What are my chances at getting into Boston University?

Chance Me / Match Me
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If you are a premed, the only paid work that you might be able to fit in would be clinical hours, such as working as a CNA, MA, or scribe. You will have to do research, and volunteer work, plus you have to have both a major and the premed pre-reqs. There is no way that you’re going to be able to earn 17K/yr - and if you did, your income would eventually be taken into account for your fin aid, and might slightly raise your family’s EFC. You just cannot work your way into affording BU.

If you’re a premed, your best route would be keeping undergrad costs to a minimum. That’s probably going to mean a CUNY or a SUNY while living at home, sorry to say. Yes, try to figure out a way to do it differently, but make sure that you also make that financial safety option - the nearby CUNY or SUNY.

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Thank you so much for your help. Dang colleges are predatory when it comes to money huh? I will be applying to quite a few schools; some private schools but mainly SUNY and CUNY. It will all depend on which school is the best option for me financially. Thank you so much for this information this was incredibly helpful!

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Bruh why doesn’t the money I earned from scholarships not go towards paying for college? That is so upsetting :smiling_face_with_tear: Do you know if there is any way to get the scholarship money to go towards my EFC? My family could help me cover the costs of room and board so the scholarship would be very helpful. Also I said SUNY and CUNY schools as well as other schools that offer the BS/MD. I think there’re only two or three SUNY schools that offer that program. I am also retaking the SAT next month because I only took it once my Jr year; I didn’t study for it bc I just wanted to see how I’d do before retaking it but life happened and I didn’t get the chance to until now. Thank you for your help.

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My opinion. You should be applying to SUNY or CUNY schools but NOT necessarily BS/MD programs. The vast majority of doctors do not go the BS/MD route. They get an undergraduate degree and apply to medical school to start after their undergrad years have ended. Many take one or two gap years after undergrad to beef up their ECs for medical school applicants. In my opinion, you should do this, and not feel a BS/MD is the only or best way for you to become a doctor.

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Thank you so much! I didn’t realize this about the LOR. If I did go to CC and transfer, would I be able to ask a professor from the CC for a LOR? My brother is currently attending CC and only had to pay $500 for one semester. I will be applying to serval schools, but ultimately “following the money,” so to speak, will be my safest bet, especially because of med school costs. Thanks again!!

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Thank you for your insight! Yeah I’ve accepted that BU isn’t the most feasible choice. I will still apply, but I am defiantly applying to SUNY and CUNY schools, and where ever is cheapest I will go (likely the state schools). Dang I was really excited for dorm life as silly as it sounds. I rarely leave the house and live in a small town so that kind of sucks. My friend is also applying to BU, but cost is not a concern for him because his family has it covered. I worked my butt off for eight years just to get scholarships but turns out external scholarships typically get absorbed by the colleges. Very bleak introduction to life these past couple months lol. Thank you so much for all of your help!

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Yeah, I just wanted to apply to some so my options would be open for when it comes time to decide my path forward. My mum is a RN so she has been setting me up with her coworkers to discuss how they became doctors. One guy was an EMT and later a nurse before applying to med school in his 30s. I know there is no one way to go about become a doctor; there is a multitude of different pathways, I just wanted to have options to choose from. But from what you and other have told me this might not be the best option, and I will 100% take your advice into consideration. Thank you!

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Omg I’m on a bigger screen and just saw your pfp. That is a stunning kitty! Very nice 10/10

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Colleges are businesses. Never forget that.

You’re the consumer.

Since you love BU, their marketing operation worked perfectly on you!!

Education is largely a commodity - so be diligent in your evaluation.

BU, Binghamton, or Brockport - the name itself is unlikely to impact your further education. Your experience, of course, will.

As for scholarships, BU meets need. If you get a $2000 outsude scholarship, your need is $2k less.

Why would they let you keep it ? They are a business, not a charity.

Good luck.

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It’s usually be acceptable. It will depend upon the policies of the HP office of the college where you finish.

It does. Merit aid (scholarships) goes toward paying for your college costs. It’s just that earning a scholarship reduces your need so your need-based aid gets reduced accordingly.

There are some colleges that do allow a student to “stack” merit aid on top of any need-based the college gives you. It’s something you will need to check for at each private college you apply to. That info ought to be on the financial aid page, but if isn’t, then drop a quick email to FA office to ask.

One comment about your major–human physiology.

Human physiology majors are more commonly associated with students planning on applying for physical therapy school.

Not saying, it won’t serve you as a pre-med major…it ought to cover most of the pre-med requirements, but the material is more closely aligned with what PTs study than what doctors study.

Do you have a secondary career goal --something other than med school – in mind that human physiology would be useful for?

Please keep in mind that specialized biology majors (like neuroscience, microbiology, human physiology, etc) have poorer post-graduation employment outlooks than plain vanilla bio majors.

Med school is a long haul and most freshmen pre-meds don’t make it. Every pre-med needs to have a Plan B in mind.

