QuestBridge Applicants
Boston College is excited to be a part of QuestBridge, a highly respected nonprofit program that helps high-achieving, low-income students gain admission and scholarships to the country’s top-ranked colleges and universities. This partnership aligns with Boston College's values as a Jesuit, Catholic university.
Interested students can fill out the QuestBridge application, at questbridge.org, which opens in late summer prior to a student’s senior year of high school.
Contact
Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Admission
617-552-3100
danielle.wells@bc.edu
Financial Aid
Boston College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. All QuestBridge applicants to Boston College are considered for need-based aid provided they submit the FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid Profile, and federal income tax returns.
Match Requirements
PrintDeadline: November 1
The following items are required in addition to the QuestBridge Application.
Boston College QuestBridge Questionnaire
Upon receiving your National College Match Application, we'll send you the Boston College QuestBridge Questionnaire. This questionnaire is required in order for us to complete your application.
High School Transcript
Please have your high school counselor submit your official transcripts to bcapplicant@bc.edu. If your counselor uploaded your transcript as part of your National College Match application, you do not need to resubmit it.
Standardized Testing
Boston College has adopted a test-optional policy for first year applicants during the 2020-21 admission cycle. Learn more here.
Students who are unable to submit standardized test results, or who choose not to, will not be disadvantaged in our selection process. In reviewing applications that do not include standardized test results, the Admission Committee will place greater emphasis on other required application credentials including academic performance, rigor of coursework, placement in class, personal statements, recommendations, and co-curricular involvement.
For those students who would like to submit standardized testing results, we accept the ACT or SAT and don't require any Optional Writing portion. If you submit multiple scores, we will superscore the tests for our evaluation and we will use the scores as one component in our holistic review of applications. If sending official scores from a testing agency, do NOT use the rush reporting service. Boston College will accept self-reported ACT or SAT test scores for QuestBridge students participating in the National College Match process only. For those who choose to submit test scores, official ACT or SAT score reports will be required prior to enrolling at Boston College. If the cost of sending test scores from the ACT or College Board would present a financial burden, please have your guidance or college counselor email a copy of your score report to bcapplicant@bc.edu. We also accept test scores that are reported on official high school transcripts.
Students who wish to further quantify their academic successes are welcome to note non-required credentials such as Advanced Placement scores, predicted IB scores, or SAT Subject Test results (if previously taken).
SAT code: 3083
ACT code: 1788
Optional Credentials for the Arts
Artistic portfolios can be submitted through SlideRoom. As a QuestBridge applicant, please select the QuestBridge category followed by the application round and corresponding artistic submission for studio art, music, and/or theater. If you are applying as part of the National College Match, please select the QuestBridge Early Decision I round for your artistic submission.
Please note that only students who intend to major in Studio Art can submit artistic samples/portfolios through SlideRoom. If not majoring in Studio Art, please highlight any art involvement (such as photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, digital media, and video) within the Activities or Additional Information sections of the QuestBridge Application or the Common Application.
Students with a background in theatre and/or music who plan to be involved in music and theater productions at Boston College are invited to showcase their talents by submitting artistic samples via SlideRoom, regardless of their intended major. If you do not intend to formally pursue these artistic talents at Boston College, but you would like to tell us about past experiences you've had in the arts, we encourage you to do so within the Activities or Additional Information sections of the QuestBridge Application or the Common Application.
All materials must be received via SlideRoom by November 1 for QuestBridge National College Match candidates and Early Decision I candidates. For Early Decision II and Regular Decision candidates, the deadline is January 1. Submissions received after these dates will not be reviewed. Please note that there is a $5 fee to submit your artistic samples. Students applying as QuestBridge National College Match applicants with Boston College will automatically be reimbursed the $5 submission fee. Students applying outside of the Match process via Early Decision II and Regular Decision may request a fee waiver by emailing Cindy Cordova (cordovac@bc.edu) if the fee poses a financial hardship.
FAFSA
2020–2021 FAFSA
FAFSA code: 002128
Available: October 1. Match applicants must complete the FAFSA by November 1.
U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens
Learn more about eligible non-citizen status
Please note that undocumented student applicants (with or without DACA status) will not need to submit the FAFSA.
CSS Profile
CSS code: 3083
Available: October 1
Select Early Decision as your admission application type.
If your parents are divorced or separated:
- Your noncustodial parent must submit a separate CSS Profile online.
- After your custodial parent completes the CSS Profile, you'll be asked to provide an email address for your noncustodial parent.
- Your noncustodial parent will then receive an email from the College Board with instructions on how to complete their CSS Profile online.
- If you don't have any contact with your noncustodial parent, please submit the noncustodial parent waiver form below.
2019 Federal Tax Returns
You may securely upload your required tax returns with all schedules, attachments, and W-2 forms to bc.edu/finaidupload
If you prefer to submit your documents by mail, please send them to:
Boston College
Financial Aid Processing Center
P.O. Box 1482
Portsmouth, NH 03802
If your parents own or operate a business, partnership or corporation, include a copy of the appropriate 2019 business, partnership or corporate tax returns. If your parents are divorced or separated, both biological parents must separately submit a signed copy of their 2019 federal income tax return, including all schedules, W-2s, 1099s, and any other earnings statements used to file the federal income tax return.
