How to get into Boston College
Bill Damon | CC BY 2.0

How to Get Into Boston College – General Information

Boston College is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1863. The total Boston College enrollment is just over 14,000, while the undergraduate Boston College enrollment is just over 9,400 students. 

What we’ll cover in this “How to Get Into Boston College” guide:

  • The estimated average Boston College GPA
  • Optimal Boston College SAT scores
  • Interpreting the Boston College acceptance rate
  • Mastering the Boston College supplemental essays
  • Boston College Early Decision details
  • Boston College enrollment statistics, and more. 

When thinking about how to get into Boston College, make sure each part of your application—your Boston College GPA, Boston College SAT Scores, and Boston College supplemental essays—is top-notch. This means keeping your GPA high. You should also study well in advance to ensure strong Boston College SAT scores or ACT scores. Finally, you will want to build a list of high-impact extracurriculars that show your passions. To boost your chances, you should start strategizing well before the Boston College admissions deadline. 

Figuring out how to get into Boston College takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from some of the country’s top schools. Want to maximize your Boston College admissions odds? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How can I get into Boston College?

It is hard to distill the answer to “How to get into Boston College” into a single criterion. In fact, your Boston College admissions odds vary based on your profile. This includes your Boston College GPA and Boston College SAT Scores. It also includes your Boston College supplemental essays as well as whether you apply Boston College Early Decision. The Boston College acceptance rate is higher for Boston College Early Decision applicants, so if this university is at the top of your list, consider applying Boston College Early Decision.

Any good “how to get into Boston College” strategy will focus on maximizing your Boston College SAT scores, as well as your GPA for Boston College. This approach will also foreground your unique profile and use your essays to tell your story. This is how to get into Boston College successfully!

Read the rest of this “how to get into Boston College” guide for more helpful tips to increase your chances of joining the Boston College enrollment.

Is it hard to get into Boston College?

You may also be wondering whether Boston College is hard to get into.  

Boston College is a very selective school. The Boston College acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 19%. Nearly 40,000 students applied, and only approximately 7,600 of them were accepted by Boston College admissions. 

However, for that same incoming class, the acceptance rate for those who applied via Boston College Early Decision option was 39%. In fact, more than 3,000 students—almost half of the total Boston College enrollment—applied Boston College Early Decision I or II. 

The average Boston College SAT scores range from 1460-1540, and the average ACT score ranges from 33-35. However, Boston College admissions is test-optional. So, when it comes to your Boston College SAT scores and ACT scores, you may choose not to submit scores if they don’t meet these averages. For more on their policy, read here.

However, getting into BC it will take more than just meeting the average Boston College GPA or Boston College SAT scores. In fact, to maximize your Boston College admissions odds, you should prepare early in your high school career. Strive for a high Boston College GPA and Boston College SAT scores and ACT scores, show involvement and leadership, and begin drafting your Boston College supplemental essays well before the Boston College admissions deadline. 

What GPA do I need to get into Boston College?

Boston College admissions does not publish an average Boston College GPA for each incoming class. However, you can safely assume that the average Boston College GPA is around 4.0.

According to their website, the university seeks students who earn an A/A- in the most rigorous program available at their high school. For an effective “how to get into Boston College” strategy, try to come in the top 10% of your class.

There is no specific GPA that will guarantee Boston College enrollment. However, Boston College admissions does consistently emphasize the importance of a strong academic record, a drive to succeed, and a track record of interest in your area of study. With the high estimated average Boston College GPA in mind, challenge yourself with your courses and keep your grades up. 

Challenge yourself in high school

Take the hardest courses available to you in which you can succeed. Make sure you can balance these with sports, work, service, and any other extracurriculars you pursue.

Want help choosing the right classes? Ask for help. Meet with your guidance counselor, advisor, and upperclassmen at your high school to learn about the rigor of your intended schedule. Academic success will heavily determine your ability to stand out to Boston College admissions. Then, you can overcome the low Boston College acceptance rate.

Additionally, you should also think about the Boston College admissions deadline you select—either Boston College Early Decision or Regular Decision. This will also impact your Boston College GPA strategy. Students applying by the Boston College Early Decision deadline should ensure their grades and scores match the estimated average Boston College GPA and average Boston College SAT scores before that time. 

So, if you’re planning to apply to Boston College Early Decision, you should plan ahead. Your junior year grades are a key part of your “how to get into Boston College” strategy.

For more tips on how to exceed the estimated average Boston College GPA, check out this guide. 

What does the Boston College application require?

A strong and polished application is key to your “how to get into Boston College” plan. This means much more than checking the boxes. Every element of your application should be planned and completed well before the Boston College admissions deadline. 

The deadlines for Boston College Early Decision are November 1st and January 1st, while the Boston College admissions deadline for regular decision is January 1st. 

The Boston College admissions team requires the following:

  • A completed Common Application 
  • The Boston College supplemental essays
  • Boston College SAT scores or ACT scores (optional for 2021‒2022 cycle) 
  • A high school transcript
  • A secondary school report and counselor recommendation form
  • Two teacher recommendations 
  • A midyear report (after your first semester grades)
  • Application fee or application fee waiver
  • Artistic portfolios (optional for students who intend to major in Studio Art)
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results (international applicants only)

In any good “how to get into Boston College” strategy, you will organize and complete these items well before the Boston College admissions deadline. 

To find out more about submitting supplementary art materials, click here. Finally, for some top tips on how to ace the Common App, click here. 

