Frequently Asked Questions
Print
Do you have rolling admissions?
Yes—we make decisions throughout the admissions cycle, and anticipate releasing decisions starting in late January of each cycle.
Do you have early action or early decision programs?
Yes. Please see the Early Decision tab on this page for more details.
When is the application deadline?
Our application deadline is March 31.
Do you offer an LLM program?
Yes. For more information about our LLM program, please visit our LLM website.
Can I apply for the spring semester?
JD enrollment occurs only in the fall.
What if I have applied to BC Law before?
You must submit a new application for each admissions cycle. The Office of Admissions retains copies of applications for one year. If you applied in consecutive years, the admissions committee may use a previous application for reference, but you must still submit a new application.
How do I check the status of my application?
Log in with the username and password you received after submitting your application. If you don’t have your login information, contact our Office of Admissions.
Can I interview with an admissions officer?
BC Law does not offer a formal interview program. We encourage students to learn more about our institution through our virtual and in-person visit programs. We do not track your contact with us as part of the admissions review process.
When will I find out the results?
We aim to notify all candidates of our decision prior to April 15.
How do you evaluate my application?
The admissions committee considers all aspects of your application through a holistic lens.
Is it better to apply earlier rather than later?
While the decision on when to apply is one that should be made based upon your personal circumstances, the Admissions Committee encourages all our applicants to submit their JD materials when they feel their application is the strongest and most authentic representation of their candidacy.
Do you offer dual degree programs?
BC Law's approach is interdisciplinary and collaborative. We partner with schools and departments across the University and with other institutions to offer dual-degree programs and individual courses open to law students. For more information, please visit our dual degree page.
How many applications do you get in a year? What is the size of your entering class?
Please access our Facts and Figures webpage for further information.
What are your recommendations for crafting a strong personal statement? What resources are available?
LSAC provides resources that may be helpful in crafting an effective personal statement.
Are there application fee waivers available?
Please email bclawadm@bc.edu with your name, LSAC account number, and information regarding the circumstances behind your request.
Is prior work experience required?
While work experience is not necessary, 70% of our incoming class has traditionally had at least one year of work experience.
Early Decision at BC Law
When is the deadline to apply Early Decision?
Early Decision applications must be submitted by December 1 of each application cycle.
Is this program binding?
Yes. By applying Early Decision to BC Law, you are committing to matriculate in the fall should you be accepted.
What outcomes are there for applicants applying Early Decision?
Early Decision applications have four outcomes: admit, waitlist, deny, or a forward to regular decision. Applicants who are forwarded to our regular decision process or waitlisted will be released from our Early Decision commitments.
Is there an advantage to applying Early Decision?
Applicants who apply Early Decision will receive an expedited decision by December 15. For applicants who select the Dean’s Scholars or BC Scholars option, a scholarship award will accompany the offer. Further information regarding these options may be found on our Early Decision webpage.
Are there any additional requirements for applying Early Decision?
The admissions committee reserves the right to request an online or in-person interview for any applicant applying Early Decision. Otherwise, all requirements for applicants applying Early Decision remain the same as for applicants applying for regular decision.
Can I apply Early Decision to multiple schools?
No. If you apply Early Decision to BC Law, you are not allowed to apply Early Decision to other schools.
Am I able to defer an Early Decision admit?
Applicants who are admitted Early Decision are not allowed to defer admission.
When will decisions be released?
The admissions committee will release Early Decision notifications by December 15. Applicants who are admitted Early Decision must pay a $1,000 deposit by December 20 and matriculate in the fall term with no deferral option.
What happens if I am not admitted Early Decision?
If your application has not been selected during the Early Decision process, you will be notified and released from our Early Decision program requirements. Applicants who are forwarded to our regular decision process will be considered by the admissions committee during the same time that we consider regular decision applications.
If you are denied during the Early Decision process, you will not be considered during our regular decision process. All admissions decisions are final.
Can I apply for a dual degree program concurrently with Early Decision?
Applicants who wish to pursue a dual degree are welcome to apply Early Decision.