Finalists who choose to rank Boston College in QuestBridge’s National College Match apply to Boston College through Early Decision I, submitting their application and all supporting documents by November 1st. Applicants who choose this option are considered for a match with Boston College, which would include an official binding offer of admission. Finalists who match with Boston College will be notified of their admission decision and financial aid award by early December.
Finalists who don’t match with Boston College, or a binding college partner, will have their application automatically moved to the Regular Decision application pool. Students must also fill out the Boston College Applicant Verification form, by January 1st, to indicate if they are interested in remaining a candidate for admission to BC through Regular Decision or if they would like to move their application to the Early Decision II application pool. Please note that Early Decision II is a binding admission process and also requires applicants to submit the Early Decision Agreement form. Students who are no longer interested in being considered for admission to Boston College may request to have their application witdrawn via this form or by email. Any finalist that matches with a partner school through a binding Early Decision commitment, will be automatically withdrawn.
Non-Finalists
Students who are not selected as a QuestBridge Finalist may still apply to BC through Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision. We will accept either the Common Application or the QuestBridge application. Please visit the QuestBridge Non-Finalists page for more information.
Non-Participating Finalists
QuestBridge Finalists who choose not to participate in the National College Match process are encouraged to submit their QuestBridge application to Boston College. These students can apply to BC through Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision.
Non-Match Finalists
Finalists who did not match with Boston College through the National College Match, nor with any other binding partner school, are eligible to be considered via Early Decision II or Regular Decision. These students must fill out the Boston College Applicant Verification form by January 1st. Please note that Early Decision II is a binding admission process and also requires applicants to submit the Early Decision Agreement form.
Boston College is dedicated to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students that are United States citizens and eligible non-citizens. All QuestBridge National College Match applicants to Boston College will be considered for the Match Scholarship provided they submit the FAFSA (Code: 002128), CSS/Financial Aid Profile (Code: 3083), and federal income tax returns.
QuestBridge students not participating in the match process at Boston College will be considered for need-based aid, provided they submit the FAFSA (Code: 002128), CSS/Financial Aid Profile (Code: 3083), and federal income tax returns. If you would like to be considered for the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, Boston College’s academic merit-based scholarship program, you must submit your Early Decision or Regular Decision application by November 1. All applicants who submit their application by this date are automatically considered.
Options Following The Match Process
Early Decision II
Finalists who don't match with Boston College, or a binding college partner, can be considered for Early Decision II. If you're interested in this option, you must submit the Boston College Applicant Verification form by January 1. Note that this is a binding admission process and also requires applicants to complete the Early Decision Agreement form.
Regular Decision
Any finalist who doesn't match with Boston College will automatically be moved to the Regular Decision applicant pool. Finalists interested in remaining a candidate for admission must submit the Boston College Applicant Verification form by January 1.
If you no longer wish to be considered for admission to Boston College and want your application withdrawn, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Print
Should I select Early Decision or Regular Decision when applying to Boston College to be considered for the National College Match?
Please select Early Decision under Entry Term by November 1 to be considered for the College Match process.
What happens after you receive my application from QuestBridge?
Once we receive your application, you’ll receive an email with your login credentials for your applicant portal, which will allow you to see documents that have been received and those that are pending.
Are there any other documents that I need to submit in addition to my completed QuestBridge application?
For students participating in the National College Match, you will be required to complete the Boston College QuestBridge Questionnaire. If you participate in the Match process and don't match with Boston College, you will be asked to complete the Boston College Applicant Verification Form. We'll provide you access to these forms upon receiving your application and these forms are required to complete your application.
Are fee waivers provided for the CSS profile?
Please see your counselor at your high school regarding testing and financial aid document fee waivers.
Are interviews required or available as part of the College Match Process for QuestBridge applicants?
Interviews are not part of our evaluation process and thus neither available nor required for QuestBridge applicants.
Do I qualify to apply for the QuestBridge National College Match at BC if I am an international citizen?
Boston College is unable to consider international citizens studying in the U.S. for the National College Match.
Can undocumented/DACA students apply to the QuestBridge National College Match at BC?
Yes, we will consider undocumented students (with or without DACA status) for the Match process, independent of their citizenship status.
Will you accept self-reported test scores as part of my application?
Boston College will be test-optional for the 2020-21 admission cycle. Therefore, students will have the option to determine if they would like to submit their test scores or not. Students who are unable to submit standardized test results, or who choose not to, will not be disadvantaged in our selection process.
For those that would still like to submit their test scores, we will accept self-reported ACT or SAT test scores for QuestBridge students participating in the National College Match process only. Note that, for those who choose to self-report their scores, official ACT or SAT score reports will be required prior to enrolling at Boston College.
Do you offer fly-in programs for prospective applicants?
