Boston University Introduction
Boston University (or BU) is a private research institution of higher learning located in Boston, Massachusetts. BU has over 31,000 students and over 4,000 faculty members and is one of United States largest private universities. Boston University is also one of the biggest employers in Boston.
Boston University is an institution that is categorized in the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as a Research University/very high research activity (RU/VH). Boston University even had research expenses of 407.8 million dollars in 2009 – 2010, or 553 million dollars – that is, if the Boston Medical center’s Medical School faculty led research is also included. BU is also Boston Consortium for Higher Education’s member.
Among Boston University’s alumni are six Noble Prize winners, twenty two Pulitzer Prize winners and a number of MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows.
Students who keep busy, well organized and choose a course of study which truly stimulates their intellectual interests will have no problems being successful at Boston University. A lot of students are known to dread graduation day because leaving Boston is really not something that they are excited about. Students are advised to accept their environment and to work with it and also against it. They are also advised is to make school their top most priority and to hang out with their professors – because they are the very best resource any student can ask for!
Boston is a large city with a very large youthful population. Students who are searching for a real taste of city life and are sure that they can establish themselves at a big institution in a high-paced environment, then it is absolutely possible that such students can find their niche at Boston University.

Boston University Academics
Boston University’s main campus is located in Allston and Fenwway-Kenmore neigborhoods along the Charles River in Boston while BU’s medical campus is located in South End neigborhood in Boston.
Each college and school at BU has a 3 letter abbreviation, which students and faculty use instead of pronouncing the full name. For instance, BU’s School of Management is referred to as SMG, the College of Arts & Science is referred to as CAS, the School of Education is known as SED and so on.

Programs Offered
BU offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor’s degrees, masters’ & doctoral degrees. Boston University also offers medical degrees and dental degrees through its eighteen schools and colleges on 2 city campuses.
Boston University runs 75 study abroad programs in more than 33 cities in over 20 countries and also has internships opportunities in 10 different nations – this includes the US and overseas.

Facilities
As a result of Boston University’s continual development, the institution’s Charles River campus has a variety of buildings that are architecturally diverse. The School of Theology and the Marsh Chapel’s College of Arts & Sciences (location of the March Chapel Experiment) are both BU’s most recognizable buildings and were constructed in collegiate gothic style in the late 1930’s and 1940’s. A large amount of the BU’s grounds are conventional Boston brownstone, particularly at South Campus and Bay State Road where the institution has bought virtually every townhouse the areas have to offer. These building are basically dorms but a lot of them serve as a variety of institutes and as department offices as well.
A lot of the modern building were built from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, this includes the Boston University Law School, Warren Towers and Mugar Library, all of which were constructed using the brutalist style of construction. In 1983, the Metcalf Science Center for Science & Engineering was built, and might be described correctly as Structural Expressionism. Boston University’s most recent buildings are the Life Science & Engineering building, Photonics Center, the School of Management, and the Student Village – which also include the Agganis Arena and the Fitness Recreation (FitRec) Center. All the aforementioned building were constructed using bricks and a few were constructed using a considerable amount of brownstone.

Accreditation
BU is a member of NEASC (New England Association of Schools & Colleges), which is one of United States’ 6 regional accrediting organizations – since 1929, Boston University has been accredited by NEASC.

