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Boston University - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Academics

B+
Where does this grade come from?View all Academics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Academics Grades:

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 13:1
Full-Time Student Population 25,578
Part-Time Student Population 5,921
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 1,549
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 1,079
Total FT Faculty 2,621
Faculty with Terminal Degree 78%
Average Faculty Salary $101,111
Full-Time Retention Rate 90%
Graduation Rate 80%
Programs/Majors Offered 213
Average Course Load 16 credits (4 courses)
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 students: 56%
  • 20 to 49 students: 34%
  • 50 or more students: 10%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

As with any university, the nature of the classes is largely dependent on the particular professors teaching them. Everyone seems to agree that the best way to choose a class is by first learning about the professor’s teaching style from other students. While some professors fall into anonymity after the last day of class, some directly influence the course of your education. Don’t get frustrated with your 100-level introductory classes—they are universally described as “a waste of time,” “boring,” and “impersonal.” Get through your requirements, but keep in mind that the best classes are the upper-levels.

You can be so inspired by a particular professor that you may even decide to switch majors—only to find out later that it was the individual professor, not the field, that held your interest. Those types of professors, while few and far between, are certainly present and available to any student who seeks them out.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Boston University Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Boston University

bu2011

'15

English

3.8
B+

Pretty Good

I've had a pretty good experience so far with the academics. All of my professors have been extremely knowledgable on subject matter, and all have had the biggest, unique personalities. The registration process can be quite frustrating because they do it in order of the last number on your ID. If you're a 9, you are the last to pick, depending on the semester. You can be stuck getting none of the classes you intended. The workload is pretty heavy, but it mostly depends on what major you have. There are a bunch of places to study: Mugar, SMG library, plus varies study lounges in the dorms.

Feb 05, 2012

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Academics at Boston University

klm1114

'14

Advertising

3.8
B+

Some Great Classes, but Grade Deflation Too.

Academics at BU can't be summed up easily. Some professors are great at what they do, love teaching, and explain things really well. Others are far more interested in their own research, and don't really know how to teach and/or can be condescending. Office hours range from great to incredibly frustrating, but that's probably to be expected at any large university. Unfortunately, grade deflation is a proven thing at BU, and though it doesn't happen in every class, when it does happen, it hits hard. BU has been proven to have the highest grade deflation in the country-- not a reason to not go here, but something to be aware of. Kids here are smart, and they work very hard, but even so, the average GPA at BU is considerably lower than that of kids at comparable schools. Reading this, there's not much to definitively take from it. Just know that if you do come here, you'll definitely experience some great classes with passionate professors (especially in your major) but that it will also be extremely challenging (perhaps more than necessary) to achieve a high grade in some classes.

Dec 03, 2011

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Academics at Boston University

jkus91

'14

Cellular Biology

4.6
A

Professors

At Boston University, you can easily connect with your professors, for they are always willing to help out in any way possible.

Aug 26, 2011

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Page 1 of 18

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

Facts

Instructional Programs Occupational: No
Academic: Yes
Continuing Professional: No
Recreational/Avocational: No
Adult Basic Remedial: No
Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: Yes
Dual Credit: No
Life Experience Credits: No
AP Test Score Requirements Most programs award credit for scores of 4 or higher. Some programs award credit for scores of 3 or higher.
IB Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 5 or higher
Undergraduate Schools/Divisions
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Communication
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Fine Arts
  • College of General Studies
  • College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • School of Education
  • School of Hospitality Administration
  • School of Management
  • University Professors Program
Degrees Awarded
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Doctorate - Professional practice
  • Doctorate - Research/scholarship
  • Master's degree
  • Post-bachelor's certificate
  • Post-master's certificate
Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management: 7%
  • International Relations and National Security Studies: 2%
  • Psychology: 2%
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 2%
Special Study Options
  • Distance learning opportunities
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
  • Weekend/evening college
Best Places to Study
  • BU Beach (when it’s warm outside)
  • George Sherman Union, especially BU Central, Howard Thurman Center, or the third floor
  • Ingall’s: Engineering Library
  • Mugar Library
  • Pardee Library at the School of Management
  • Seventh-floor study lounge of the Hojo
  • Shelton ninth-floor study lounge
Did You Know?

The Core Curriculum Program is an option for the top candidates entering the College of Arts and Sciences, and an excellent opportunity for those of us lacking specific direction or major. Core consists of eight historically-based, integrated courses providing an in-depth study of classic works in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. While Core does emphasize a higher ability for analytical thinking, and certainly requires higher levels of writing and reading comprehension than other programs, it allows students to pursue a coherent interdisciplinary approach to literature, art, music, social, religious, scientific, and philosophical thought, therefore enabling you to sound extra-intelligent at social gatherings and heated debates. Core lectures are always accompanied by small seminar discussions and labs, so get ready for a rocky time at registration. Beware, scheduling around Core classes can prove to be difficult.

BU Was the First to:
• Open all its divisions to women (1872)
• Open a college of music in the United States (1873)
• Admit women to its medical college, the School of
Medicine (1873)
• To award PhDs to women in America (1877)
• Offer a college degree in public relations (1947)
• Open a graduate school in dentistry (1963)
• Combine cancer research and a teaching laboratory (1965)

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at BU

Name: Stephanie Santana

Hometown: Queens, NY

Major: Anthropology/Journalism

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school

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