Boston University

[Stately Plump]

So I went to visit BU on Thursday. I won't be able to make it for the open house the 23rd, which I was looking forward to. But I figured I'd share what I saw while I was there.

I absolutely loved it. I met first with Maurice Lee, the graduate program director. He was very easy to talk to and very willing to talk with me and hear my thoughts and concerns. I saw him later in the day on the street (he had changed into more casual clothes and I almost didn't recognize him) and he stopped to ask me how things were going. I was impressed because it showed a level of concern that I was hoping to find but wasn't necessarily expecting (just because you can never know what to expect at large universities). I then went out to lunch with some graduate students. They were very friendly, and both of them--without communicating this between each other--used the word "collegial" to describe their experience at BU. They were very willing to discuss their research interests and both spoke to the amount of communication and interaction between the graduate students. I only met with those two students, so I didn't really get to "witness" this interaction first hand, but I don't think they were just trying to "sell" the place to me. They both spoke to having entirely positive experiences, and both said that they couldn't see themselves anywhere else.

I then met with Drs. Christopher Martin and Erin Murphy, both faculty doing work in the early modern period. They were both incredibly friendly and outgoing, and both were really interested in their students' work. Dr. Martin had a paper he had printed out for me that he thought might interest me, and we talked in great detail about my application (which he remembered; even if he had just looked it up right before I walked in the door, it was encouraging that he cared enough to make sure he checked it out before I came in). He spoke to my writing sample directly and talked about some of the other work being done in the department that matches nicely with my potential research interests. Dr. Murphy also remembered my application and was really interested to hear about my interests. She even wrote down the names of some scholars whose work might interest me, based on what we had been talking about. It was so encouraging to meet with faculty who not only listened, but listened enthusiastically to someone who isn't even a graduate student talk about what they might like to study. I met with both professors for about an hour, and both seemed to want to meet for longer, and certainly would have if we'd had the time.

The grad students that I met with had mentioned that both Drs. Martin and Murphy (along with all the professors in the department; they mentioned them specifically because I said I was meeting with them) were really, really interested in helping their students and that both were fantastic teachers. This definitely came out in my discussions with them. I could sense their enthusiasm for the classroom, and I knew just from meeting with them briefly that they had a passion for training the next generation of scholars. Like I said, it was very encouraging, and made me very excited to potentially begin graduate study there. I was hoping to find a non-competitive and supportive environment between faculty and students, and that is exactly what I found.

I also learned a bit about their funding. I can say that it is very, very good, and that they are trying to (i.e., faculty are fighting for) more money from the dean and other sources. For PhD students working on their dissertation, it is increasingly the norm (not guaranteed, but potentially heading that way) to get a semester and sometimes a semester and a summer of duty-free funding (i.e., you wouldn't have to teach that semester). I am excited about teaching, and I made that clear, but everyone I spoke to said, "Trust me, you'll get plenty of opportunities to teach, and you will have more than enough experience. But you will relish having a semester off to focus more closely on your own work." Some people were saying that they wished they'd had more time off from teaching as a graduate student, because they felt like they would have been able to produce a much more satisfying dissertation project; as it was, they felt like parts of it were rushed or forced, simply because they didn't have the time to put into it they would have liked. I can talk more about the specifics of the funding, just send me a PM.

Overall I had a great experience. If you read the thread, I posted about having a similar experience at Amherst. I will say that my decision is very, very tough. I am probably leaning towards BU for strictly non-"fit/feel" type reasons: namely, the location and the funding. I know those aren't necessarily reasons to choose a graduate program, but I seriously loved both departments. At both schools, I felt like part of a community, and a community that included students and faculty. The academic experience thus being equal, I'm probably leaning toward BU for non-academic-y type reasons.

Feel free to send more questions my way, and I'll do my best to answer them. Hope this helps anyone (<--- sunglasses because sooo excited for graduate school)

P.S. -- When I visited BU, it was 70 degrees, which perhaps wasn't fair to my impression of the campus. It was fantastic; there were students everywhere, people walking around all over the place, people hanging out on the banks of the Charles. However, and I joked about this while I was there, I'm from the area, so I know how uncommon this weather has been. They weren't attracting me on the false premise of "beautiful Boston weather." I know the misery that is normally November-April, so no worries there

[TripWillis]

So I went to visit BU on Thursday. I won't be able to make it for the open house the 23rd, which I was looking forward to. But I figured I'd share what I saw while I was there.