Can LLM applicants apply Early Decision?
No. The Early Decision program is designed for our applicants applying to our JD program. We encourage LLM applicants who are interested in applying to BC Law to apply early in the cycle.
Can 3+3 applicants apply Early Decision?
Yes. 3+3 applicants are eligible to apply Early Decision.
Can international applicants apply Early Decision?
Yes. BC Law welcomes all JD Program applicants who are interested in applying Early Decision.
Standardized Testing and Early Decision
Do you accept the GRE for Early Decision?
Yes. The admissions committee will accept the GRE if the applicant does not have a valid, existing LSAT score from the past five years. The admissions committee prefers that applicants applying Early Decision take the GRE exam by November 12 (or have an existing, valid score).
If I apply Early Decision, what is the latest date I can take the LSAT?
The admissions committee prefers that applicants applying Early Decision take the November LSAT (or have an existing, valid score).
Financial Aid and Scholarship Awards
How are scholarships awarded under the Early Decision program?
Applicants who apply Early Decision will select one of three award options: Dean's Scholars, BC Scholars, and Eagle Track. Further information about our three options may be found on this page.
Can I apply to more than one award option under the Early Decision program?
No. Applicants must select one award option (Dean's Scholars, BC Scholars, or Eagle Track). Further information regarding these options may be found on the Early Decision webpage.
Financial aid is a priority for me. Should I apply Early Decision?
Applying Early Decision means that you are committing to BC Law should you be accepted, and you will not be able to compare scholarship offers from other institutions. To support an applicant's choice to apply Early Decision, the admissions committee has provided two options that have a scholarship award: Dean’s Scholars and BC Scholars. Further information regarding these options may be found on the Early Decision webpage.
Can I apply to both Early Decision and the Public Service Scholarship (PSS) program?
Yes. Please note that if you are admitted Early Decision and are subsequently selected as a Public Service Scholarship scholar, the PSS scholarship will supersede the Early Decision scholarship award, if any. Further information about the Public Service Scholarship program may be found on our Tuition and Aid page.
How do scholarships work with Early Decision and dual degree programs?
Applicants who wish to pursue a dual degree program are welcome to apply to our Early Decision program. As with all dual degree programs at BC Law, applicants will need to apply independently to both programs, and admissions decisions and procedures will vary depending on the other school. Your Early Decision scholarship award, if any, will not affect the scholarship determination made from the other school. When a student is enrolled at one of Boston College's other graduate schools as a dual degree candidate, their scholarship for the semester(s) is determined by that other graduate school at Boston College.
When is the latest I can take the LSAT?
You can take the LSAT as late as February to enroll for the following fall.
What is your median LSAT and median GPA?
Please access our Facts and Figures webpage for further information.
Can I submit my application before I take the LSAT?
You can, but the admissions committee will be unable to review your application without your LSAT score. Your application will only enter review once we receive all required components.
How do you treat more than one LSAT score?
We consider all LSAT scores in the application review process. We report your highest score to the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
Are there minimum scores to apply?
No. Although there is a range of scores that will make your application more likely to be accepted, we do consider all applicants. We read each and every application carefully. The admissions committee reaches a decision based on many different aspects of an application, as well as supplemental information if provided.
Do you accept the GRE?
Yes, Boston College Law School does accept the GRE. When submitting your application, please answer all the questions asked pertaining to the GRE and list your score(s). Only scores within the past five years will be considered a valid score. All GRE test scores from Educational Testing Service (ETS) must be sent directly to Boston College Law School via the ETS Data Manager system. Boston College Law School's ETS code is 4882.
What happens if I have both a GRE and a LSAT score?
For applicants with both a LSAT and GRE score, the admissions committee will only record and report the highest LSAT score in our review process.
How many letters of recommendation should I submit?
Two. If you want to submit a third letter, you can. The LSAC Credential Assembly Service will process up to three letters. However, submitting more than the required number of documents does not necessarily grant you a competitive advantage.
