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Why BU?
~250 words · Current engagement + BU resources tied to your goals + what you'll produce
~250 words
What is it about Boston University that has made it your first choice? Please be specific about the academic programs or opportunities at BU that appeal to you and explain how they relate to your academic and professional interests.
What to include
- Start with what you're already doing — a habit, project, or sustained behavior (not future aspiration)
- Define your direction: what you're trying to build, understand, or solve
- 2–4 BU resources, each directly tied to your direction with "what you'll do with it"
- What you'll actually produce, test, or build at BU — specific output
- Close with continuation — where this leads, grounded and believable
What fails immediately
- Writing about Boston — location is not academic fit
- Listing programs with no connection: "I'm excited about X, Y, and Z" with no direction
- Future interest without current action — BU wants students already in motion
- Vague outputs: "I want to explore" or "I hope to learn" — name what you'll build or test
High-signal BU resources — connect to your direction:
UROP
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program — undergraduate research funding across all disciplines
Questrom School of Business
Undergrad business with strong co-op, entrepreneurship, and cross-school programs
Kilachand Honors College
Interdisciplinary honors with seminar learning and independent project opportunities
COM (Communications)
One of the strongest journalism/media/PR programs in the US with direct industry access
CAS Research Labs
College of Arts & Sciences labs across biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and more
BU Study Abroad
BU-run programs (not third party) in 30+ countries — strong for language, arts, public health
❌ Weak
"I like BU because it has strong academics, is in Boston, and offers many opportunities in my field. BU's UROP program and Questrom School excite me."
✓ Strong
"I've been building a data pipeline to track local housing affordability for six months. I want to use BU's UROP to test it against real census data, then bring the findings to Questrom's social impact track."
Structure (~250 words)
40–60 wordsWhat you're already doing — a real behavior, project, or sustained interest
80–110 wordsYour direction + 2–3 BU resources, each with "what you'll do with it"
60–80 wordsWhat you'll produce or build at BU — a specific, believable output
30–40 wordsWhere this leads — grounded continuation, not a sweeping vision