing strong interest in an intended major through ECs and Essays