As the Class of 2014 prepares to matriculate in the fall, next year’s incoming freshmen say they are just as excited about attending Boston University as the BU community is about welcoming them.
With about 38,250 applications, the applicant pool was the largest in the university’s history. Approximately 50 percent of those who applied were admitted, said Executive Director of Admissions Kelly Walter.
Although it is still too early to tell how many will matriculate, BU spokesman Colin Riley said he anticipates a freshman class next year of approximately 4,100 students.
“The record number of outstanding applicants is proof of the tremendous interest in Boston University,” he said.
He added that the university is in the process of welcoming the incoming freshmen with open house and orientation activities.
“This month’s open house activities have gone very well and we’re thrilled that so many have already decided to enroll and are filling up the orientation sessions in June and July,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming them as BU’s newest class.”
The number of international student applications also increased by 16 percent and students were admitted from 115 different countries, Walter said.
Members of the incoming freshman class expressed both excitement and slight doubts about their future at BU.
Incoming College of Fine Arts freshman Kaity Reilly, of Latham, N.Y., said one of the biggest draws of BU for her was the location.
“I love the area,” she said. “I feel that BU had the most to offer for me out of all the schools I applied to, and I loved the atmosphere and people’s attitudes when I visited. Financial aid was also a huge help.”
Reilly said she applied to seven other schools, including the Pratt Institute and the Rhode Island School of Design, but when the time came to make a decision, settling on BU was an easy choice.
“Before I got my admittance letter, I was almost set on a different school,” she said. “After I got my letter, I did more research into BU and gave it more thought than I previously really had, and found that it was amazing.”
However, she expressed concerns about BU’s large class size.
“It’s a little intimidating and I have concerns about being lost in the crowd [or being] another number.”
Incoming College of Arts and Sciences freshman Simon Wentzell said he is coming to BU to study political science.
“When I visited the campus last fall I fell in love with it,” he said. “I love how it feels like it’s part of Boston while still feeling like it has its own space … I am most excited to be with people who are truly interested in learning and aren’t just at school cause they have to be. My biggest doubt about BU is how far away from home it is and none of my friends are going out east so I won’t be able to see them often.”
Class of 2014 member Marc Luko said he turned down Syracuse, Ithaca and the University of Buffalo to be a student in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
“I chose to come to BU because of its amazing health science program but also because of the diversity that it has. No other university that I applied to had such a diverse culture.
Not to mention the fact that it is located in the biggest college town in the country. The resources at BU are endless.”
Although he said he was originally worried about affording a BU education, his fears were quickly calmed.
“At first it was hard because I was not sure how much they would offer me, being a private institution, but I ended up getting a great package so the decision was easier, Luko said.
“Once I visited the campus the decision was a no-brainer.”
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