How to Get Into Boston College: 2024 Acceptance Rates

Library at Boston College with book shelves, tables, and chairs.
Updated:
June 11, 2024
7 min read
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”Mary

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/23/24

If you’d like to join one of the nation’s foremost universities, read on to learn more about how to get into Boston College.

Boston College (BC) is a Jesuit school that was the first college to operate in Boston, Massachusettes. Since its establishment in 1863, this school has become a leader in the liberal arts, scientific inquiry, and student formation. 

This college develops students’ minds and talents to the fullest. If this sounds like the ideal environment for you to pursue higher education, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about how to get into Boston College.

Boston College - 14.7% Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate for Boston College is 14.7%. That means for every 100 students that apply to Boston College, about 15 of them are admitted.

Here’s a look into how the acceptance rate has changed over the years:

Year Number of Applicants Number of Accepted Students Acceptance Rate
2023 36,525 5,511 15%
2022 40,477 6,678 16.5%
2021 39,875 7,570 19%
2020 29,400 6,881 23.4%

As you can tell from the data, Boston College is getting increasingly difficult to enter, so you must impress them during the application process.

Boston College Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 30%

While the overall acceptance rate is challenging, early decision applicants have an elevated acceptance rate of 30%. Therefore, if Boston College is your top choice, applying under early decision could significantly improve your chances of acceptance.

Year Number of Applicants Number of Accepted Students Early Decision Acceptance Rate
2023 4,400 1,320 30%
2022 10,360 3,170 30.6%
2021 4,428 1,239 28%
2020 8,600 2,700 31.4%

How Hard is it to Get Into Boston College?

With an acceptance rate of 14.7%, getting into Boston College is highly competitive. From high academic credentials to impressive extracurricular activities, every aspect of the application warrants careful attention. 

Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into Boston College.

Boston College Admissions Statistics

So, how do you impress the admissions committee? One way to impress them is by proving your academic merit through your GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Here are the exact numbers to aim for when thinking about how to get into Boston College:

Boston College Average GPA: 3.99

The average GPA at Boston College is 3.99. This is a clear message to all ambitious respondents - aim for near perfection with your GPA to align with this requirement.

Boston College Average SAT Score: 1435

Students should aim for an SAT score of 1435 to be considered competitive applicants. Boston College is after the most exceptional students.

Boston College Average ACT Score: 34

The average ACT score at Boston College is also high - standing at 34. Remember, showcasing a high ACT score conveys your academic strength and further boosts your college application.

Now let's view these statistics side by side.

Statistic Average Score
GPA 3.99
SAT Score 1435
ACT Score 34

What is Boston College Looking For in its Applicants?

Boston College is looking for a diverse set of students who embody both the pursuit of academic excellence and a commitment to the Jesuit ideal of service to others. At its heart, the school is progressively driven by Jesuit values and looks for candidates who echo these principles with a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity and an understanding of global perspectives.

"In making admission decisions, we consider grades, what you do outside of school, teachers’ and others’ appraisals, and how you express yourself through writing." -Boston College Admissions Office

The college provides a platform for its students to incorporate a global perspective in their education. As a result, students are encouraged to understand, respect, and engage with diverse cultures and ideologies. 

How Boston College evaluates applications is based on commitment, academics, and who you are, beyond your textbooks.

During the most recent admissions cycle, Boston College will maintain a test-optional admission policy. Students will not be required to write a standardized test to be considered for admission. All applications will be viewed equally with or without these scores.

Academic Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Rigor of secondary school record X
Class rank X
Academic GPA X
Standardized test scores
Application essay X
Recommendation(s) X

Non-Academic Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Interview
Extracurricular activities X
Talent/ability X
Character/personal qualities
First generation X
Alumni/ae relation
Geographical residence X
State residency X
Religious affiliation/commitment X
Racial/ethnic status X
Volunteer work X
Work experience X
Level of applicant’s interest X

Boston College Admission Requirements

For new students, applicants must submit:

Once you have checked all of these off your list, you’re ready to apply!

Prerequisites

There aren’t mandatory prerequisites for students to attend this college, but BC strives to admit students who pursued the most challenging courses at their high school. As such, their most competitive applicants will have significant course experience in these subjects:

  • English
  • Math
  • Social Science
  • Natural Science
  • Foreign Language

Ensure you maintain high grades in these courses in particular to impress the admissions committee!

Boston College Application Deadlines

To ensure your application is submitted and reviewed on time, here are the deadlines you should keep in mind:

Application Step Deadline
Early decision I applications due November 1
Final day for early I application decisions to be sent out December 15
Early decision II applications and regular applications are due January 2
Final day for early II application decision to be sent out February 15
Final Day for regular application decisions to be sent out April 1

Source: Boston College

Students that are certain Boston College is their top choice are highly encouraged to submit an early application to secure their chances of admission.

