Due to ongoing concerns about future test dates and the availability of test centers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston College will be test optional for first-year applicants during the 2020-21 admission cycle.
Boston College will continue to acknowledge our incoming students’ aptitude and hard work in rigorous academic coursework by maintaining our Advanced Placement policy which allows students to use qualifying scores to fulfill requirements in the University Core Curriculum.
Boston College will remain as flexible as possible regarding coursework taken during the spring 2020 semester. Students whose school districts have moved to a Pass/Fail (P/F) model, or students who have opted for this option due to the unexpected impacts of COVID-19, will not be penalized. Students who opted to complete their coursework on a P/F basis, instead of receiving conventional grades, are welcome to submit a statement explaining the rationale or context for this decision. We intend to be as understanding as possible to extenuating circumstances that informed this choice.
We expect students who are now learning in a remote setting to continue their hard work and perform at a high level. At the same time, we understand that the disruptions and stress caused by COVID-19 can vary widely for applicants and families. These impacts might have a negative impact on some students’ performance. We will remain flexible with students whose grades may show some decline this semester, especially when previous and future semesters show consistent performance at a high level. Students who experienced a significant decline should feel welcome to explain their unique circumstances as an addendum to their application to provide us with this additional context.
At this time, Boston College is closed to admission visitors. We encourage all prospective students to participate in our virtual programs including live information sessions, live virtual campus tours, one-on-one conversations with students, and more. Learn more and register.
Boston College will remain as flexible as possible regarding coursework this year. Students whose school districts or colleges/universities have moved to a pass/fail model (P/F), or students who have opted for this option due to the unexpected impacts of COVID-19 will not be penalized.
This is not the fault of our applicants and will not be held against them. We anticipate that secondary schools will vary widely in their approaches to certifying secondary school completion and Boston College will be flexible in accepting this variation. We will rely on secondary schools to verify your graduation from the secondary level and will need this documentation, when available, to confirm your enrollment.
We understand that secondary schools throughout the US and around the world have faced significant disruption to their work and that some transcripts will be delayed or unavailable. We will follow state and federal guidance for those attending schools in the United States. Students attending international schools who are unable to send final transcripts or leaving exams must submit a letter from a school official indicating that these are not available and that you have completed graduation requirements in accordance with school policy.
We expect students who are now learning in a remote setting to continue their hard work and perform at a high level. At the same time, we understand that the disruptions and stress caused by COVID-19 can vary widely for applicants and families. These impacts might have a negative impact on some students’ performance. We will remain flexible with students whose grades may show some moderate decline in their results. Students who have experienced a significant decline should contact us so that we may understand their circumstances and provide any needed support. In line with our statement above, students must present proof of secondary school completion to enroll.
Boston College will continue to acknowledge our incoming students’ aptitude and hard work in rigorous academic coursework by maintaining our Advanced Placement policy which allows students to use qualifying scores to fulfill requirements in the University Core Curriculum.
How will Boston College treat IB and A-Level results, even though final exams are not being offered?
Boston College will maintain our Advanced Placement policy for qualifying A-level scores based on “calculated grades” awarded by the student’s school. Similarly, we will maintain our advanced placement for qualifying IB scores based on the IBO’s centrally scored IB subjects and diplomas.
We invite you to contact your financial aid counselor with these concerns. You will find your counselor’s personal email address under the Financial Aid tab within your Admitted Student Portal.
Yes. Boston College Orientation is offered as a hybrid virtual/in-person format to ensure the health and safety of our new students, their families, and the BC Community. The Office of First Year Experience has developed a comprehensive and interactive orientation program that will engage with new students on a weekly basis. Orientation begins in early June and will continue throughout the summer. The in-person portion will take place upon move-in this fall.
We are operating under the expectation that classes in the fall will be taught in-person and on-campus. In a May 19 letter to the University community, Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J., shared an update for the fall semester.
Updates, information, and answers to frequently asked questions about plans for the fall semester can be found on the Reopening Boston College website.
In the case of unanticipated travel-related delays, please contact the offices of First Year Experience and Residential Life to notify them of your circumstances and to keep them apprised of your status. We will work with you as much as possible to accommodate a delayed arrival up until the end of the Drop/Add period in early September, but it may become necessary to study remotely for the fall semester.
The deadline for students to postpone enrollment in order to pursue a specific gap year opportunity was June 1. The university has created a remote learning opportunity for international students with travel challenges and students with documented health conditions that prevent them from participating in an on-campus education at Boston College this fall. Exceptions to the June 1 deadline will be considered for students who have been directly impacted by COVID-19, rendering them unable to study in either delivery model this fall.