I absolutely loved it. I met first with Maurice Lee, the graduate program director. He was very easy to talk to and very willing to talk with me and hear my thoughts and concerns. I saw him later in the day on the street (he had changed into more casual clothes and I almost didn't recognize him) and he stopped to ask me how things were going. I was impressed because it showed a level of concern that I was hoping to find but wasn't necessarily expecting (just because you can never know what to expect at large universities). I then went out to lunch with some graduate students. They were very friendly, and both of them--without communicating this between each other--used the word "collegial" to describe their experience at BU. They were very willing to discuss their research interests and both spoke to the amount of communication and interaction between the graduate students. I only met with those two students, so I didn't really get to "witness" this interaction first hand, but I don't think they were just trying to "sell" the place to me. They both spoke to having entirely positive experiences, and both said that they couldn't see themselves anywhere else.

I then met with Drs. Christopher Martin and Erin Murphy, both faculty doing work in the early modern period. They were both incredibly friendly and outgoing, and both were really interested in their students' work. Dr. Martin had a paper he had printed out for me that he thought might interest me, and we talked in great detail about my application (which he remembered; even if he had just looked it up right before I walked in the door, it was encouraging that he cared enough to make sure he checked it out before I came in). He spoke to my writing sample directly and talked about some of the other work being done in the department that matches nicely with my potential research interests. Dr. Murphy also remembered my application and was really interested to hear about my interests. She even wrote down the names of some scholars whose work might interest me, based on what we had been talking about. It was so encouraging to meet with faculty who not only listened, but listened enthusiastically to someone who isn't even a graduate student talk about what they might like to study. I met with both professors for about an hour, and both seemed to want to meet for longer, and certainly would have if we'd had the time.

The grad students that I met with had mentioned that both Drs. Martin and Murphy (along with all the professors in the department; they mentioned them specifically because I said I was meeting with them) were really, really interested in helping their students and that both were fantastic teachers. This definitely came out in my discussions with them. I could sense their enthusiasm for the classroom, and I knew just from meeting with them briefly that they had a passion for training the next generation of scholars. Like I said, it was very encouraging, and made me very excited to potentially begin graduate study there. I was hoping to find a non-competitive and supportive environment between faculty and students, and that is exactly what I found.

I also learned a bit about their funding. I can say that it is very, very good, and that they are trying to (i.e., faculty are fighting for) more money from the dean and other sources. For PhD students working on their dissertation, it is increasingly the norm (not guaranteed, but potentially heading that way) to get a semester and sometimes a semester and a summer of duty-free funding (i.e., you wouldn't have to teach that semester). I am excited about teaching, and I made that clear, but everyone I spoke to said, "Trust me, you'll get plenty of opportunities to teach, and you will have more than enough experience. But you will relish having a semester off to focus more closely on your own work." Some people were saying that they wished they'd had more time off from teaching as a graduate student, because they felt like they would have been able to produce a much more satisfying dissertation project; as it was, they felt like parts of it were rushed or forced, simply because they didn't have the time to put into it they would have liked. I can talk more about the specifics of the funding, just send me a PM.

Overall I had a great experience. If you read the thread, I posted about having a similar experience at Amherst. I will say that my decision is very, very tough. I am probably leaning towards BU for strictly non-"fit/feel" type reasons: namely, the location and the funding. I know those aren't necessarily reasons to choose a graduate program, but I seriously loved both departments. At both schools, I felt like part of a community, and a community that included students and faculty. The academic experience thus being equal, I'm probably leaning toward BU for non-academic-y type reasons.

Feel free to send more questions my way, and I'll do my best to answer them. Hope this helps anyone (<--- sunglasses because sooo excited for graduate school)

P.S. -- When I visited BU, it was 70 degrees, which perhaps wasn't fair to my impression of the campus. It was fantastic; there were students everywhere, people walking around all over the place, people hanging out on the banks of the Charles. However, and I joked about this while I was there, I'm from the area, so I know how uncommon this weather has been. They weren't attracting me on the false premise of "beautiful Boston weather." I know the misery that is normally November-April, so no worries there

This was fun to read. You have a tough choice to make, but I'm with you on location and funding -- I really, really love Boston, and I'm a little sad I didn't get into any schools there (especially Harvard, ha). To be honest, I'd want to live across the river in Cambridge, or maybe in Brookline. Allston... Allston is not exactly my favorite place ever.

SP, I am also getting more excited every day! It feels really great to be in this position, no matter where I end up. To be honest, this is kind of the first time I've really gotten what I wanted since I was 18 and got into music school. I've sort of just been floating around the 10 years, but now I finally have something solid nailed down. It feels awesome.

[ComeBackZinc]

Location and funding are perfectly legitimate reasons to choose a grad program. This is your life, after all.

