Political Science, possible double major in English
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.3
Weighted HS GPA: 3.97
Class Rank: Unknown exactly, but in the top 15%
ACT/SAT Scores: 1390 SAT
List your HS coursework
English: IB English HL
Math: IB Analysis and Approach SL (equivalent to Calc. at my school’s curriculum)
Science: IB Environmental Sciences and Systems SL
History and social studies: IB Psychology HL
Language other than English: IB Spanish 6 SL
Visual or performing arts: Theater (all 4 years of HS)
Other academic courses: Theory of Knowledge
Awards
Hamilton Reward for Excellence in Expository Writing
Honor Roll 4 yrs.
Extracurriculars
Elected Students Arts Representative
Acting in plays 4 yrs.
Varsity Track
Founder of 1 club, president of 2 clubs
Student Radio
Independent Research Paper on Flannery O’Connor
GSA Student Advocate
Essays/LORs/Other
Strong LORs, Strong Essays
High Demonstrated Interest
Schools
Boston University ED, High demonstrated interest.
This may come as a bit of a reach, but BU is everything I’ve wanted in a school and it is far and away my top. Any critiques and feedback is much appreciated!!
I think your chances depend a lot on what BU thinks of your GPA in the context of your school. It’s easy to say 3.3 is “too low” but if OP is actually in the top 15 percent of their class then it may not be. And regardless of absolute GPA, being in top 15 percent of your class is definitely not too low for GW.
OP literally everyone who has applied ED to BU from my kids school has gotten in for the last 3 years in a row (7 people total). No one else has gotten in at all, even with MUCH better stats. According to Naviance those who have gotten in ED have all had GPAs in th range of 3.3 - 3.7 UW. (for context this GPA corresponds to about the 25-40th percentile rank in our school). Multiple students who applied RD with GPAs of 4.0 have been rejected each year. So for our school, your GPA would not be low and you’d have a very strong chance of admission if (and only if) you apply ED.
And if you do consider GW…I don’t think it’s a reach, but more of a target. Again your GPA looks a little low except in the context of your top 15 percent class rank, and your test scores are on point for GW. Almost everyone who has applied to GW from our school (all applied RD) has gotten in - GPA range of admitted students per Naviance is 3.1-4.0.
Given your high rank and solid scores, I think you have a reasonable shot at BU if you ED. Good luck!
86% of BU students are in the top 10%. Take out athletes and others hooked, it will be higher - I think it’s a stretch.
But they love ED.
They had 6866 apps and 1791 acceptances so 26%. Of course, that includes ED and other hooks. Only 3145 enrolled so it’s well over half coming from ED.
I wish the OP luck - but their CDS appears to show unweighted GPAs and if that’s the case it shows no one under a 3.5.
So I’m more sanguine on their chances but as I noted above - if you don’t apply, you can’t get in - so if it’s truly #1, then OP should apply (and assuming affordability).
But they need to gather a list of backups - my guess is it will be needed.
So we think a bit differently which is ok - in the end, only BU can answer the chance me with accuracy.
Look at the Common Data Set for BU, and specifically Section C7 (academic and non-academic admissions factors, and how they are weighed by the school) and Sections C9-C11 (objective admissions information for matriculated students). Section C7 informs you that rigor of your secondary school record and academic GPA are “very important” criteria, whereas standardized test scores are “considered”. You can see how important the other academic and non-academic factors are to BU; so to the extent you can, going forward try to emphasize how you have done in the “very important” criteria.
I saw that too! But I also know one student personally who is currently attending and was in that class (freshman in fall 2023) and had a UW GPA below 3.5. According to our school’s Naviance there is at least one more recent admits below 3.5 as well (different year). It made me think - BU may recalculate GPA for this CDS reporting. I know a lot of schools do it. I don’t know for sure about BU but I do know a student in that class with a GPA below 3.5 and their CDS says that student doesn’t exist!
ETA - I think it’s misleading and generally bad if a school recalculates GPA and doesn’t acknowledge it. I mean they can do whatever they want…but the impression given by BU CDS is that no one got in with a GPA below 3.5 and that’s just not true. It also shows average GPA of admitted students is almost 3.9 and I seriously doubt that’s true based on our school’s record of admitted students over the past few years.
The more I think about, they must recalculate it in some way that they don’t advertise…
I think you have a shot, but make no mistake that it is definitely a reach, even via ED. So do your best on the application and see what happens.
But make sure you have a balanced list of schools, including at least one (and preferably more than one) that you would be happy to attend for four years, that are affordable for your family, and that are extremely likely to admit you. If you need suggestions of additional schools to consider, please let us know (along with your budget and interests).
Big reach, but I think you never know with ED. Go for it if you love it THAT much (and can pay for it). The IB classes, from everything I hear, are very hard so I think the 3.3 indicates something quite different there than at most schools. If you had a 3.3/3.97 at our local public I would say no way as it would be, best case, 50th percentile of the school - you are saying that isn’t the case at yours if you think you are roughly top 15%.
FWIW one of my kids HS has had multiple kids with under a 3.4 UW getting in ED during last few years in naviance. HOWEVER, they very well could be legacy or athletes, don’t know.