New Student Checklist

Wondering what to do next to prepare for your matriculation into the School of Theology and, at least for most entering students, your move to the Boston area?  Below is a list that should be helpful to you.  Items will be updated and adapted on a regular basis, so check back at least once a month to make sure you’re on track!

Complete medical history and physical report

When to do it

This Summer

How to do it

All students must complete the Medical History and Physical Report. This includes documentation of your immunizations. You can download the form here. Massachusetts law requires that students be immunized against a number of diseases in order to attend university in the Commonwealth.  Boston University strictly enforced this policy.  As an incoming student, your registration will be blocked if you do not submit the required shot information.  There is a seven day grace period after the first day of classes to submit this information.  This information must be submitted on the Boston University Medical History and Physical Report form and it must be signed by a Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. You can find a list of required immunizations here. Three hepatitis B injections are required to provide full protection. If you do not have sufficient time before your arrival on campus to have all three inoculations, please come to Student Health Services for those you have not yet had.

All newly enrolled students who will be living in University residences must be immunized against meningitis.  There are periodic outbreaks of meningitis on college campuses.  This is an extremely important vaccine.

Who to Contact with Questions

Student Health Services, 617-353-3575

Deadline

Seven days after the first day of classes.

Register for Fall

When to do it

This Summer

How to do it

Our Registrar has posted information here.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Office of Registration and Financial Aid, sthreg@bu.edu, 617-353-3053

Deadline

It is not required to register before Orientation, but wouldn’t it be great to have that off your plate.

Confirm your admission!

When to do it

Now

How to do it

The Admissions Office sends an “Admissions Confirmation Sheet” (half-page, white form with yellow carbon copy attached) in each formal Admissions letter. We need you to send this piece of paper back to the Admissions Office, signed and dated, in order to process you in the system as a “Confirmed Entering Student.” If you are not in the system as “confirmed,” your financial aid, web access, and other items cannot be processed by the School, so this is a very important step. If you have not yet done so, please confirm your intentions of joining us this fall by completing that form and sending it to us! If you are unsure whether you have confirmed your admission or not (or if you’ve lost the confirmation form), please email sthadmis@bu.edu and confirm your intention to begin your degree program this September. Thank you!

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036

Deadline

July 15 for Fall, December 1 for Spring.

Complete your FAFSA

When to do it

Now

How to do it

  1. Complete your 2008 Tax Return
  2. Log on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to complete the FAFSA form
  3. Submit FAFSA

Who to Contact with Questions

Robyn Kinch, STH Financial Aid Coordinator, rkinch@bu.edu

Deadline

July 15 for Fall, December 1 for Spring

Complete STH financial aid application

When to do it

Now

How to do it

Visit the Financial Aid Home Page and complete the form.

Who to Contact with Questions

Robyn Kinch, STH Financial Aid Coordinator, rkinch@bu.edu

Deadline

July 15 for Fall, December 1 for Spring.

Update your summer address

When to do it

Now

How to do it

If you have recently moved for the summer, the STH Admissions Office needs to know how to be in touch with you! If you haven’t already done so, update the office on your summer address, email address, phone number, etc., by sending a quick email to sthadmis@bu.edu.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036

Deadline

ASAP

Secure housing in Boston

When to do it

Now

How to do it

Finding housing in Boston can be a long process, but the Admissions Office can help. Consider questions like “do I want to live in an apartment or dorm-like space?” “Do I want to have my own room, or am I willing to share with a roommate?” “Do I want to live on or off-campus?” “How much can I afford to spend per month on housing (please remember that, on average, single rooms in Boston are approximately 700 dollars per month and apartments begin at 1000 dollars per month)?” Answer those questions first, and then check out the “housing” section of this website. You’ll find several options there, and resources for securing a space for the coming semester.

Who to Contact with Questions

Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu or 617-353-3036

Deadline

August 1 for Fall, December 1 for Spring — but the sooner, the better.