Be judicious: If you submit more than the required number of documents, your additional documents should include information or perspectives not already provided in other areas of your application.
Can I submit an addendum or additional LSAC forms?
Yes—you can submit supplemental information. For example, you can submit explanations of academic or test performance, or other statements such as diversity statements.
Be judicious, in terms of content and length, when considering submitting supplemental materials.
Do you rank the waitlist?
No.
What can I do to increase my chances of admission from the waitlist?
You may submit a Letter of Continued Interest, an additional recommendation, or updated resume using the form linked in your decision letter. We recommend using this form periodically and emphasize quality over the quantity of updates. Please note that aside from supplemental materials mentioned above, BC Law does not track your contact with us as part of the admissions review process.
If I’m on the waitlist, when should I expect a final decision?
There is no set timeline for the waitlist process—it’s difficult to predict if or when seats become available.
Do you offer waitlist interviews?
We do not offer an interview program for waitlisted candidates. BC Law does not track your contact with us as part of the admissions review process.
Can I appeal a decision?
All applications are reviewed carefully by the admissions committee. Due to the conviction and integrity of our admissions process, we do not offer an appeals process.
Can I defer my admission?
We consider deferral requests on a case-by-case basis—they’re not granted automatically.
Do you offer recruitment events across the country?
Our recruiting calendar runs from the end of the summer through the the late fall. Our events can be found under the "Admission & Financial Aid" event listing tab on the admissions webpage.
Can I participate in a campus tour or information session?
Please access our Visit BC Law webpage for further information about our on-campus and virtual recruitment offerings. Please note that BC Law does not track your contact with us as part of the admissions review process.
Do you require the TOEFL, IELTS, or any other English proficiency exam?
For our JD program, we do not require our international applicants to submit a supplemental English skills exam. The admissions committee considers the LSAT and GRE to be indicators of an applicant's English ability.
Are international students eligible for merit-based scholarships?
International students, like all students, are eligible for institutional-based merit scholarships.
What is the cost of attendance? What financial aid programs do you offer?
Information regarding tuition and financial aid can be found on this page.
Other than the merit-based scholarship, does BC Law offer any other scholarships?
BC Law is pleased to offer scholarship programs that are oriented towards special interests, such as the Public Service Scholarship Program. For more information about our scholarships, please visit this page. Furthermore, we are pleased to provide a list of external scholarships to which BC Law students can apply. Please note that this list is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval of any of these organizations or services.
What is the Public Service Scholarship?
The Public Service Scholarship provides the full cost of tuition to highly qualified applicants committed to practicing public service law after graduation. A committee appointed by the Dean selects recipients, and Public Service Scholarship applications are included in the J.D. application. The deadline for this application is January 21, and certain eligibility requirements apply, such as at least nine months of work experience. For further information about the Public Service Scholarship, please visit this page.
What is your Federal School Code?
002128.
What should I do if my tax forms won't be ready until April?
Use estimated dollar amounts.
Do I complete both the student and parent sections on the FAFSA?
No—only the student section is required.
How do I know you received my FAFSA?
If you have received your Student Aid Report (SAR) and properly listed the federal code for Boston College (002128) on your FAFSA, we should have access to your data. If you don't have your SAR and it has been four or more weeks since you completed your FAFSA, contact the Federal Student Aid office.
How do I list more than six schools on my FAFSA?
Use your SAR for multiple FAFSA submissions. You can replace schools already submitted with new schools and resubmit the SAR online. Before adding new schools, correct errors and resubmit your original SAR.
Can I use my SAR to update the estimated dollar amounts?
Yes—use your SAR for any corrections. As you begin filing your taxes, review and correct your SAR, matching your FAFSA data with your tax returns.
What if I didn’t file taxes because my income fell below the required filing minimum or because I didn't have any income?
- Submit any W-2s or 1099s you received.
- Indicate your filing status with the IRS by checking the appropriate box on the BC Law Financial Aid Validation Form.
- If you didn’t have any income, you must also submit to us a signed letter stating that fact.