[portlandfioretti]

Wow, Stately Plump! What a fantastic experience! I am just dying to get off the waitlist and get in to BU, all the more after your post.

[Stately Plump]

This was fun to read. You have a tough choice to make, but I'm with you on location and funding -- I really, really love Boston, and I'm a little sad I didn't get into any schools there (especially Harvard, ha). To be honest, I'd want to live across the river in Cambridge, or maybe in Brookline. Allston... Allston is not exactly my favorite place ever.

SP, I am also getting more excited every day! It feels really great to be in this position, no matter where I end up. To be honest, this is kind of the first time I've really gotten what I wanted since I was 18 and got into music school. I've sort of just been floating around the 10 years, but now I finally have something solid nailed down. It feels awesome.

I love Cambridge, too. And seriously, after visiting, I've been sooo excited about starting. I've just felt so comfortable that this is where I'm supposed to be, and I'm feeling better and better about my decisions.

I hope everyone has the same experiences I've had. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone, be it via conference or whatever.

[Stately Plump]

Wow, Stately Plump! What a fantastic experience! I am just dying to get off the waitlist and get in to BU, all the more after your post.

I hope you get in! +++ energy sent your way!

(<--- sunglasses for good luck)

[Clifford2]

Anyone else get a hand-signed rejection letter from BU?

[lpbuck09]

If anyone happens to turn down an offer from BU, would you mind posting it here? I'm also dying to get off the wait list!! I assume people won't make their decisions until after the open house next week (and I don't blame you -- I wouldn't either), but please share if you know that a spot will be opening up Thanks!

[Stately Plump]

I'm waiting on a Fulbright, so if I get that, I'll probably be deferring my admission. I should know in the next few weeks.

If I don't get the Fulbright, I'll very likely be accepting their offer. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated! I hope you all get in so we can hang out next semester! (<--- Boston sunglasses)

[lpbuck09]

I'm waiting on a Fulbright, so if I get that, I'll probably be deferring my admission. I should know in the next few weeks.

If I don't get the Fulbright, I'll very likely be accepting their offer. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated! I hope you all get in so we can hang out next semester! (<--- Boston sunglasses)

Thanks, I appreciate the update. And good luck with the fulbright!

[portlandfioretti]

I emailed Dr. Lee at BU asking for a wait list update and received this dreadful thing in reply:

Dear [portlandfioretti],

I'm afraid we are not able to offer you admission to Boston University. As I've just learned today, we had a higher than usual number of admitted students enroll this year and are not admitting anyone from the waiting list. Our Graduate School insists on sending official rejection letters, which you should receive shortly. However, I wanted to contact you personally and let you know as soon as possible.

Best of luck,

Maurice S. Lee

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

English Department

Boston University

[Stately Plump]

I emailed Dr. Lee at BU asking for a wait list update and received this dreadful thing in reply:

Dear [portlandfioretti],

I'm afraid we are not able to offer you admission to Boston University. As I've just learned today, we had a higher than usual number of admitted students enroll this year and are not admitting anyone from the waiting list. Our Graduate School insists on sending official rejection letters, which you should receive shortly. However, I wanted to contact you personally and let you know as soon as possible.

Best of luck,

Maurice S. Lee

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

English Department

Boston University

Oh no! I'm so sorry!

I was looking forward to getting to know all of you. Best of luck with your other applications!!!

[butalas]

I turned down my offer from them a few days ago...don't know if that will help anyone. Also it was for one of those glorious 10 unfunded MA spots.

[thinkagain]

Bumped: Can anyone provide any new insight on the rumor that BU doesn't like to admit MA holders? BU was on my application list, but now I'm reconsidering.

[sebastiansteddy]

I think they generally admit more students without an MA than with, but that is not to say they don't accept any students holding an MA. One of my favorite professors as an undergrad a few years ago was working on his PhD at BU, and had his MA somewhere else. I still keep in touch with him, and I asked him this very question earlier this semester when I was considering applying there. Hope that helps!

[Stately Plump]

Bumped: Can anyone provide any new insight on the rumor that BU doesn't like to admit MA holders? BU was on my application list, but now I'm reconsidering.

 

 

I think they generally admit more students without an MA than with, but that is not to say they don't accept any students holding an MA. One of my favorite professors as an undergrad a few years ago was working on his PhD at BU, and had his MA somewhere else. I still keep in touch with him, and I asked him this very question earlier this semester when I was considering applying there. Hope that helps!

 

I'm at BU now. They take one student every year who has already earned an MA elsewhere.