Your Roadmap to
College Admissions Success
Lee Bierer – President/Coach
# Undergraduates: 16,634
Cost (tuition, room/board): $44,880
Yes: Read the College Guidebook profile or the online profile
Yes: Watched the college video
Yes Read the Student Reviews
What I like about this College:
Academics: My program is very rigorous, but I feel like I'm getting a great education. All the students know the professors on a first-name basis, and the professors really try to get to know all of their students too. They are great at talking to us, and always are available for office hours, whether it be for academic clarification or for just guidance.
Administration: Campus can be overly strict in terms of students social lives.
Police work hard to shut down parties and prevent alcohol/ drug use.
Academically, there is obviously no tolerance for cheating and any other academic misconduct.
Campus Food: Oh the wonders of a meal plan! There are so many options for food on-campus that it might just take you a semester to find them all. Make sure you pick a plan that offers dining points (the 250 plan worked very well for me). Here's a quick explanation: Dining points are like money, except you have to spend it on on-campus retail locations like Buick Street Market (a great mini grocery), Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Late Night Kitchen (restaurant under 100
Bay State) and even to order pizza from Dominoes or Pizza Hut. Check out bu.edu/dining to find out what other options you have - it will blow your mind!
7226 Jardiniere Court
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704-907-5685 www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com

The dining hall food isn't that bad either. Except for a lack of seasoning on their meats (probably a health standard) the dining halls do quite well for themselves and have different dishes every day. Convenience points are what the title implies - convenient, but what they really are is just another way BU tries to grab for money from you. If you're paying 4.5K for a meal plan why should you spend extra money for food? Exactly, you shouldn't. So keep your hard earned money in your pocket and when the time comes to actually buy something from the "Convenience Store" aka on-campus mini corner store, just use your own money.
Campus Food: Boston University has a great food selection. It's easy to get used to and think it isn't all that great, but as far as campus food goes, it's pretty excellent. The best place to eat is Bay State because it has the largest variety of options. Every dining hall has gluten-free and vegetarian options, so there is something for everyone. I believe if you are gluten-free they have a selection of snacks t grab in the dining hall exclusive to gluten-free students. you just have to call the dining services and have them allow your card to swipe into the room.
Campus Housing: Dorms are great if you have a high lottery number in the selection process and/or you are an upperclassman. Typical freshmen dorms include Warren, West and Towers, all of which resemble a packed apartment building. If you are in one of those dorms expect to share a bathroom with 10> people and live in a double that really is only suitable for one person. Even though the rooms are small the main dining halls are either in the same building or very close by - which can be very convenient when you're running late for classes! My advice is look up the housing options and apply for what you think best suites you. As a freshman I lived in one of the Bay State brownstones
(mostly upperclassmen) and even though I probably didn't meet as many freshmen as if I would in Warren or West I loved the quiet atmosphere and maturity of an older dorm. Do your research!
Campus Housing: I wouldn't choose anything else at this point but on campus housing. I live in Warren Towers and it was a perfect choice for me as a freshman to meet other peers. I also live on an Engineering Floor so many of my
7226 Jardiniere Court
Charlotte, NC 28226 lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
704-907-5685 www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com

classmates are close by for study groups, questions, etc. There are an endless amount of options, depending on your preference (quiet, social, specialty housing).
Campus Quality: The first time I stepped onto the BU campus I loved it! The
"T" (public transit) runs right thru the middle of campus, Fenway Park is only a few blocks away, we are right on the beautiful Charles River. There are beautiful modern facilities alongside historic brownstones refurbished into dorms and offices, the best of both worlds.The fitness and recreation facilities are topnotch. If you want to live in a large dorm with lots of socializing that option is available, if you prefer quieter living in apartment style dorms, that option is available. Lots of off campus housing is available in the area surrounding the university.
Campus Quality: It's a beautiful campus and the school works hard to keep it looking that way. All of my classrooms are state of the art or close to it. The library is large and beautiful unlike some of the schools I went to or visited. The gym is amazing! I don't know too many schools that it could compare to with our student body size.
Drug Safety: Drugs and alcohol are never pushed on anyone! They are available if you want, but no one will think of you differently if you don't drink/do drugs.
Guys & Girls: Really Depends on Which Social Circle. As BU is notorious for,
60% of the student body is female, and half of the other 40% of males is gay so if you're a straight female then you're kind of screwed, though straight males fair generally better. However you meet a lot of people due to the 16,000 enrolled and you can usually find someone you can be friends with or perhaps be romantically involved with. A lot of the girls are stereotypically North Face jacket, Uggs boots, leggings wearers, though the hipster look is quickly catching on with both genders. Unlike, say, UMass Amherst, most guys and girls typically place importance on studies over partying and don't usually drink to excess or be consistently slutty, so it's not quite as annoying. There are always outliers. The different colleges do have their own stereotypes though.
7226 Jardiniere Court
Charlotte, NC 28226 lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
704-907-5685 www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com

Guys & Girls: There are girls and guys of all type; you'll find students from all backgrounds from all over the world. Most students are pretty wealthy, but still very humble. Social life is strong, there is typically always something to do any night of the week. In the social setting people are very nice, outgoing. The typical BU student is able to manage partying along with studying, maintaining their grades and still doing very well academically.
Local Area: Boston is gorgeous with so many things to do! The majority of
Boston's population is college students. Many places offer student discounts.
Local Area: Boston has everything from Fenway Park to the Boston Commons.
The shopping is amazing, the food is the best you will find. I have lived in
Boston for three years now, and I am still finding new places and new things to do.
Transportation: super convenient subway and bus line that runs the length of campus plus a free BU shuttle with frequent stops. The T (subway) is getting more expensive but it's still cheaper than a lot of cities and it's very easy to use both within the city and to get out to the suburbs if you want to do that
Weather: I love the change of four seasons here. If it snows heavily, the class would be cancel so my parents do not have to worried about me going out in the snow.
What I don’t like about this College:
Academics: Academics are "ok" here. I say they are "ok" because there is A
LOT of grade deflation...meaning some professors will create exams and assignments to intentionally make sure students stay in the "B" range...not the
"A" range. But it's not like BU doesn't want you to succeed...actually that's exactly what it's like. Work your butt off to a "B" and graduate with a "B".
7226 Jardiniere Court
Charlotte, NC 28226 lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
704-907-5685 www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com

Academics: In my nine semesters at BU, I have had many really helpful and passionate professors. Now that I am taking classes for my major, I really enjoy the material and content and my courses make me excited about my major and future career. BU makes it simple to figure out your course requirements to graduate, and provide helpful advisers who can guide anyone having trouble.
With that being said, grade deflation is a real thing and you can work extremely hard for a class while barely pulling off a B. This varies between the colleges with BU, but it is a definite problem and has even been admitted by one of my professors, who said that his department encourages him to give low grades.
Athletics: Hockey Is the Only Big Sport – There isn't much school spirit at BU.
There's no football team, so if you're looking for a big rah-rah school, don't come to BU. Hockey gets people pretty excited, though, but that's about it.
Guys & Girls: too many girls, not enough straight men
Health & Safety: There have been several incidents involving sexual assault, and the hockey team is notorious for date rape.
I consider this college to be a: ___REACH ___ TARGET ___ SAFETY
Worth a campus visit? : ___ YES ___ NO
Level of interest: ___ High ___ Medium ___ Low ___No longer interested
If “low” or “no longer interested” – what is the main reason?:
7226 Jardiniere Court
Charlotte, NC 28226 lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
704-907-5685 www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com