How to Write the Boston University (BU) Supplement 2023-2024
Located in, you guessed it, Boston, BU is a large, private research university known for lots and lots of research, study abroad, internship, etc., opportunities for their students. Some fun facts: did you know the school was originally located in Vermont???? That’s not Boston! Plus, Alexander Graham Bell, a BU professor, invented the telephone in a BU lab. That’s right, you could technically call someone in the same lab the telephone was invented in. BU has gotten a lot more competitive over the last few years. Last cycle saw almost 81k applicants and a 14% acceptance rate. Compare that to 2020, with 65k applicants and a 22% acceptance rate. A plummeting acceptance rate combined with a test-optional policy means you better get ready to write some stellar essays. Let’s go.
Boston University is dedicated to our founding principles: “that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity in its tradition and standards of excellence and its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.” With this mission in mind, please respond to one of the following two questions in 300 words or less:
They gave you a little preamble here, and we recommend you read it closely. They are telling you what they value as a school and in turn, what they want their students to value. These values are going to be especially key for prompt #2. The two prompts they give you to choose from are takes on the two quintessential college essays: community, and why.
1. Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?
The biggest thing to remember here is to tell a story. However big or small your issue is, you need to answer this question by telling a singular story about your experience. We recommend going local first in your brainstorm, thinking of how you’ve solved a problem. Yes, you can be concerned about climate change on a global scale, but what have you done to address the problem at home? Have you started new recycling initiatives at school? Are you involved in one of those places that takes glass bottles and turns it into sand to replenish our coast lines? Do you go, in your free time, pick up trash at the park? Then tell those stories! With these essays it’s easy to go wide with it and talk about the issue that concerns you the most, but it’s important to remember that global warming is not applying to college, you are. Choose a small story that captures the essence of your relationship with the topic at hand. Use lots of details! Make us feel like we’re with you!
2. What about being a student at BU most excites you? How do you hope to contribute to our campus community?
This is a Why BU essay but with a twist. Their focus on community here lets us know they want to learn a little bit about who you are outside of the classroom. You’re still gonna need to talk about the classroom. Start with an origin story – basically, why is that particular topic your chosen major. What was the inception point for that passion?
Next, you’ll pick an upper-level (300s and above, generally) class that fits in with that stated passion and you’ll also pick a professor you want to learn from and research with. Remember their lil’ preamble from above? That’s coming into play now.
You’ll want to pick an extracurricular experience that not only will you a) enjoy but b) have some history with. If you say you want to join the Rugby team because it sounds cool, that doesn’t tell them much. If you say you want to write for The Daily Free Press because you were editor of your school paper and you’re applying to study journalism, that shows them your dedication to the subject matter. You could also choose an organization on campus that does volunteer or advocacy work related to things you did in high school. Yes, we know this is a lot of info to eloquently stuff into 300 words, but we believe in you!!
BU’s supplement is pretty straightforward, but don’t let it’s simplicity trick you into slacking. BU’s very competitive, so make sure to go over your supplement with a fine tooth comb, edit it to pieces, have friends/family/teachers look over it, whatever you need to have the perfectly polished essay. Good luck!
Need help with your Boston University application? What about your Common App essay? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Reach out to us today.