Decide what to do with your car

When to do it

Once you secure housing for the fall

How to do it

Most students moving to Boston do not need a car. If you have decided to live within the city of Boston or in surrounding neighborhoods (Brighton, Allston, Brookline), you do not need to bring a car. Public transportation (subway, busses) run regularly within the city. If you find an apartment with an available parking space, you may decide to bring your car; however, please consider commuting into the School of Theology for classes. Parking near Boston University is expensive and difficult to find. Please consider these things before deciding to bring a car into the city.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036

Deadline

Before you move to Boston

Learn about ZipCar

When to do it

Now

How to do it

ZipCar is a company that lets you rent cars by the hour, and many STH students use them to grocery shop or take day trips out of town, rather than bringing their car to campus. Learn more online: www.zipcar.com

Who to Contact with Questions

www.zipcar.com

Deadline

None

Get a public transportation, or “T” pass

When to do it

Once you have secured housing

How to do it

  1. Learn which T stop is closest to your housing, and whether you will need to have a bus pass, subway pass or “combo” pass that includes both subway and bus.
  2. Visit the MBTA website for a list of bus lines and subway stations and map your route to the School of Theology (STH is located at the “BU Central” stop on the Green, B-line of the subway.)
  3. Visit BU Parking Services website and learn about the student discount for a semester’s worth of T-passes.

Who to Contact with Questions

BU Parking Services.

Deadline

August 13th, 2008

Decide if you will need an on-campus parking sticker

When to do it

Once you decide whether or not to bring your car to campus

How to do it

Consult BU Parking Services for plans, costs, etc. There are both resident and commuter parking plans available, but all plans tend to be fairly expensive.

Who to Contact with Questions

BU Parking Services.

Deadline

Before moving to Boston

Check your email for early bird computing information

When to do it

After June 1

How to do it

Each student who has confirmed her or his admission with the Admissions Office (by sending in the white “STH Admissions Confirmation Form”) will be sent an email with information about the University’s Early Bird Computing Program. This program enables students matriculating in September to have access to the University’s online services that require a BU Login Name and Kerberos password. The email will include your BU ID# and early bird access code. You can learn more information, including how to log in to online student services, at BU’s Early Bird Computing website. If you do not receive this email, contact sthadmis@bu.edu or send in your “STH Admissions Confirmation Form” to confirm your admission!

Who to Contact with Questions

Early Bird Computing or STH Admissions, sthadmis@bu.edu and 617-353-3036

Deadline

No deadline

Decide your health insurance plan for the school year

When to do it

Now

How to do it

Every student enrolled in a degree program at Boston University must have health insurance. This is Massachusetts state law and University policy. The University assumes that all students plan to opt into the University’s Student Health Insurance Program, and will charge your student account $1466 next fall semester for a year’s worth of health insurance coverage unless you tell them not to do so. If you would prefer not to use the University’s health insurance plan, you may complete the Medical Insurance Waiver form, stating that you have alternative medical insurance.

Who to Contact with Questions

To learn more about your health insurance options or how to complete the waiver form go to BU’s Medical Insurance Information website. If you have questions about the billing process, contact the University’s Student Accounting Services Office or studenta@bu.edu or (617)353-2264 .

Deadline

Medical Insurance Waiver must be received by Student Accounting Services by August 14, 2008. If you choose to opt into the Student Health Insurance program, you do not have to do anything; coverage will begin for you on August 23rd, 2008.

Complete and submit a Health Insurance Waiver Form, if necessary

When to do it

During the summer

How to do it

All incoming students will be assessed a fee to participate in the University’s Student Medical Insurance program. Any student who does not wish to participate in the student medical insurance plan must file a Medical Insurance Waiver Form with the University’s Student Accounting Services Office. Incoming students may only complete the student health insurance waiver form if they are covered by another medical insurance plan, and are willing to take all responsibility for additional medical costs. You can learn more about the student health insurance plan and waiver form here. An updated “2009-2010″ waiver form will be uploaded to the site during the summer. If you choose to complete the waiver form, please do so using the 2009-2010 form. The waiver must be submitted by mid-August to avoid a medical insurance charge on your account.

