CU Boulder decisions are out!

[Anonymous]

What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

Attractive campus, wonderful town, fantastic setting near both the Rockies and Denver, strong education (certainly among the top half of the 50 state flagships), solid and broad reputation (because of lots of OOS students), and a pretty high acceptance rate relative to schools of its caliber. If people want to find fault with CU they can, as with any school, but it’s a pretty attractive package for kids in its applicant pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those wondering about merit, DD had a link at the bottom of her online acceptance letter. She was awarded the $25,000 CU Boulder Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship, which is $6,250 per year. She was admitted to the biomedical engineering program, but her letter didn't say anything about an Honors College or program.

Did students have to apply to the Honors College separately? DD's at a basketball tournament today so I have no idea if she applied for Honors or not - but she should have.

Here are her stats, if helpful to others.

OOS - large public school district
4.0/4.62W at time of application (GPA went up slightly at the end of 1st semester)
35 ACT single-sitting; 36 superscore
1550 ACT single-sitting; 1570 or 80 superscore (can't remember)
10-ish APs, including several senior year. This is a typical amount for honors students at her high school, though some have more APs
3 sports, plus a club sport. Varsity captain of 2 of those sports, but not recruited athlete material
Executive student government officer and state officer of an organization
Some national awards for stuff unrelated to her major
Volunteering, etc.
NMSF

I've tried to stay back from her app process, though I helped by proofreading her essays before she submitted. I assumed CU Boulder had rolling admissions, so I wondered when notice of her acceptance or redirection would show up. She was also accepted to CO School of the Mines and some other schools, with a few more pending. Cost is a big issue for us and in-state would be free. CU Boulder does sound great and we have family in the area, so we may schedule a visit.

Wow, those are super high stats for such a low merit award.

CU Boulder doesn't give giant merit.

We’re in-state and it’s killing me how little Colorado universities give for merit aid. In-state tuition and fees are ridiculous.

$30k is ridiculous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

It’s in a beautiful area, and it’s a pretty good school. If you like outdoors activities it’s got to be super appealing. Colorado is a great place to live. My kid got accepted (very little merit) and it was #1 on her list until we visited. For some reason she just didn’t like the campus and area. Got a very strong “stoner bro” vibe from the place as well. For me, I would have loved going there.

My DC also got the same vibe. Also, CU's tour presentation was disappointing - I have seen better videos from high school students, and certainly better videos from other colleges. It was top of list until the visit and then it fell precipitously. Plus Boulder is OK - but it's got its issues. Nice to visit - but having to close (2!) public libraries in the vicinity close in the past month due to meth contamination in the bathrooms seems...problematic. Maybe their data mining revealed DC's lackluster interest (or DC's essays weren't what they should have been) and is the reason DC didn't get merit - or maybe DC applied to a program that doesn't give much merit (Data Science/Stats in Arts & Science) - whatever the reason, it's of no import since DC was accepted elsewhere with merit to programs DC likes much better.

Do you really think there wouldn’t be meth contamination if they swabbed library bathrooms in DC? Or anywhere in rural Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those wondering about merit, DD had a link at the bottom of her online acceptance letter. She was awarded the $25,000 CU Boulder Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship, which is $6,250 per year. She was admitted to the biomedical engineering program, but her letter didn't say anything about an Honors College or program.

Did students have to apply to the Honors College separately? DD's at a basketball tournament today so I have no idea if she applied for Honors or not - but she should have.

Here are her stats, if helpful to others.

OOS - large public school district
4.0/4.62W at time of application (GPA went up slightly at the end of 1st semester)
35 ACT single-sitting; 36 superscore
1550 ACT single-sitting; 1570 or 80 superscore (can't remember)
10-ish APs, including several senior year. This is a typical amount for honors students at her high school, though some have more APs
3 sports, plus a club sport. Varsity captain of 2 of those sports, but not recruited athlete material
Executive student government officer and state officer of an organization
Some national awards for stuff unrelated to her major
Volunteering, etc.
NMSF

I've tried to stay back from her app process, though I helped by proofreading her essays before she submitted. I assumed CU Boulder had rolling admissions, so I wondered when notice of her acceptance or redirection would show up. She was also accepted to CO School of the Mines and some other schools, with a few more pending. Cost is a big issue for us and in-state would be free. CU Boulder does sound great and we have family in the area, so we may schedule a visit.

