Everything You Need to Know About Boston University

Explore the Boston Academy acceptance rate and access requirements, plus a sample BU essay

Role i: Introduction

If your kid would like to attend a world-class, private research university in a history-filled city on the Eastward Coast, Boston University should exist at the top of their list. Founded in 1839, Boston University offers over 300 academic programs, top undergraduate research opportunities, and prestigious global recognition.

The kinesthesia, staff, and students of Boston Academy hail from l states and over 150 countries, but all share a common passion to pursue knowledge and cover possibilities. Aligning with its international focus, BU provides more than than 80 report abroad opportunities to its students, encouraging them to cover other cultures and get global citizens.

In the classroom, BU students are taught past Nobel Prize winners, Guggenheim Fellows, Fulbright Scholars, and Sloan Research Fellows. With class sizes averaging only 27 students, undergraduates have opportunities to take agile roles in their instruction and develop mentorships with their achieved professors.

On whatever given day, Boston University students pursue their interests in courses like "Magic, Science, and Religion"—role of the general educational activity curriculum known equally the BU Hub. Exterior of classes, students gather at many different spots around campus, including the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground.

With over 450 student groups available, the heaven's the limit when it comes to engaging in the campus community—students tin pursue anything from competing in broomball leagues to delivering fine art instruction to local students. And while at that place'south enough to explore in the metropolis, Boston University has many unique on-campus traditions for students to bask—such as Lobster Night and the BU Pumpkin Drop.

And after Boston Academy? Graduates bring together an alumni network containing over 400,000 members spread throughout 180 dissimilar countries. Alumni concord positions in almost every manufacture—you can find Boston Terriers in roles equally magazine editors, country governors, Fortune 500 CEOs and CFOs, U.S. ambassadors, and award-winning actors and actresses. With a network this expansive to support them, it'southward no surprise that 94 percent of Boston grads find employment or enroll in a graduate program within six months of earning their degree.

Boston University is a premier educational institution that attracts over 70,000 applicants every yr. With then many high-achieving students applying to BU, you sympathize why your child is eager to learn how to get into Boston University. Continue reading to detect the Boston Academy acceptance rate, the Boston University average GPA, and how your child can boost their BU admissions odds.

Boston University rankings

• Forbes: 83

• Niche: 54

• U.Due south. News & World Study: 42

• Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Didactics: 42

Where is Boston University located?

Boston University is located in the center of—you guessed it—Boston, Massachusetts. This iconic city, known as "the birthplace of the American Revolution," offers students the hazard to revisit and appreciate our nation'due south history. But Boston is unique for its duality—non only does it remind us of the by, but it likewise leads us into the future through innovation and education. With Harvard University, the Massachusetts Constitute of Technology, and Boston University located within a few miles of each other, Boston is one of the premier research cities in the state.

Boston boasts a number of special attractions that captivate tourists and locals alike—including the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. Fortunately for students, Boston is a pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly city that encourages exploration and adventuring—ensuring BU students never find themselves with a shortage of things to do.

Boston Academy setting

Urban. Boston University's campus spans 169 acres along the Charles River, just slightly west of Boston's city middle. Just past walking to the border of campus, students can take advantage of Boston's all-encompassing public transportation system—known normally as "the T." Later on hopping on the subway, every attraction in Boston is inside piece of cake accomplish.

While BU's campus is relatively modest, information technology is also celebrated and picturesque. It'southward intentionally open to the city, encouraging students to make all of Boston their abode. And the city of Boston certainly does not disappoint, offering students diverse cultures, spirited athletic pride, and unmatched local nutrient to savour. (Boston broiled beans, anyone?)

Several big industries dominate Boston's economic mural, including finance, research and development, healthcare, teaching, publishing, and regime. These industries offer BU students unparalleled opportunities for career development, internships, and networking. In fact, 90 percent of students complete at least one internship while at Boston Academy.

