BU accepts 42 percent of E.D. apps

Boston University accepted more than 40 percent of binding early decision applicants for admission in the fall 2013 semester, a decrease of about five percent from the previous year, officials said.

BU spokesman Colin Riley said of the 1,496 early decision applicants for the 2013-14 academic year, 634 were offered admission, or 42.4 percent.
Admissions received 39.9 percent more applications than for the 2012-13 academic year.

In 2011, BU received 1,069 early decision applications for the 2012-13 academic year, 505 of which were accepted and committed to BU.

“It probably has to do with the fact that the admissions recruiters are out there making the option known to students,” Riley said of the increased number of applicants. “Admission professionals visit high schools all throughout the country.”

Riley said students were accepted into all nine schools at BU.

While the acceptance percentage is lower than that for the 2012-13 academic year, a greater number of students were accepted.

“Students who are doing a lot of work and research into college choices and degree programs have decided BU is the school they would like to go to,” Riley said. “Many also apply early because they feel that they would like a decision this time of year instead of waiting for the decision cycle in January.”

BU officials extended the early decision application deadline from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5 to provide students affected by Hurricane Sandy more time.

Admissions notified applicants of their results via the applicant link Dec. 14.

Breanna Allen, a senior at Belchertown High School in Belchertown, said she saw her acceptance the day decisions were sent out.

“As soon as I clicked enter, I clicked on decisions and I saw the word ‘Congratulations,’” Allen said in an email interview. “My heart dropped. All of my dreams came true at that moment in time.”

Allen, who will enter BU as a College of Arts and Sciences freshman, said she has a sentimental tie with Boston and knew she wanted to attend when she toured.

“I applied early decision because BU is the only school I could picture myself at for the next four years,” she said. “Ever since I was ten I have wanted to become a pediatric neurosurgeon and I know the resources at BU can help me achieve that.”