We are excited to announce an exclusive live forum event featuring Bridget Stillson and Anastasia Hagerstrom from Boston University.
@BridgetBostonU is a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and has worked at Boston University for 3.5 years. She is a recruitment manager and supervises the Universities Virtual Event programming in addition to reviewing applications for admission, scholarships, and other programs.
@AnastasiaBostonU is an Associate Director of Admissions and oversees the office’s off campus recruitment initiatives in addition to reviewing applications as part of our Board of Admissions.
The event will take place here in the comments section below on Thursday, May 16 from 7-8pm ET.
As the Class of 2029 starts slowing working on their application, this is a great opportunity to connect directly with the BostonU admissions team and get all your questions answered!
The AMA is FREE for all registered users. If you don’t have an account yet, REGISTER NOW!
Make sure to submit questions for the live event by commenting below. Also, fill out the poll below and let us know why you’re excited about this event.
**Please note that the event will cover only admissions or student life related questions, anything off topic will be dismissed and comments may be removed.
@BridgetBostonU, @AnastasiaBostonU, I’ll start with a first question. What are some opportunities for students who are interested in applying to BostonU to connect with the school early?
Among other top universities, I feel like I’ve seen a larger range of GPA’s in the sense that not everyone has above a 3.8. Would you consider BU as a university that values other aspects of the application just as much as the students gpa? Or, what is BU most interested in when making a decision?
is it possible for me to build a strong portfolio from scratch in 1.5 years which would to some extent guarantee my admission to a top university in the us (for a stem ug program)
Will BU give weight to special talents & abilities (such as fluency/proficiency in multiple languages) beyond artistic talent for fine arts applicants in light of the more limited scope of factors that may be given preference in college admissions ?
If yes, then can such consideration help/boost an applicant’s chances for admission despite a modest GPA ?
Does BU use/engage in holistic admissions ?
Does a full-pay applicant have an admissions’ advantage at BU ?
Would love to learn more about residence life at BU. Is housing guaranteed for all 4 years? Are all first year dorms traditional style (with hall bathrooms) or are there any “suite style” dorms (with a shared bathroom among 4 or 6 for example)? Can first year students indicate a housing preference? Thank you!
For international applicants, what standardized test scores does BU expect to become competitive applicant? What types of students are BU looking for in particular?
Thank you everyone for attending today’s live AMA w/ BostonU! We’ll go live shortly and I’m excited to welcome @BridgetBostonU and @AnastasiaBostonU to their first exclusive College Confidential event. Bridget and Anastasia will answer your questions in the next hour. Make sure to ask all your questions by commenting below.
@alexatrotter We do consider many other things outside of a student’s GPA. We of course want to make sure that students are set up for success academically, but we are also building a community. We value students who have demonstrated leadership, been engaged in research, take advantage of community service opportunities, hold part time jobs, care for siblings, etc. So it’s important that students represent ALL of their involvements as part of the application.
@SmallKindergardener Great questions! Boston University is test optional until Spring of 2025, so if you’d like to submit your SAT or ACT to be considered as part of your application you absolutely may, but it’s not required. On average the middle 50% of admitted students who submitted the SAT/ACT scored between a 1460-1540 on the SAT, and a 33-35 on the ACT. If English is not your first language, you will be required to submit an English Proficiency Exam in the form of an IELT,TOEFL, or DuoLingo exam. Our minimum scores are posted here: International Applicants | Admissions
Hi @MA2025 ! Yes, we do guarantee housing for all 4 years. Students are required to live on campus for the first year, but it is available for all 4 if you’d like. The dorms most first year students will live in are either traditional or suite style depending on the building. We also have townhouses, brownstones, apartments, and specialty living options! During orientation new students will fill out their housing preferences and roommate surveys!
@Asit_Wakekar, like most things, there is no guarantee in the college application process. We certainly look at student’s academic trend so you may be able to demonstrate that in the next 1.5 years. However, we also want to know what other activities, involvements, etc students are engaged in.
Hi @Bruno99 Great question. Guaranteed Transfer is a decision type in and of itself, so applicants cannot request to be considered for it. Essentially we select students for this program who we think will really thrive at BU, after some additional higher level coursework. Basically they are students we just want to see a little bit more from academically before joining us at BU. It’s a really amazing option for students who want a path to study here!
@MA2025, awesome questions! Housing is guaranteed for all 4 years at BU - not many urban campuses can provide that and I think it’s a wonderful benefit for our students. We have a WIDE variety of housing options from suite style to traditional style to apartments (typically in your upper classmen years). We do also have some living learning communities on campus. First year students will complete a housing questionnaire and can indicate their housing preferences at that time.
Hi @Publisher! We do take a holistic approach to the review process meaning applicants are so much more than just a transcript. We absolutely take into account special talents and abilities if they’re provided in the application. For our College of Fine Arts students, many programs require a portfolio or audition, so the review for those students are 50% academic, 50% artistic.