Getting Started

The application process to Boston College is designed to help students highlight their academic, personal, and interpersonal accomplishments. The Committee on Admission will use this information to select a diverse student body. As you review our list of required credentials below, you will notice that we are concerned with all of your gifts and talents. No one part of the application is more or less important than another. We carefully and thoughtfully consider each portion of your application to help us determine if you would be a good match for our University's community.

Your secondary school transcript will tell us about your academic accomplishments within a rigorous curriculum. Students who have a past record of success are more likely to perform well at the University. Your standardized test scores will help us to match your abilities with those of other students around the world who have taken the same examinations.

Because the University doesn't offer an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, we expect our international students to arrive with exceptional English skills. We recommend TOEFL scores of at least a 600 on the paper-based TOEFL (PBT) or 100 on the Internet-based TOEFL (IBT). For the Class of 2015, the average TOEFL scores for enrolled freshman were 106 (IBT). There are no minimum scores required on the SAT I; however, our average SAT Critical Reading, Math, and Writing scores for enrolled Freshman this year were 588, 729 and 658, respectively.

The other portions of your application (recommendations, list of extracurricular activities, and the required essay) tell us more about your candidacy. We realize that, outside of the United States, formalized extracurricular activities may not be as readily available. Remember, however, that anything you do outside of the classroom could be an extracurricular activity. Working at a nearby company, taking care of siblings after school, volunteering in the community, or participating in religious organizations can all be characterized as extracurricular activities. We ask for this information so that we can better understand how you may get involved in our campus community one day.

The following sections will explain a little more about the application process. When submitting the required credentials below, we ask that you submit your credentials on standard business-sized paper. We respectfully ask you not to bind your application into a folder, booklet, or a series of plastic sleeves. While this helps to present the application in an impressive manner, odd-shaped files will not fit on our shelves and, therefore, will need to be disassembled. Videos, slides, CDs, DVDs, or artwork should be submitted only for students who plan to major in Music, Theater, Film Studies, or Studio Art. Students not applying to these majors should not send these credentials.

Required Credentials

International students are required to submit the same credentials as domestic applicants. All documents must be submitted in English. If the credentials must be translated, the original copy (or a certified copy of the original) must be submitted along with the translation. If original transcripts or academic certificates are not available certified copies must be presented. All transcripts (whether originals or copies) must be officially certified and sent directly by the educational institution or certified by the appropriate embassy. Photocopies will not be accepted.

All application credentials must be submitted in English. The following credentials are required of all international applicants:

Detailed instructions about each of the application credentials at the Electronic Applications portion of the website.

Required Examinations

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL examination is required of all international applicants whose primary native language is not English, even if the student studies at an English-speaking school.

There are three different TOEFL examinations an applicant could submit: the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), the Computer-Based TOEFL (CBT), or the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT). Minimum scores of 600 on the PBT, 250 on the CBT, or 100 on the iBT are recommended. Institutional TOEFL examinations are not accepted; the examinations must be taken at an official TOEFL testing center. Boston College's Institutional TOEFL Testing Code is 3083. The Department Code is 00.

Many international students request to have this examination waived. The results of the TOEFL examination are used by the Committee on Admission to better understand your written and spoken English ability. Because the SAT was originally written with U.S. domestic students in mind, we realize that many international students do not score as well on the SAT Verbal portion as do U.S. students. Therefore, in most cases, a strong TOEFL score will enhance the strength of an international student's application. This requirement will be waived only if a student has earned an SAT Verbal score of 600 or better.

2. SAT or ACT. Students have two options in order to complete the standardized testing requirement for admission to Boston College.

• The first option is for the applicant to complete the SAT I test and two SAT II Subject Tests. Both are administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. For the SAT Subject Tests, students are encouraged to choose two exams in subjects they have enjoyed and highlight their particular academic strengths. For all students taking the SAT I, the two SAT II exams are also required. Boston College's Institutional SAT Testing Code is 3083.
• As a second option, in place of both the SAT I and SAT II tests, applicants may take the American College Test (ACT). Boston College's Institutional ACT Testing Code is 1788. Students who choose the ACT option must also take the optional ACT Writing Examination, if offered at the testing center. In some countries, the optional ACT Writing Examination is not offered. In this case, providing the ACT without the Writing Exam would meet our requirement.

Many international students ask us if they can substitute the SAT or ACT with examination scores from their local countries. Since we use these aforementioned examination scores as a consistent way to compare students from various educational systems around the world, local examinations within your home country cannot replace our testing requirements.

Applicants are required to take all standardized examinations no later than the December administration date of the applicant's final year of secondary study. It is the responsibility of each applicant to have test scores sent directly to Boston College from the College Entrance Examination Board or the American College Testing Program by January 1. All standardized tests are used for evaluation in the admission process, and it is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that our office receives your test scores.