Who to Contact with Questions

Boston University Student Accounting Services, studenta@bu.edu or 617-353-2264

Deadline

mid-August

If in the “Bridge Program,” contact CELOP and take an English course

When to do it

Now

How to do it

Some students for whom English is not a native language have been admitted to the School of Theology through the “Bridge Program.” (This information was on these students’ letters of admission, so if you did not receive information about the Bridge Program on your letter of admission, this does not apply to you.) Bridge Program students have been asked to take a course in the English language over the summer in order to re-take the TOEFL before classes begin this fall. If you are among the students in the Bridge Program, you should contact the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP) at Boston University to apply and register for an English class this summer.

Who to Contact with Questions

CELOP for course dates and registration

Deadline

This summer

If necessary, begin working with the Office of Disability Services

When to do it

Now – This process can take several weeks to complete, so you should begin the process as quickly as you are able.

How to do it

The purpose of BU’s Office of Disability Services is to provide services and support to ensure that students of all abilities are able to access and participate in the opportunities available at Boston University. If you have a learning difference, or are differently abled in any way that requires assistance, you should begin securing that help now, so it will be available to you when classes begin. Review the Office of Disability Services website and note which services could be of help to you. When you are ready, send an email stating your need to the Office of Disability Services (access@bu.edu), copying the STH Admissions Office only if you choose to do so (sthadmis@bu.edu). The Office of Disability Services will work with you from there to complete the process.

Who to Contact with Questions

Office of Disability Services, 617-353-3658 (V/TTY), access@bu.edu

Deadline

ASAP

If necessary, submit a complete transcript to the Admissions Office

When to do it

Now

How to do it

If you are a recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate program, and you have not sent a final, complete transcript from your previous institution indicating your final GPA and graduation date, please do so. You have already been admitted to the School of Theology, so this transcript will not change or alter your status in any way. The Admissions Office simply needs a final transcript to indicate that you have completed your previous program. Contact the Registrar at your previous institution & have an official copy sent to STH Admissions Office, 745 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.

Who to Contact with Questions

Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036

Deadline

August 31 for Fall, December 31 for Spring.

Petition for Advanced Standing

When to do it

Now

How to do it

If you are an incoming MDiv, MSM, or MTS student, and if you have completed significant coursework in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), New Testament, Church History, or Theology, you may apply for Advanced Standing in those disciplines. Advanced Standing means that, instead of taking an intro class in that discipline, you would be given the opportunity to skip the intro and instead take an advanced course in that discipline (ex. instead of “Intro to New Testament” you could choose to take “Jesus in the Gospels.”) Please note: THIS DOES NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COURSES YOU MUST TAKE IN YOUR PROGRAM; it does allow you to replace the intro course with a course of your choosing in that discipline. To petition you must send to the Admissions Office syllabi of all coursework you have completed in each discipline, plus a note stating in which disciplines you’d like advanced standing. Your syllabi will be sent to the faculty in each requested discipline for review. Once reviewed, the Admissions or Registrar’s Office will inform you of the faculty decision in time for you to register for the appropriate courses this fall. Please note: review can take several weeks because faculty are away from campus during the summer, so the sooner you can turn in your paperwork, the better.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu or 617-353-3036

Deadline

August 1st for Hebrew Bible and Church History, the two usual first semester courses; October 1st for New Testament and Theology, the two second semester courses.

Fill out Entering Student Questionnaire

When to do it

Now

How to do it

Every year the Association of Theological Schools surveys entering theological school students around the country. They collect demographic and financial information about students and inquire about motivations for entering seminary and professional aspirations. Data generated from these responses are helpful to academic deans, student services and admissions offices, and faculty. We would greatly appreciate it if you would fill out this survey. It can be found here.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036

Deadline

September 15

International students: take English Placement Exam

When to do it

August 27, 2008, 3pm in the Jacob Sleeper Auditorium, College of General Studies, 871 Commonwealth Avenue; Boston, MA 02215

How to do it

Required for all incoming international students for whom English is not a native language. This approximately one-hour written English placement exam will test each incoming international student in the subject of written academic English.  The results of the test will determine whether or not the incoming student will need to take a course in written academic English during her/his first semester in the program.  The University requires that all must attend regardless of previous score on the TOEFL exam.

Who to Contact with Questions

STH Admissions Office, sthadmis@bu.edu, 617-353-3036