What is the acceptance rate at Boston College?

The Boston College acceptance rate is also a useful figure as you form your “how to get into Boston College” strategy. In the most recent Boston College enrollment, the Boston College acceptance rate was 19%. As we mentioned, the Boston College Early Decision acceptance rate (39%) is higher than the Boston College acceptance rate for Regular Decision. 

The Boston College acceptance rate for any given year is influenced by the average Boston College GPA and Boston College SAT scores, as well as other factors. So, if you want to know how to get into Boston College, we suggest you don’t think too much about the Boston College acceptance rate. You stand the best chance of making the Boston College enrollment by ensuring that your Boston College supplemental essays are top-notch, your Boston College GPA is promising, and your Boston College SAT scores or ACT scores exceed the average. Focus on these parts of your application—after all, they’re all you can control.

Want to learn more about acceptance rates? Check out our expert guide.

What extracurriculars does Boston College like?

When crafting your strategy for how to get into Boston College, instead of asking what Boston College likes, ask yourself what you like—what interests and motivates you? Your passionate interest in something will make you stand out to Boston College admissions. 

Boston College values students with intellectual curiosity who connect their talents and strengths to the needs and opportunities of wider society, just like their Jesuit founders. 

Extracurriculars are a crucial part of your candidate profile—your 1-2 sentence description of who you are and what you do. Your candidate profile is what makes you unique. So, there are no right or wrong activities, as long as you work hard and show your passion. Don’t try to build the extracurricular list of the “typical” Boston College applicant to try and impress Boston College admissions. Instead, be your unique and authentic self.

If you are genuinely interested in a field of study, sport, or hobby, let your passion shine in your application. In your Boston College supplemental essays, write bout your variety of interests and the ways you spend your time. Authenticity will give you a strong chance of success despite the low Boston College acceptance rate. 

For more information about using extracurriculars in the Boston College admissions process, check out CollegeAdvisor’s article. 

How to write a Boston College supplemental essay

The Boston College admissions team requires Boston College supplemental essays as part of your application. So, Boston College supplemental essays are an essential part of your “how to get into Boston College” strategy. 

For the 2021-22 application cycle, Boston College admissions offered students a choice of five different topics for the Boston College supplemental essays. When you apply, choose a prompt that allows you to be original and tell your authentic story. Sure, Boston College GPA and Boston College SAT scores matter, but so does the qualitative side of your application. Boston College supplemental essays are one of the few opportunities you have to write original content. So, use your essay to paint a detailed picture of who you are and what makes you special.

Here are the topics for the 2021‒22 application cycle (400-word limit):

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?

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.

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?

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.

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?

For more guidance on your Boston College supplemental essays, read this essay guide.

Will Boston College consider my social media?

While thinking about how to get into Boston College, you may also wonder how your social media presence will affect your Boston College admissions odds. 

Boston College admissions receives tens of thousands of applications each year, so they usually don’t have the time to check through each applicant’s social media accounts. 

However, you still avoid posting offensive or irresponsible content on social media. As we’ve seen in this “How to get into Boston College” guide, the school has a tough admissions process. We suggest you avoid anything that could lower your chances of joining the Boston College enrollment. Even though Boston College admissions is unlikely to read your Twitter posts, there’s always an outside chance.

In addition, beyond the Boston College admissions process, you should use social media responsibly, as future employers could see your accounts.

Finally, remember that Boston College’s social media can be an excellent way for you to learn about campus life!

Is Boston College a good school for me?

When researching how to get into Boston College, most students focus on the average Boston College GPA, Boston College SAT scores, and the Boston College acceptance rate. However, they may forget to consider whether the college is a good fit for them. Don’t forget to research what it will be like to be part of the Boston College enrollment. Make sure the academic and cultural life has something to offer you! 

These are just some of the reasons Boston gives for why you’d want to join the Boston College enrollment:

  1. Your education will be measured in more than academic credits.
  2. The school will challenge you.
  3. Boston has an innovative curriculum.
  4. You’ll receive a foundation in the liberal arts.
  5. The campus is beautiful and vibrant.
  6. Professors are leaders in their field.
  7. Boston has a well-connected alumni network.
  8. BC has the best sports fans.

To learn even more about the Boston College experience, check out the Boston College news here. 

Tips to help get into Boston College

Genuine applications are the most effective

Watch Boston College admissions videos or talk with a current Eagle to decide whether Boston is a good fit for you. Then, focus your “how to get into Boston College” strategy on the specific opportunities, classes, professors, and organizations you would engage with as a student. Paint a vivid picture for the Boston College admissions team of how you’d enrich the Boston College enrollment.

Don’t wait

Don’t wait to craft your “how to get into Boston College” strategy. If you are striving to be part of the Boston College enrollment, you should not only demonstrate a strong academic track record but also be invested in your community. So, get involved in extracurricular pursuits early in high school, and look for chances to lead and grow. 

Have a plan

A key part of the answer to “How to get into Boston College” is to prepare early for the Boston College admissions deadline. Create a plan to achieve a high Boston College GPA and exceed the average Boston College SAT scores. Also, start working on the Boston College supplemental essays months before you apply, particularly if you are applying to Boston College Early Decision.

This guide was written by Caroline Marapese, Notre Dame ’22. Cracking the code of how to get into Boston College is challenging. If you want to know how to get into Boston College, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes Boston College graduates. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 904-0290.