What Does It Take to Get Into Boston College

What are Boston College's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Boston College and build a strong application.

School location: Chestnut Hill, MA

This school is also known as: BC

Admissions Rate: 27.2%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Boston College is 27.2%. For every 100 applicants, 27 are admitted.

This means the school is very selective. If you meet Boston College's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.

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Boston College GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.96

The average GPA at Boston College is 3.96.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.96, Boston College requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.96, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.

You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to Boston College. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.

Boston College SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1420

The average SAT score composite at Boston College is a 1420 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Boston College Strongly Competitive for SAT test scores.

Boston College SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1370, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1490. In other words, a 1370 on the New SAT places you below average, while a 1490 will move you up to above average.

Here's the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
Math	725	680	770
Reading + Writing	695	660	730
Composite	1420	1370	1490

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Boston College has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Section	R+W	Math	Composite
Test 1	700	300	1000
Test 2	300	700	1000
Test 3	300	300	600
Superscore	700	700	1400

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, Boston College will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Boston College forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1490, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

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Boston College ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Boston College likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 33

The average ACT score at Boston College is 33. This score makes Boston College Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 31, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34.

Even though Boston College likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 31 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 33 and above that a 31 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 34 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

However, in our research, we found that Boston College does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy. To quote their Admissions Office:

For the ACT, Boston College will take your highest individual section scores and average them together, also known as "superscoring."

Source

Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that Boston College receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit.

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)

For example, say you submit the following 4 test scores:

	English	Math	Reading	Science	Composite
Test 1	32	16	16	16	20
Test 2	16	32	16	16	20
Test 3	16	16	32	16	20
Test 4	16	16	16	32	20
Superscore	32	32	32	32	32

Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, Boston College will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Boston College forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 34, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.

Boston College requires you to take the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section. They'll use this as another factor in their admissions consideration.

SAT Subject Test Requirements

Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.

Boston College requires SAT Subject Tests if you're submitting an SAT score, not an ACT score. If you submit an ACT score with Writing, you do not need SAT subject tests.

Typically, your SAT/ACT and GPA are far more heavily weighed than your SAT Subject Tests. If you have the choice between improving your SAT/ACT score or your SAT Subject Test scores, definitely choose to improve your SAT/ACT score.

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school and found the following information.

The SAT II is optional but can help with first year course placement, especially in science and foreign languages.

Source

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 1490 SAT or a 34 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as Boston College, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1490 SAT or a 34 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at Boston College?

Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Pick your test: New SAT ACT

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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program. We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses. You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Boston College here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted, supplemental forms required
• Universal Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 2
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $80
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Required
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Required
• SAT Subject Tests Replace ACT
• Scores Due in Office January 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• English
• Math
• Science
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies
• History
• Electives

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• • Offered? Deadline Notification
• Regular Admission
  • Yes January 1 April 15
• Early Action
  • Yes November 1 December 25
• Early Decision
  • No

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

You have to apply to one of Boston College's four undergraduate schools -- Arts and Sciences, Management, Nursing, or Education. This choice is fairly binding, because internal transfers are possible but not always probable, especially if you want to transfer into management or nursing.

Source

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Boston College, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Boston College.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Boston College. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	1505	34
Stanford University	Stanford, CA	1505	34
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	1500	34
Brown University	Providence, RI	1485	34
Cornell University	Ithaca, NY	1480	34
Tufts University	Medford, MA	1465	33
Northeastern University	Boston, MA	1465	34

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Boston College, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
New York University	New York, NY	1440	32
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	1435	33
Emory University	Atlanta, GA	1435	33
Boston University	Boston, MA	1420	32
University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	1415	31
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, NY	1409	31
University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, CA	1405	31

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Boston College, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Boston College is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
Binghamton University	Vestal, NY	1375	30
University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara, CA	1355	29
University of Texas at Dallas	Richardson, TX	1350	30
Stony Brook University	Stony Brook, NY	1335	29
University of Connecticut	Storrs, CT	1315	29
Rochester Institute of Technology	Rochester, NY	1300	30
University of California, Davis	Davis, CA	1280	28

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

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What Does It Take to Get Into Boston College

Source: https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/Boston-College-admission-requirements

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