Boston University (BU) is a private research institution located in--you guessed it--historic Boston, MA. With more than 34,000 students (undergraduate and graduate) Boston University is actually the biggest school in the state of Massachusetts. Boston University has an overall undergraduate acceptance rate of 19%, and an Early Decision acceptance rate of 30%.
The primary Boston University supplemental essay is relatively straightforward but the word count is pretty low, (250), so you’ll need to be extra concise. This essay is representative of a lot of the ones you’ll find: it’s a good opportunity to get used to those pesky “Why ___ University” essays you’ll be writing.
What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? 250 words
Although this might sound confusing at first, they’re essentially asking you to write “Why Boston University.” We have a pretty specific formula we like to follow for these essays, as you’ll want to show them that: you know about their school, you really want to attend, and you’ll succeed if admitted there.
You can do this by crafting a personal narrative and weaving it with some research to show them how passionate you are about B.U. We suggest writing a narrative origin story that charts a course towards your specific major, and then detailing why you need to take that major at Boston University.
You’ll want to write about a major for this essay--it shows academic drive--so even if you’re undecided you need to choose something. Go through the attached page of degree offerings and choose some that could work for you.
BACKGROUND
Start off by writing your origin story: what experiences and circumstances led you here, to studying ____ at B.U.? What life events gave you these academic interests? Focus on finding a story that answers these questions. ,
If you’re interested in Biomedical Engineering (B.M.E.), you could write about that pacemaker in your father’s heart and how you marveled at it after his heart attack. Tell the reader about how impressed you were by the technology, about how you were inspired to craft similar devices. Talk about how you cobbled together a stroller into a doggy wheelchair when Spot broke his leg, how your jerry-rigged contraption helped him move around while he healed. Go into detail about how you felt when you first saw your device in action, how it felt to see his life improve as a result of your work.
You want these stories to illustrate your personality, to give the reader a sense of who you are. The student above is showing more than just his desire to study B.M.E.: you also gain a sense of his desire to examine problems and his ability to create solutions. Use this to show your sense of humor, your compassion, or whatever it is that makes you special.
MAJOR
For this next section, you’ll detail your selected major at B.U., some courses you’d like to take, and a professor you’d like to study with. Find something that you’ve already done well in--if you have high grades in your science courses and that pacemaker story, go forward with Biomedical Engineering. You can choose any major you want when you’re accepted: for now just choose something that fits your narrative.
You’ll then demonstrate why you need to take this major at B.U. Do this by finding specific upper-level courses in your major you’d like to take, and writing about why you’d like to take them. You can find them by clicking on that attached link and searching by whatever abbreviation is used for your major. Choose a couple of courses that sound both interesting and unique--bonus points if you feel they’re more exclusive to B.U.
The previously mentioned student can write about how they’re interested in ENG BE 468: Clinical Applications of Biomedical Design, where they’d get to look into the specifics of intellectual property concerns. They should not write about Calculus I--lower-level or generic courses are generally the same everywhere.
After writing about two (or more) courses you’d like to take, transition to discussing a professor you’d like to work with. Research a professor from your selected department (find professors on their department pages, or in the directory) and find someone with work you understand and are interested in. The prospective BME student could talk about working with Dr. Catherine Klapperich on continuous physiological monitoring in pacemakers. Use this to further illustrate to B.U. just how interested you are in their school.
EXTRACURRICULARS
Take the time to go through B.U.’s list of student clubs and activities--pick out one or two that fit your narrative and interests. If you led your school’s computer club and want to use your skills positively, write about your excitement to join B.U.’s Hack4Impact organization. Talk about how you’d like to work with Hack4Impact to develop software for that non-profit that’s supporting veterans wearing medical devices.
CONCLUSION
Wrap up your earlier points and highlight why you need to attend Boston University. 250 words is rather short, so be sure to use all the available space. If you have any additional room, hit on some school-specific information that you haven’t already covered. You could mention how you’re excited to go to your first Terriers game, or how you can’t wait to tag the B.U. Rock.
Once you’ve finished writing the essay, be sure to review it with friends or one of your teachers. Make sure your readers understand why your origin story has driven you towards your major, and that they see why you want to study at B.U. You’ll want this essay to be just about perfect--Boston University is a competitive school--so don’t quit until you feel good about the essay. It might be hard but you can get it right: we gave you the formula above.
Additional Information (optional): Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider.
This is your second (optional) essay slot, and you should use it only if it truly adds value to your application. If you’re unsure whether to use it, you probably don’t need it--don’t just attach your favorite essay from Honors English. If there’s anything you need to mention that you haven’t gotten a chance to hit on, you can write about it here.
If you need help with something in particular, you can always take a look at our blog and see if we’ve written advice about your chosen topic.
Contact us here if you need help with the college application process.