(A recent study that included students from 141 universities & colleges found that only about 18% of freshmen pre-meds actually finished all the required pre-reqs. Of those that completed the pre-reqs and applied to med school, only ~40% get a med school acceptance.)

Following the money is a smart move. Both my kids followed the money. One went to our low cost state university; the other went with the highest bidder (HUGE merit scholarship). Today, they are both attending physicians in their first choice specialty.

And one more caveat: Ob/GYN has become increasingly competitive lately. The number of applicants to Ob/Gyn residencies increased by 70% in the last 10 years. During the 2024 Match, only 84% of USMD seniors and 65% of USDO seniors successfully matched into a Ob/GYN residency. That’s lots of unhappy med students who ended up in second (or third or fourth) choice specialty.

So becoming an Ob/GYN isn’t guaranteed even if you do go to med school. I always tell prospective pre-meds, if you wouldn’t be happy as a family medicine doctor, pediatrician or general internist–don['t go to med school.

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I spoke with the director of the human physiology department at BU a few weeks back, and the course covers pre-med reqs. My back ups would be a physicians assistant or a perfusionist. Thank you for the numbers break down. But I grew up with parents in the med field and with sick relatives. Any job caring for patients I would die happy doing. I was even looking at nursing despite the horrendous working conditions (my mum was an ER nurse in the Bronx for adults and PEDs so the stories were…). I know the job won’t be sunshine and rainbows, nowhere near that, and how awful hospitals as a business can be, but I really do not see myself in any other field. I love people and I love caring for them even more. My mum works in PEDs and she is trying to set me up to meet with a family medicine doctor so I can ask her questions about her path to get to where she is now and her lifestyle. I know my dream job is subject to change as I am only 17 lol, so I will always keep an open mind and look for opportunities wherever I can. I can’t thank you all enough for your advice and help. That being said, thank you!!

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I just like BU bc of location and the major lol. I am not heartbroken or anything just kinda bummed out. I really wanted to move out and get some independence. Not saying I can’t do that with SUNY and CUNY but there is no denying the fact that living on campus will be significantly more expensive than going to a local school I can commute to. The more I look into colleges and costs to attend the more I realize that these systems are in place just to keep elite, higher education more inaccessible to lower class people. I knew the world runs on money and is corrupt because of it, but it’s one thing knowing and knowing it. My whole life, I was told that if I worked hard in school I’d be able to go to a good school. But the reality is I can get into these schools yeah, but actually can I actually attend them? Fat chance. Anywho. Thank you for letting me know about how badly external scholarships lower FA from the school.

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And whether BU or another, you absolutely can !!!

External scholarships don’t impact badly.

They keep your coverage the same but all schools have their own policy so check to see how those you are applying impact this. Btw they impact need, not merit.

From BU

If you receive an additional award from outside Boston University, your need-based aid will be reduced only if your total aid, from all sources, exceeds your demonstrated financial eligibility. Any reduction will be made to self-help (need-based student loan, or Federal Work-Study) first, and to grant only if the outside award exceeds your total self-help.

If you receive any additional award from another entity within Boston University, your need-based grant will be reduced by the amount of that award.

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Doesn’t CUNY have dorms?

@sybbie719 wouldn’t CUNY be a good choice for a premed?

@aunt_bea perhaps this student would get enough aid to pay for Buffalo?

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This is free application week in NYC get your SUNY and CUNY applications done

I strongly recommend that student take advantage of SUNY top 10% promise. No application needed see your GC on Monday.

You must be in the top 10% of your class
Advanced regents diploma (or will have one by June 2025)
Minimum 1100 on the SAT

You will be matched to one 9 SUNY schools- Albany, StonyBrook, UB , Geneseo, New Paltz, Purchase, Oneonta, SUNY ESF (you can take 15 credits at Syracuse and SUNY upstate med is directly across the street) and SUNY Poly.

CUNY- apply to Sophie Davis, pick a school for McCauley Honors (Hunter comes with 2 years of free dorms) Queens college and Baruch also has dorms

If your family makes less than 125k you will be eligible for Excelsior, which will cover tuition at CUNY/ SUNY

All the best

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My daughter got pretty much straight A’s in HS, 34 act, 9 AP’s with 4’s and 5’s, was able to graduate college in 3 years. She attended a public university honors college with merit, couldn’t afford higher ranked schools. Exercise science major, knew since 14 or so she wanted to be a PT. She’s in her final year of her DPT program at BU. DPT programs, like med school, are expensive everywhere, so she was choosing between programs at NYU, northeasters, Pitt (and BU gave her some merit). If you are planning on continuing your education after undergrad, you could end up anywhere.

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Apply to the SUNY schools. They are very underrated!

Our daughter chose Buffalo. She had a great experience and exceptional coursework in engineering and CS. She returned home to California and has no regrets on attending Buffalo or the experiences that they gave her.

She was originally pre med. They have a liaison with the med schools in upstate NY. They do have some financial aid.

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