Boston University student population

• Undergraduate population: 16,530 students

• Graduate population: 15,932 students

Boston Academy acceptance rate

Here are the admissions statistics for BU's class of 2025:

• Applications: 75,733

• Acceptances: 13,884

• Matriculants: 4,020

• Acceptance rate: 18.3%

If you're hoping to transfer to Boston University, know that the transfer acceptance charge per unit in contempo years has hovered around 50 percent. For Fall 2020 entrance, BU received 5,164 transfer applications; 840 of these applicants eventually matriculated.

Boston University tuition and scholarships

Boston University's 2021–2022 cost of attendance (i.e., tuition, room, board, and fees) runs $79,606.

However, BU promises to meets 100 percent of need for first-year students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Each year, $329.5 million is awarded in undergraduate financial aid, 92 pct of which is need-based.

The average need-based financial aid award totals $49,407.

Boston University freshman retention rate

94 percentage.

Who gets into Boston University?

Beyond knowing the Boston University acceptance charge per unit, the all-time way for potential applicants to appraise their odds of getting accepted is to look at the Boston University admissions statistics for the entering class of 2021, which reveal that applicants are at the height of their bookish game and the contest to go accepted is strong.

When viewing the test scores below, annotation that 42 percent of admitted students did non submit examination scores.

• Admitted students rank, on average, in the top 6 percent of their high school class.

• Average GPA: 3.9

  • Average GPA range: iii.7–4.0

• Average ACT score: 34

  • ACT middle 50%: 33–35

• Average SAT score: 1482

  • SAT middle 50%: 1430–1540

• International students: 22%

• First-generation students: 19%

As of Fall 2020, the largest demographic represented amongst BU undergrads were white students (35%). The next largest racial groups plant in the population were Asian Americans (xix%), Hispanic Americans (12%), and Black or African Americans (4%). International students were not counted among these populations.

The most popular major areas amid BU students are business administration and management, communication and media studies, economics, psychology, and computer science.

Part 2: Boston University admissions requirements

If your child wants to know how to go into Boston University, a skillful place to first is by understanding the BU admissions requirements. To find their platonic students, the BU admissions committee closely evaluates applicants' academics, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Boston Academy academic requirements

With over 70,000 students competing for access, Boston Academy has the luxury of selecting applicants with the strongest academic potential. In society to prove your kid has what it takes to succeed in BU's rigorous curriculum and elevate its reputation equally a prosperous alumnus, they should accept some of the most challenging courses offered at their high school—including dual-enrollment, honors, AP, and IB classes.

You might be wondering, what'due south the "right" amount of challenging classes for your child to accept? Surely, you lot don't desire them to be overwhelmed and earn poor grades or exist forced to driblet their meaningful extracurricular activities. In that location is a balance you should aim for—take the number of classes that will stretch your child to the limits of their ability without being more than they can handle.

When choosing which challenging courses to pursue, your child should prioritize classes relating to their interests and potential career. If they want to go into a STEM field, they don't demand to overburden themselves with AP Literature or AP Castilian courses—unless of course, they have genuine interests in those areas. Simply in general, Boston would adopt to come across AP Chemical science, AP Biology, or AP Calculus from a STEM applicant.

(Suggested reading: IB vs AP: Which One Is Better for College Admissions?)

Boston University testing requirements

In response to the many exam cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston Academy has adopted a temporary test-optional policy for students applying for Fall 2022 admission. If applicants were able to take the SAT or ACT exams and their scores accurately reflect their bookish ability, they are encouraged to submit them. However, students volition non be penalized if they choose non to include SAT or ACT scores with their application for Fall 2022.

Students applying for admission in Fall 2023 and beyond must follow Boston University's regular testing policy, which uses test scores equally one of many factors considered in BU's holistic review procedure. Boston University superscores for both the Sat and Act, significant students can submit multiple sets of examination results, and BU will consider the highest scores from each exam section.

Because the average Boston University SAT scores and Human activity scores of admitted students are impressively high, we encourage students to take these exams more than once and to study hard in guild to maximize their scores. Taking test prep courses or receiving one-on-one tutoring are typically successful methods for students to increase their scores and their admissions odds.

