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Boston University School of Medicine

Boston, MA Class Size: 155
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Statistics Tuition Friendliness Mission Statement Situational Judgement Tests Dates & Deadlines Prerequisite Courses Dual Degree Tracks Contact Information Secondary App Questions Interview Questions

Gaining admission to Boston University School of Medicine is Very Competitive. Applicants typically have an average GPA of 3.88 and an average MCAT score of 518.

Statistics

To summarize, listed below are the most important academic statistics for Boston University School of Medicine applicants:

Average GPA:
3.88
Average MCAT:
518
Competitiveness:
Very Competitive
Note: Competitiveness is assessed based on the school's acceptance rate, average MCAT, and average GPA.
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Tuition

Affording medical school can be tough, often requiring students to take on significant loans. Information about the yearly tuition for Boston University School of Medicine is below.

In-State Tuition:
$70000
Out-of-State Tuition:
$70000

For more information about tuition at Boston University School of Medicine, visit the following link: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/osfs/cost-of-attendance-bot/camed-coa/

Friendliness

Some schools prefer in-state candidates, while others are more receptive to out-of-state or international applicants. View our school "friendliness" scores for Boston University School of Medicine below:

IN-STATE

In-State Friendliness:
Neutral

OUT-OF-STATE

Accepts Out-of-State:
Yes
Out-of-State Friendliness:
Very Friendly

INTERNATIONAL

Accepts Canadian:
Yes
Accepts International:
Yes
International Friendliness:
Neutral

Note: Most schools will be labelled "Neutral" for In-State Friendlines because they don't have a strong bias for in-state applicants compared to out-of-state applicants. In other words, we believe these schools view In-State and Out-State applicants more or less equally. Schools labelled as "Out-of-State Friendly / Very Friendly" have a high proportion of their class filled with Out-of-State applicants.

Mission Statement

It is always important to read and understand a medical school's mission statement before applying. Often, you will find out what the medical school stands for, and if you fit in with the general "vibe" of the medical school. However, being honest, most medical schools have the same run-of-the-mill mission statement as everybody else. Anyways, you can be the judge. Below you can find the mission statement for Boston University School of Medicine:

Boston University School of Medicine Mission Statement:
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is dedicated to the educational, intellectual, professional, and personal development of a diverse group of exceptional students, trainees, and faculty who are deeply committed to the study and to the practice of medicine, to biomedical research, and to the health of the public. We, as a community, place great value on excellence, integrity, service, social justice, collegiality, equality of opportunity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

For more information on the mission statement for Boston University School of Medicine, visit the following link: https://cme.bu.edu/content/mission-statements#:~:text=Boston%20University%20Chobanian%20%26%20Avedisian%20School%20of%20Medicine%20is%20dedicated%20to,biomedical%20research%2C%20and%20to%20the

Situational Judgement Tests

Boston University School of Medicine does not require the completion of either the CASPer® nor the AAMC PREview™ examinations.

CASPer®:
Yes
AAMC PREview™:
No
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Dates, Deadlines, and Fees

Throughout your application cycle, there are many dates to be cognizant of in order to ensure the successful completion of your application.

Primary Application Deadline:
December 1
Secondary Application Deadline:
Dec 1
Secondary Application Fee:
$110
Note: The primary application deadline refers to when your primary application (i.e., the initial AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS application) needs to be completed. Please be aware that there are processing times associated with primary applications—for instance, there can be a several week processing time associated with verifying your acadmic transcripts when initially submitting the AMCAS application. Upon receipt of the primary application, most schools will then shortly send you a secondary application with targeted essay questions relevant to the specific school.

The secondary application deadline is the final day for all your application materials to be together, which includes submitting the secondary essays, all letters of recommendation, all test scores, etc. Sometimes, schools may have earlier deadlines for letters of recommendation. However, note that for the vast majority of schools it is best to submit your secondary application as soon as possible: within 2 weeks of receiving the secondary application is a good rule-of-thumb.

Below are some other helpful dates:

Interview Cycle Start:
September
Interview Cycle End:
January
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Prerequisite Courses

Most schools have a list of prerequisite courses that you need to have completed before matriculating. View information provided for Boston University School of Medicine below:

Interpreting Semester Hours
Typically,
3 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course = 1 or 2 quarters
4 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course + associated lab unit
6 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses = 3 quarters
8 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses + two associated lab units

PHYSICS

Semester Hours:
Lab?
Not Required

Physics with labwork heavily recommended.

CHEMISTRY

GenChem = General Chemistry

OChem = Organic Chemistry

Biochem = Biochemistry

GenChem Semester Hours:
GenChem Lab?
Required
OChem Semester Hours:
OChem Lab?
Required
Biochem Semester Hours:
Biochem Lab?
Not Required

General Chemistry with lab work heavily recommended. Inorganic Chemistry with lab work heavily recommended.

BIOLOGY

GenBio = General Biology

HL Bio = Higher Level Biology

GenBio Semester Hours:
GenBio Lab?
Required
HL Bio Semester Hours:
HL Bio Lab?
Not Required

Biology with labwork heavily recommended.

HUMANITIES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Semester Hours:

ENGLISH/WRITING

Semester Hours:

MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS

Mathematics Semester Hours:
Statistics Semester Hours:

Mathematics/Statistics Recommended

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSES

"In addition, course work in Mathematics (particularly statistics), Biochemistry, Social and Behavioral Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), Genetics, and Molecular Biology is important. As a guideline, students typically take two semesters each of English, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, mathematics, and social sciences. Because schools and applicants differ from one another, our “requirements” are flexible."

