1) I've read posts on here mentioning applicants with outstanding numbers being rejected (not waitlisted, just rejected). From what you can gather from your classmates, etc., do you get a similar feeling? That many of your compatriots have more interesting/varied backgrounds or have some 'soft' accomplishments on their resumes and not just super-high test scores?
2) I think you've answered this one million times, and I know you are a 1L, but what is your sense of biglaw placement for BC applicants? I'm going to need to take out massive loans to finance my studies and if I choose BC, I'll likely need to at least start out at a large firm to help pay this off. Do you get the sense that biglaw is an option for students in the top 25%, top 33%, top half, etc.? I'd also assume those that do pursue this track choose to do so mainly in Boston.
Thanks in advance, and thanks again for all your responses heretofore. And I'm not specifically sure which posters on here are representing BU in this discussion, but those of you who are can feel free to chime in on the above questions re: BU if you're so inclined. 
It's a bit of a taboo among my group of friends to discuss LSAT scores and background info, so I don't have an estimate of how many people here with lower LSAT/GPA got in due to soft factors. I don't think BU gives preference to local students, and if anything, it's the opposite. I would say at least a third of the students are from the west coast, less than 15% are from MA and less than 20% are from New England. If I have to pick a significant soft factor other than URM, it would be your undergrad school. Quickly flipping through the facebook, at least 50% went to the ivies, michigan, berkeley, duke and the likes.
Regarding job placement, the general understanding is that if you're in the top 3rd, you should have no problem getting interviews and offers from biglaws in any market in the country. If you're in the 30%-50% range, biglaw is still very viable as an option if you're good at interviewing or if you have a science background. In the lower 50%, you would have to rely more on networking and sending out targeted resumes to score biglaw positions, but it is not uncommon. A family friend (BU grad) told me that 4 years after graduation, most people he knows from law school now work at big law or mid law mainly in NYC, DC, CA and Boston (in that order). Seattle, and Texas are next in term of popularity. Chicago and the Southeast are not popular with his class for some reason. I'm from here, but ideally, I would like to work in NYC or CA for a few years before moving back to Boston.