Unfortunately, we don't offer fly-in programs for prospective students, but you can connect with us in these ways:
- Sign up for our mailing list to receive more information about BC and upcoming webinars.
- Check out if we will be hosting an event near you.
- Register for one of our Virtual Eagle Eye Campus Visits, Live Virtual Campus Tours, or Conversations with a Current Student.
- Connect with one of our Student Admission Program volunteers with your questions about BC.
Will BC accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of the Common Application?
For the National College Match, we accept only the QuestBridge Application. For students applying outside of the Match process, we encourage you to submit the Common Application, but we will also accept the QuestBridge Application.
Is the QuestBridge Match Process binding?
Yes, this process is binding—meaning that you will be expected to enroll at Boston College if selected through the Match process. You will also have to withdraw your applications from all other colleges and universities to which you have applied.
How many students will BC select through the Match Process?
Boston College became a QuestBridge Partner School in 2020. Since this is our inaugural year with the National College Match process, we do not know how many match applications we will receive and therefore, have not yet determined how many match applicants we will admit.
Is off-campus housing covered by the scholarship?
As part of the Match Scholarship, Boston College will provide four years of on-campus housing. Therefore, off-campus housing is not covered.
Which financial aid documents are necessary if I ranked BC through the National College Match process?
We require both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile (including the Noncustodial Parent Statement, if necessary). BC's FAFSA code is 002128 and CSS Profile code is 3083. In addition, we also require 2019 Federal Tax Returns. The priority filing date is November 1. Please note that undocumented student applicants (with or without DACA status) will not need to submit the FAFSA.
You may securely upload your documents to: bc.edu/finaidupload
If you prefer to submit your documents by mail, please send them to:
Boston College Financial Aid Processing Center
P.O. Box 1482
Portsmouth, NH 03801
I’m a QuestBridge finalist who ranked Boston College for the College Match, but I didn't match to a binding college. What happens to my application?
Students who aren't selected as part of the Match process with Boston College will have their status changed to Non-Match Finalist, and their application will automatically be considered in the Regular Decision applicant pool. All Non-Match Finalists interested in remaining a candidate for admission must submit the Boston College Applicant Verification form by January 1. Students may also request to be considered for Early Decision II. Please note that since this is a binding admission process, students will also be required to submit the Early Decision Agreement form.
If I want to be considered for Early Decision II, what are my next steps?
Finalists who don’t match with Boston College can be considered for Early Decision II. Finalists interested in this option must submit the Boston College Applicant Verification form by January 1. Please note that since this is a binding admission process, you must also complete the Early Decision Agreement form. Therefore, we encourage you to review our Early Decision policy.
Do I need to complete the Common Application to be considered for admission to Boston College if I was not selected through the College Match process?
No, you don’t have to complete the Common Application to be considered. We will accept the QuestBridge application if you'd like your application to be considered for Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision.
I didn’t match through the College Match process, and I no longer want to be considered for admission to Boston College. What are my next steps?
Please email bcapplicant@bc.edu to have your application withdrawn.
If I don’t participate in the Match process or if I'm not named a finalist, may I still apply to be considered for admission at Boston College?
QuestBridge finalists who don’t participate in the match process with Boston College (non-participating finalists) or those QuestBridge applicants who are not named a finalist (non-finalists) are encouraged to submit the Common Application, but we will also accept a completed QuestBridge Application. For non-finalists submitting the QuestBridge application, please visit the QuestBridge Non-Finalists page for more information. Students can apply to Boston College through Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision. Please review our Early Decision policy.
Who should I contact with any financial aid related questions?
Please email your Financial Aid Advisor, assigned by the first letter of your last name, with any specific questions.
How can I track my financial aid status?
Once we receive your application, you'll receive an email with your login credentials for your applicant portal. Upon logging in, you'll see documents that have been received and those that are pending.
What will my financial aid package look like if I’m selected through the Match process?
The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package that covers the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses. Packages don’t include a parental contribution or student loans. A student contribution in the form of Federal work-study or summer work may be required. You can view more specific details here.
Are there any merit awards that I can qualify for as a non-finalist?
The Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program is an academic merit-based scholarship program, covering full tuition for 15 qualified applicants each year. There’s no separate application to be considered —both Early Decision and Regular Decision candidates are eligible for scholarship consideration as long as their completed application is submitted by the November 1 priority scholarship deadline. For non-finalists interested in being considered for the Gabelli Presidential Scholarship, you will be required to submit the Common Application.
If I’m not admitted through the Match process, what kind of financial aid is available?
Boston College is dedicated to meeting the full demonstrated need of all United States citizens and eligible non-citizens that apply for financial aid.
What kind of support services are there for students that are the first in their family to attend college, who hail from limited financial means, and/or who are coming from an underrepresented ethnic/cultural group?
Fostering diversity and accessibility on campus is accomplished through multiple campus organizations and partners, such as the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, Montserrat Office, Gateway Scholars Program, McNair Scholars Program, and Learning to Learn Office.