SOURCE: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/camed/admissions/application-process/requirements/

Special Programs

Many schools have dual-degree programs for motivated applicants. View the ones offered at Boston University School of Medicine below:

MD+PhD (MSTP - Medical Scientist Training Program):
Yes
MD+MPH (Public Health):
Yes
MD+MBA (Business, Healthcare Administration):
Yes
MD+JD (Law):
Yes
MD+MA (Master of Arts):
MD+MS (Master of Science):

Contact Information

View contact information (phone and email) available to contact Boston University School of Medicine below:

CONTACT #1

Title:
E-mail:
medadms@bu.edu
Phone:

CONTACT #2

Title:
E-mail:
Phone:

Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Below are the past secondary (supplemental) application essay prompts for Boston University School of Medicine.

Did you go on to college directly after high school? (1400 characters)
Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate degree? (Post bac work is NOT considered undergraduate. If attending a post bac program prior to entering medical school, the answer is NO and should be explained.) If you took gap year(s), please use this space to explain what you have been doing prior to applying to medical school. (1400 characters)
If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below. (You may skip this question if you have graduated within 4 years.) (1400 characters)
Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be of particular interest to us. For example, have you lived in another country or experienced a culture unlike your own, or worked in a field that contributed to your understanding of people unlike yourself? Or, have you experienced advanced training in any area, including the fields of art, music, or sports? This is an opportunity to describe learning experiences that may not be covered in other areas of this application or your AMCAS application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. Also, use this section to explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational/research/volunteering or employment plans. (2000 characters)
Boston Medical Center is the largest safety net hospital in New England, serving primarily people who are publicly insured, people of color, immigrants, and low-income people in the Greater Boston Area. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (3000 characters)
Use the space below to provide additional information you feel will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of your strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. This should include only information NOT already included in your AMCAS or other sections of the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM Supplemental Application. Most applicants leave this blank. Yes, it's really optional. (3000 characters)
Re-Applicant Comment - This section may be used by re-applicants who wish to highlight specific areas of their application or to outline specific changes since their last application. (3000 characters)

Interview Questions

Below are common interview questions that you might encounter on your important day for Boston University School of Medicine.

How has your background and upbringing shaped your decision to pursue a career in medicine?
What qualities or personal attributes do you possess that make you unique and how do they complement the incoming medical school class?
Explain any discrepancies in your academic record or performance, if applicable.
Tell me about your most meaningful volunteer experience and how it has shaped your perspective on healthcare.
Discuss an ethical dilemma you have encountered and how you resolved it, either in your personal life or in a healthcare setting.
Describe a specific extracurricular activity or research project and its impact on your journey towards medicine.
Describe an experience you have had with patient care or healthcare volunteer work and what you learned from it.
What is your proudest moment, either in your personal or academic life, and why?
What are your thoughts on the current U.S. healthcare system in comparison to healthcare systems in other countries, such as Canada or England?
Discuss a specific activity or project that you were involved in and its impact or significance.
How do you envision your life and personal/professional goals ten years from now?
Why did you choose to attend your undergraduate institution and how has it shaped your journey towards medicine?
What are some bioethical issues that have come up during your research or education?
How have your experiences with diverse cultures and communities prepared you for a career in medicine?
Why do you want to dedicate your life to the field of medicine and what personal qualities make you a good fit for this profession?
How have you demonstrated resilience in the face of challenges or setbacks?
How has your multicultural background and experiences prepared you for the challenges and rewards of practicing medicine?
Share an example of a time when you were faced with a difficult ethical situation and how you handled it.
What are your thoughts on the current healthcare system in the United States and what changes would you propose to improve it?
Discuss an activity or class that had a significant impact on your undergraduate experience and influenced your decision to pursue medicine.
How did you come to choose medicine as a career and what motivated you towards this path?
Why do you want to attend Boston University School of Medicine and what do you hope to gain from your education there?
Describe your current research and its significance, and how it may contribute to your future career plans.
How has growing up in a specific location or cultural background influenced your interest in medicine?
Explain any discrepancies between your undergraduate and graduate GPAs and how they have influenced your academic journey towards medicine.
What is your greatest failure and what did you learn from it?
What are your thoughts on the bilingual education immersion debate, and how does it relate to your views on education and the healthcare system?
Discuss an experience that has had a significant impact on your interest in medicine.
Discuss an activity or project you have been involved in and how it has helped connect your different areas of interest.
Tell me about an ethical dilemma you have faced in your work or personal life and how you resolved it.
What do you think will be your greatest challenge as a physician and how do you envision overcoming it?
Explain the challenges and rewards of balancing being a good wife and mother with the demands of medical school.
How have your experiences during your undergraduate years contributed to your interest in medicine and your desire to attend Boston University?
What is your perspective on the use of oral contraceptives and their potential effects on the risk of developing breast cancer?
Describe your family background and how it has influenced your journey to becoming a physician.
Describe a time when you had to make an ethical decision, either in your personal or professional life.
How have your research experiences, if any, contributed to your understanding of ethical considerations in medicine?
How do you plan to juggle the responsibilities of being a doctor, a wife, and a mother while attending medical school?
Describe your most important volunteer and research experiences, how you chose them, why they were important, and what you learned from them.
Talk about your clinical experiences and their influence on your interest in medicine.