Wow, those are super high stats for such a low merit award.

CU Boulder doesn't give giant merit.

We’re in-state and it’s killing me how little Colorado universities give for merit aid. In-state tuition and fees are ridiculous.

$30k is ridiculous?

For a kid with an unweighted 4.0 going to a public university in their home state? Absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

It’s in a beautiful area, and it’s a pretty good school. If you like outdoors activities it’s got to be super appealing. Colorado is a great place to live. My kid got accepted (very little merit) and it was #1 on her list until we visited. For some reason she just didn’t like the campus and area. Got a very strong “stoner bro” vibe from the place as well. For me, I would have loved going there.

My DC also got the same vibe. Also, CU's tour presentation was disappointing - I have seen better videos from high school students, and certainly better videos from other colleges. It was top of list until the visit and then it fell precipitously. Plus Boulder is OK - but it's got its issues. Nice to visit - but having to close (2!) public libraries in the vicinity close in the past month due to meth contamination in the bathrooms seems...problematic. Maybe their data mining revealed DC's lackluster interest (or DC's essays weren't what they should have been) and is the reason DC didn't get merit - or maybe DC applied to a program that doesn't give much merit (Data Science/Stats in Arts & Science) - whatever the reason, it's of no import since DC was accepted elsewhere with merit to programs DC likes much better.

Do you really think there wouldn’t be meth contamination if they swabbed library bathrooms in DC? Or anywhere in rural Virginia?

Not sure anyone would equate Boulder with DC or rural VA - but sure, there likely is. But I am also not contemplating spending $65K or more a year to send my kid to a school in DC or rural VA either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

It is gorgeous. Great place, the Rocky Mountains as your playground, 3 hour flight direct flights to DC area, great school spirit and great town with great restaurants. 300 days of sunshine, Coach Prime, Ralphie,

Sko Buffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

It’s in a beautiful area, and it’s a pretty good school. If you like outdoors activities it’s got to be super appealing. Colorado is a great place to live. My kid got accepted (very little merit) and it was #1 on her list until we visited. For some reason she just didn’t like the campus and area. Got a very strong “stoner bro” vibe from the place as well. For me, I would have loved going there.

My DC also got the same vibe. Also, CU's tour presentation was disappointing - I have seen better videos from high school students, and certainly better videos from other colleges. It was top of list until the visit and then it fell precipitously. Plus Boulder is OK - but it's got its issues. Nice to visit - but having to close (2!) public libraries in the vicinity close in the past month due to meth contamination in the bathrooms seems...problematic. Maybe their data mining revealed DC's lackluster interest (or DC's essays weren't what they should have been) and is the reason DC didn't get merit - or maybe DC applied to a program that doesn't give much merit (Data Science/Stats in Arts & Science) - whatever the reason, it's of no import since DC was accepted elsewhere with merit to programs DC likes much better.

Do you really think there wouldn’t be meth contamination if they swabbed library bathrooms in DC? Or anywhere in rural Virginia?

Go to the public bathroom right outside Harvard's gates, you will find the same issue there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's so exciting about CUB that so many from here are applying? Location? Its a unremarkable, pricey (for OOS) school in a quirky town that is far away. Help me out here.

It is gorgeous. Great place, the Rocky Mountains as your playground, 3 hour flight direct flights to DC area, great school spirit and great town with great restaurants. 300 days of sunshine, Coach Prime, Ralphie,

Sko Buffs.