(Suggested reading: What is a Practiced Sabbatum Score? The Definitive Guide)

Boston University extracurricular requirements

While displaying strong bookish skills is an important function of being a competitive BU applicant, loftier exam scores and GPA alone aren't plenty to earn any student an offer of admission. As Boston University makes articulate, what students exercise exterior the classroom matters, too. Ideal BU students have ambition, take risks while pursuing their passions, and engage in meaningful customs service.

Keep in mind the Boston University community purpose—to pursue knowledge and comprehend possibilities. And then consider how your child can display these values in their extracurricular activities. I of the most constructive ways to attain this aim is for your kid to make up one's mind their biggest interest areas and explore them in unique, in-depth ways. We can use an example to illustrate this approach.

Imagine your child's biggest passion is playing the violin. The all-time extracurricular strategy would be for them to pursue this passion through methods that display leadership, service, enquiry, and creativity. To demonstrate leadership, your child could organize a small ensemble group of peers and perform at local events. Using a love of violin for service could exist as unproblematic as giving gratuitous violin lessons to younger students or performing at homes for the elderly. Every bit a way to connect music with enquiry, they could assist with a study examining the issue of music therapy on depression. And to be impressively creative, your kid could compose original songs, either sharing them on YouTube or recording them into an EP and selling it online.

But imagine a Boston University admissions officer reading through this list of activities on your child's application. They would be amazed at the level of initiative. Using this extracurricular approach will set your child apart from other applicants and improve their chances of getting into Boston University.

(Suggested reading: Extracurricular Activities for College Admissions: The Ultimate Guide)

Boston University application requirements

If your child has the academic statistics and extracurricular history to class a strong BU applicant profile, they might be ready to apply to Boston University. Here is a list of requirements for the BU application.

• A completed Mutual Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Awarding

• High schoolhouse transcript

• Outset-quarter senior grades

• Counselor recommendation and school report class

• One instructor recommendation

• Sabbatum or Human action scores (optional for 2022 admission)

• If your kid is applying to the Schoolhouse of Music in cello, double bass, flute, percussion, pianoforte, trombone, trumpet, violin, or vox, they are required to submit a pre-screening recording.

• If your child is applying to the School of Theatre or School of Visual Arts, they must consummate an audition, submit a portfolio, or both.

• If your kid is applying to the Accelerated Medical Program (BU's BS/Medico program), they must submit 3 Accelerated Programme Teacher Evaluation forms and an additional Accelerated Programs essay.

(Suggested reading: How to Write an Amazing Common App Essay)

Part iii: Applying to Boston University early on decision vs. regular decision

Boston University offers students 3 unlike admissions options to choose from, and in society to make up one's mind which is the best choice for your kid, you lot must outset understand the distinctions between them.

BU Early Decision

• Awarding deadline: November 1

• Admissions notification: December 15

• Enrollment eolith due: Jan 8

• If accepted, students must enroll at Boston University and withdraw all their applications at other schools.

BU Early Determination ii

• Application deadline: January 4

• Admissions notification: Feb xv

• Enrollment deposit due: Belatedly Feb

• If accepted, students must enroll at Boston University and withdraw all their applications at other schools.

BU Regular Decision

• Application deadline: January 4

• Admissions notification: Late March

• Enrollment deposit due: May ane

• If accepted, students are not bound to attend Boston Academy. They are free to compare acceptances and financial assistance offers from different schools.

How to know if your child should apply to BU early on decision or regular decision?

Early conclusion is the right selection for your child if Boston University is their absolute top choice, if they've had the opportunity to visit the campus or area, and if they can create the all-time version of their application prior to the November 1st deadline.

However, if Boston is your child's top selection only they haven't visited campus yet or they need boosted time to improve their awarding—with new test scores, improved senior grades, or meliorate college essays—applying early decision 2 might exist the improve pick.

For both early on decision and early decision 2 applicants, Boston is committed to coming together 100 percentage of their demonstrated financial demand. And so while students with financial concerns typically agree off from applying early decision because they want to compare financial assist offers from multiple schools, BU applicants can exist confident that if they're accepted through early decision, they'll be financially able to attend.

If your kid is excited about Boston University simply is besides still considering other schools, they should apply regular decision, look to receive multiple acceptances, and visit their top choices 1 final time in the spring before choosing which one to nourish.