Boston College Regular Decision Deadline

The deadline for regular decision is January 2. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by April 1.

Boston College Early Decision Deadline

There are two opportunities for early decision at Boston College. The first deadline is November 1. The second deadline is January 2. This doubles your chances of securing a seat considering the 30% early decision admission rate.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Boston College

Getting into Boston College might be very hard, but securing admission ultimately comes down to being true to who you are. Here are X tips we’ve gathered to secure your admission.

1. Apply Holistically

You might have heard the term holistic nutrition, but how does apply to a college application? Holistic is another word for natural, so in your application, act natural. Allow the entire process to flow together smoothly in one application.

When you sit down to craft your admissions application, think about it like we do, holistically.  You want to make sure that each element of your application flows and represents you.” -Boston College Admissions Facility

2. Share Your Future Career Goals

As an MBA application, you’re probably thinking about what you want your future career to look like - share that! Boston College is looking for specific goals from you as you develop your career. Be open and honest.

3. Answer Questions Concisely

Avoid droning on about a topic just to hit the desired word count. Words are only symbols on a page until they tell a story. Captivate your audience by not only answering what’s being asked but doing so in as few words as possible while staying true to yourself.

4. Avoid Generalizations

In your letter of recommendation, it’s best to choose someone who’s worked with you closely and can describe your day-to-day responsibilities. Instead of getting a letter written by the CEO who you’ve only rarely seen, get someone to write a letter that can demonstrate why you’d make a great industry leader.

5. Take the GMAT Seriously

Use the GMAT test as a prelude to your MBA courses. Your role in any MBA school proves to be quite a difficult journey, so be proactive and create an effective study plan.

6. Use the Essay to Your Benefit

If your GPA is less than average (3.99 to be exact), use the essay as a way to communicate why you want to become a Boston College alumni. Even if your academic excellence isn’t evident on paper, the essay gives you another chance to prove why you’re the best fit.

7. Maintain Jesuit Principles Throughout Your Application

Considering Boston College is a Jesuit school, you must prove your values align with its faith-based principles. For instance, service, selflessness, and a commitment to others are all guiding standards at Boston College.

Boston College Essay Prompts

Students are required to submit a writing sample as part of the application process. This writing sample’s purpose is twofold: to provide the committee with more insight into who you are as a person and to help them assess your writing skills.

Fortunately, you will only have to write one essay to get into Boston College. You will be given the following five essay prompts to choose from:

Prompt 1: Students at Boston College are encouraged to consider critical questions as they pursue lives of meaning and purpose. What is a question that matters to you and how do you hope Boston College will help you answer it?

Prompt 2: In 2020, we faced a national reckoning on racial injustice in America - a reckoning that continues today. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, or how you have been inspired to be a change agent around this important issue.

Prompt 3: At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner?  What do you discuss with that person?

Prompt 4: Socrates stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Discuss a time when reflection, prayer, or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.

Prompt 5: Each year at University Convocation, the incoming class engages in reflective dialogue around a common text. What book would you recommend for your class to read and explore together – and why?

Students enrolling in the Human-Centred Engineering program must also answer the following prompt:

Prompt 6: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

When choosing your essay, focus on the prompt that you feel the most connected to - remember, authenticity is key! Ensure you keep your answer concise and focus on only answering the prompt at hand. You will only have up to 400 words to answer these rather philosophical questions, so make each word count!

Boston College Interview

While Boston College doesn’t have an interview portion, that means you must excel in every other step of the application.

FAQs

In this guide, we’ve answered questions such as: “How hard is it to get into Boston College?”, “What are the admission requirements?”, and “How can I stand out as an applicant?”

If you still have any unanswered questions, we aim to address them in the section below.

1. Can I Get Into Boston College With a 3.7 GPA?

Yes, a 3.7 GPA puts you within the competitive range of previous applicants.

2. What GPA Do I Need to Get Into Boston College?

Students should aim to maintain a GPA of 3.99 to get into Boston College.

3. What Kind of Students Does Boston College Look for?

As a Jesuit school, Boston College aims to admit students with Catholic ideals. Specifically, it strives to accept students who are concerned with the greater good and are interested in learning, searching for the truth, and servicing others. 

4. How Likely Am I to Get Into Boston College?

Boston College has a 15% acceptance rate, meaning you’ll need to submit a stellar application to have a chance of getting into this school!

5. How Prestigious Is Boston College?

When you consider ranking alone, Boston College is only moderately prestigious, as it ranks 39th in the nation. Its prestige lies in its reputation as the first founded college in Boston and has retained its academic excellence ever since.

6. How Hard Is It to Get Into Boston College?

Getting into Boston College proves to be quite difficult. Although it has a more promising acceptance rate than Ivy League schools, it is still highly selective. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to get into Boston College, you must take every step of the application process seriously. If you believe in the guiding Jesuit principles that Boston College represents, then this might be the perfect school for you!

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