+100 Football games will be great this year. And CU has a great campus. Winters are fantastic there - sun most of the time - and you pick your ski days for good powder. Boulder is beautiful and fun town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those wondering about merit, DD had a link at the bottom of her online acceptance letter. She was awarded the $25,000 CU Boulder Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship, which is $6,250 per year. She was admitted to the biomedical engineering program, but her letter didn't say anything about an Honors College or program.

Did students have to apply to the Honors College separately? DD's at a basketball tournament today so I have no idea if she applied for Honors or not - but she should have.

Here are her stats, if helpful to others.

OOS - large public school district
4.0/4.62W at time of application (GPA went up slightly at the end of 1st semester)
35 ACT single-sitting; 36 superscore
1550 ACT single-sitting; 1570 or 80 superscore (can't remember)
10-ish APs, including several senior year. This is a typical amount for honors students at her high school, though some have more APs
3 sports, plus a club sport. Varsity captain of 2 of those sports, but not recruited athlete material
Executive student government officer and state officer of an organization
Some national awards for stuff unrelated to her major
Volunteering, etc.
NMSF

I've tried to stay back from her app process, though I helped by proofreading her essays before she submitted. I assumed CU Boulder had rolling admissions, so I wondered when notice of her acceptance or redirection would show up. She was also accepted to CO School of the Mines and some other schools, with a few more pending. Cost is a big issue for us and in-state would be free. CU Boulder does sound great and we have family in the area, so we may schedule a visit.

Wow, those are super high stats for such a low merit award.

CU Boulder doesn't give giant merit.

We’re in-state and it’s killing me how little Colorado universities give for merit aid. In-state tuition and fees are ridiculous.

$30k is ridiculous?

For a kid with an unweighted 4.0 going to a public university in their home state? Absolutely.

It's less than W&M and UVA are in-state. Also less than Berkeley and about the same as UCLA and U of Michigan. UT Austin and UNC are a little less but not by much.

[Anonymous]

The acceptance rate was 80% last year. Are we expecting it to go down this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The acceptance rate was 80% last year. Are we expecting it to go down this year?

It was 80%? Now I feel even worse that my DC was rejected. I guess someone has to be in the 20% rejected.

[Anonymous]

That acceptance rate includes in-state and out-of-state applicants. The school must maintain about 77% of student body as in state. This is a Colorado law. It is much easier to get admitted in-state than out of state. Colorado law also restricts large increases in revenue (TABOR act) As a result the school outsources a lot of services and charges big fees to pay for it. That is why the fees seem high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That acceptance rate includes in-state and out-of-state applicants. The school must maintain about 77% of student body as in state. This is a Colorado law. It is much easier to get admitted in-state than out of state. Colorado law also restricts large increases in revenue (TABOR act) As a result the school outsources a lot of services and charges big fees to pay for it. That is why the fees seem high.

Is the 77% all campuses combined? Because CU Boulder is definitely more than 23% out of state.

[Anonymous]

The school must maintain about 77% of student body as in state. This is a Colorado law.

No, that's not really correct. Boulder actually has a high percentage of OOS students, at least compared to comparable flagships that try to cap that percentage. The legal requirement in CO law (at least in recent history) was that 66% of enrollment should be in-state, but that was changed a couple of years ago to allow the in-state percentage to drop to 55% as officially calculated. But the true in-state percentage at Boulder is even lower than that, since Colorado's official calculation of the in-state/out of state ratio excludes foreign students (which would otherwise drive up the OOS number), and also double-counts some Coloradans. Basically, since CO underfunds the state universities, it's increasingly understood that full-pay OOS students are needed to fund Boulder's budget -- which is something CO legislators can live with as long as the university agrees (under law) that no qualified CO student will be turned away.

CU Boulder's own enrollment profile from last fall explicitly states that (only) 56% of its students are Colorado residents (which again probably uses the slightly misleading calculation that excludes international students).
https://www.colorado.edu/oda/sites/default/files/attached-files/overallprofilefall22.pdf

[Anonymous]

Accepted 3.2 tough private school 30 ACT, good ECs, full pay