Boston University Admissions
Boston University is always searching for go-getters who will succeed in their academics and also thrive in BU’s community – a diverse combination of knowledge seeking students with an array of talents, goals and interests. Boston University’s Board of Admission review every single application thoroughly in order to determine which applicants will be offered admission.
The factors that Boston University’s Board of Admissions takes into consideration are:
•Applicant’s high school performance – This is the Board of Admission’s best indicator of how a prospective student will perform at Boston University. When admissions representatives are reviewing an applicant’s transcripts, they take a look at various factors, some of which includes enrollment in honors, applicant’s academic strengths, total level of achievement and so on.
•Applicant’s standardized test scores – Boston University requires an applicant’s SAT and Subject exam scores or ACT with writing – applicants can see the specific requirement for their particular program of study at Boston University’s website.
•Recommendations written by applicant’s teacher and counselor – It is vital for applicant’s to have their recommendations written by counselors and teachers who know them very well because they will be able to give the Board of Admissions a thorough understanding of who the applicant is as an individual and in the classroom.
•Applicant’s personal qualifications – BU’s Board of Admissions will love to see what an applicant has done outside of his or her classroom: their activities – both in their school and their community – and after-school work/job. The school’s Board of Admissions also look for applicants’ activities which match their experiences or other interests that will match the opportunities available at Boston University. Applicant’s special talents, skills and achievements are also vital in Board’s review process.
•Applicant’s application essay – This is a vital part of an applicant’s application process because it will clearly demonstrate how applicants express themselves. It is also an opportunity for the Admissions Board to learn who the prospective BU student is, beyond his or her grades and standardized exam scores. Applicants should let their voice come through in their essay – this will assist the Board of Admissions members understand what clearly distinguishes him or her from other applicants. Applicants can check out BU’s essay writing tips on their website.

Financial Aid
Being eligible to be offered admission into college is one thing, being able to finance a college education is another thing entirely. Financing a college education can be quite challenging for a lot of people, but thanks to financial aid programs, the burden of lifting college education expenses will be made lighter. Boston University’s Financial Assistance Office is a student’s first stop for financial aid. This office main objective is assist the family of the institution’s undergraduate students clearly identify ways to pay for education at Boston University. The office administers scholarships, loans, part time employment funding and loans. The office also provide information in detail to assist students and their families make a well informed decision about the various options for financing a BU undergraduate education.

Boston University Students
Boston University provides a top quality housing system, which happens to be the country’s 10th largest among 4 year institutions. This institution was formerly a commuter school, but now guarantees all undergraduates the choice of on-campus housing for 4 years. BU also requires that every student living in the school’s dormitories be enrolled in a 12 month long meal plan.

Clubs and Organizations
There are many clubs and organizations at Boston University where students can have a great time, contribute their quota to developing the community, improve their leadership potential and to enrich their lives.
The various clubs and organizations at BU include: The BU Dear Abbeys, Boston University Stage Troupe, Boston University Soccer Club, the Greek community and so on.

Athletics
BU’s NCAA Division I male Terriers participate in ice hockey, wrestling, cross country, basketball, rowing, golf, tennis, track & field, swimming and soccer. The Lady Terriers participate in dance, lacrosse, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis, field hockey, cross country, track & field, softball, ice hockey, swimming and rowing. The BU athletics teams participate in the Colonial Athletic Association, Hockey East and America East conferences and the university’s mascot is known as Rhett the Boston Terrier.
The most successful athletics team on campus is the BU men’s hockey team. This team has won 5 NCAA championships and is coached by Jack Parker, a hall of famer. Boston University’s women’s rowing team has won 2 national championships two years in a row – in 1991 and 1992.

Club Sports
Students at Boston University can also participate in athletics at club level. The university recognizes 36 club sports, which includes men’s volleyball, synchronized skating, snowboard, baseball, women’s volleyball, table tennis, cheerleading, ultimate Frisbee, alpine ski racing, triathlon, squash, kung fu and so on.

Alumni
Boston University has 285,000 alumni who represent virtually every nation on the planet. A couple of the famous BU alumni are:
•  Martin Luther King, Jr. – Nobel Prize winner and Civil Rights Activist
•  Julianne Moore – Actress
•Geena Davis – Actress
•  William Cohen – Defense Secretary
•  Gary Locke – Commerce Secretary
•  Howard Stern – Radio personality
•  Nina Garcia – Marie Claire’s fashion editor and Co-host of Project Runway
•  Tipper Gore – United States’ Former Second Lady