Admission Deadlines

Early Action

Academically outstanding candidates who view Boston College as a top choice for their undergraduate education, and who wish to learn of their admission early in their senior year, may consider applying through the Early Action program.

Early Action candidates must submit all credentials by the postmark deadline of November 1. The Admission Committee will communicate decisions no later than December 25. Decisions will not be communicated over the phone or via email prior to this date. Students should not call the admission office to inquire about their decision prior to December 25. Candidates for Early Action will be evaluated primarily on their high school record through the junior year. SAT I and II results from the October administration and ACT results from the September administration will be considered.

Early Action at Boston College is a non-binding program; therefore, students admitted to Boston College in December will have until May 1st, the Candidate’s Reply Date, to make their enrollment decisions.

Boston College does not permit students to apply under our Early Action program if they are applying to a binding Early Decision program at another college. Students are free to apply to other Early Action and Regular Decision programs.

Because it is impossible to gauge the size and quality of the applicant pool at this early stage, admission is more selective for Early Action than during the Regular Admission period. Competitive candidates who are not admitted to Boston College under Early Action will be reconsidered during the Regular Admission evaluation process. Approximately 20% of candidates deferred at Early Action are admitted during the Regular Decision process.

Decisions will be communicated in early April. Early Action candidates whose credentials are not competitive for admission to Boston College will be denied in December and may not reapply in January. This allows such candidates to move forward with the application process at colleges where they will be competitive for admission.

Regular Decision

All Freshman applicants should fill out and send in the Boston College Supplemental Application for Freshman Admission as soon as they know they will apply. The Common Application must be completed and submitted by January 1, 2013.

Because overseas mail can be slow, international applicants are strongly urged to complete their admission applications by December and send them via an express courier service to avoid delays in review. Following receipt of application materials, the Admission Office will notify candidates whether their application is complete. Candidates will be notified of action taken on their applications prior to April 1. All decisions will be sent from the Office of Undergraduate Admission via courier service. Decisions will not be communicated to applicants via telephone, facsimile, or in person prior to April 1.

For those students who are accepted, it is imperative that their enrollment confirmation documents be postmarked by May 1. Students whose documents are postmarked after May 1 cannot be guaranteed a place in the Freshman class. We strongly recommend that international students utilize a courier service to ensure the timely delivery of their intent to enroll.

Throughout the entire admission process, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that all deadlines are met.

Advanced Credit

Students may be eligible for advanced credit and receive status as second-year (Sophomore) students if they have done honors-level work in their secondary curricula. The following information outlines the current policy on qualifying scores to receive advanced placement or proficiency. Boston College reserves the right to change these policies at any time and without notice.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Each score of 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will earn 6 advanced placement units and will generally satisfy a corresponding core requirement. Students who earn three HL scores of 6 or 7 and a B or better on both CAS and TOK will earn a total of 24 advanced placement units and may be eligible for advanced standing. For a detailed list of the IB examination scores that will earn credit or proficiency at Boston College, please click here.

British Advanced Level Examinations

Students who have not begun the British A-Levels and have taken only the British O-level courses are not eligible to apply. Examination scores of A or B earn students two courses of credit at Boston College, and exam scores of C earn one semester of credit. For a detailed list of the A Level policy, please click here.

French Baccalaureate

Boston College grants credit for French Baccalaureate courses with a coefficient of 5 or higher. Within this level of courses, examination scores of 13 or higher will earn students 6 advanced placement units, and scores ranging from 10–12 earn 3 advanced placement units.

German Abitur

Credit will be awarded for Intensive Level courses only. Exam scores of 1–3 will earn 6 advanced placement units in Boston College's curriculum, while scores of 4 will earn 3 advanced placement units.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Each score of 4 or 5 on individual exams will be awarded either 3 or 6 advanced placement units (depending on the exam) and will generally satisfy corresponding core requirements. Each academic department at Boston College determines how advanced placement units can or cannot be used to fulfill major requirements. Please refer to individual department web sites for more information on major requirements. For a detailed list of the AP examination scores that will match the Core curriculum at Boston College, please click here.

Students interested in receiving advanced placement or proficiency for work done prior to entering Boston College should send all final examinations scores and credentials to:

Boston College
Office of Transfer Admission
Devlin Hall 208
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3809
U.S.A.
(617) 552-3100 or 800-360-2522

Please note: Students who already hold a Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent from another university are only eligible to apply if they are seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Applications for second bachelor degrees in any other undergraduate division are not permitted.  Rather, these students should pursue studies in a graduate program by contacting the Graduate Office of Admission at Boston College.

January Admission

The Committee on Admission accepts a limited number of freshmen each year who wish to begin their studies in January. The number of students enrolling each January is based on available space on campus and is determined each October.

For students applying for January admission, the completed Common Application and all credentials is due in the Office of Undergraduate Admission on November 1st. Similar to September admission, we ask that applicants send in the Boston College Supplemental Application as soon as they have decided to apply. Students will be notified of the Committee's decision in mid-December.