(Suggested reading: Early Action vs. Early Decision: Pros and Cons and What Your Child Should Do)

Office 4: 2021–2022 Boston Academy supplemental essays

Strong college essays can provide the terminal push to persuade the Boston University admissions commission that your child deserves to nourish. On the other hand, poorly-written essays may exist the final straw that sends your child'south application to the decline or waitlist pile. With and so much riding on these BU supplemental essays, let'southward look at each of the two essay prompts in turn.

Question #ane: What near existence a student at Boston Academy most excites you? (250 words)

It's a simple question that asks for an in-depth response. Your child's reply to this "Why Boston?" essay prompt must be unique and impactful plenty to assist them stand out from the crowd. To do this, they'll desire to identify the 2 or three things they well-nigh love about Boston Academy and connect them to their background, accomplishments, or future goals.

Before nosotros get to our sample Boston University essay, let's ascertain the kinds of topics that should and shouldn't be included in your child's response. While there are no wrong reasons for wanting to attend Boston University, at that place are certainly wrong things to write near in this "Why Boston?" essay.

While BU's prestige, location, and weather are valid reasons to love it, they don't deserve a spot in this college essay. The Boston University admissions commission wants to see in-depth knowledge and passionate enthusiasm from BU applicants. If your child doesn't possess that yet, they'll need to exercise some research to find a few truly unique things about BU they can be excited about.

Impressive Boston Academy essays might focus on one or two of the post-obit reasons for attending BU:

• A specific academic interest, such every bit the Kilachand Honors College

• A specific enquiry lab, researcher, or written report

• A specific extracurricular involvement, such as leadership, volunteer, or artistic opportunities

• A specific feel or defining moment from a campus visit

If y'all oasis't noticed, the more specific applicants are in their BU essay, the more memorable and effective their essay will exist.

Here's a sample Boston Academy essay.

I wrote my beginning business plan when I was nine years former. I was seeking investors (my parents) for a car washing venture. My mom saved that initial business plan, and while it'southward comical to look at now, it likewise inspires me. I've learned more virtually entrepreneurship over the years, simply I know I nonetheless accept much to meliorate. The Questrom Schoolhouse of Business is the platonic next step for me in my business concern education.

In my few different entrepreneurial endeavors, I've taken some risks and non all of them take panned out. But I use each mistake to learn and grow. I'm excited to accelerate my learning under the kinesthesia at Questrom, peculiarly Dr. Venkatraman, whose paper "Entrepreneurship in digital platforms" revolutionized my approach to social media marketing and helped me achieve new customers.

I cannot expect to accept reward of Questrom's study abroad programs. I've always been fascinated with S Korea, based on what I've learned almost the country and civilisation through inquiry, movies, and books. I hope to written report in Seoul and notice the secret of South Korean success in the technology industry.

When stateside, I'k looking forward to getting involved in the BU community, particularly the Anime Club. I'thou the only one of my friends who loves anime, so it will be refreshing to share my passion with others. Everything considered, I know Boston University is the perfect place for me to be my authentic self, grade genuine friendships, and prepare for a successful entrepreneurial career.

Let'due south expect at why this essay works. The two all-time things about this essay are it displays an in-depth knowledge of BU's business program, and information technology'southward highly personal to the applicant. In under 250 words, they managed to include a brief anecdote, demonstrate their business experience that will add value to the program, and bear witness enthusiasm for specific aspects of the BU feel. This statement couldn't have been written by just anyone, and that'due south what makes it effective.

Question #2: Please apply this space if you lot have boosted information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider.

This question is indeed optional. Students won't be penalized if they choose not to answer. Even so, for certain applicants, this question provides a valuable opportunity to add value to their Boston University application.

For case, if an applicant has unexplained drops in their grades caused by outside circumstances, this is a chance for them to give an caption and advocate for a chance to demonstrate their power.

On the other hand, this space could likewise exist used to add a bit more personality or accent to an already strong awarding. For case, if your child writes in the previous essay that they would dearest to join Professor 10's genetic lab and mentions a high school research paper they wrote on the topic of genetic applied science, they might choose to adhere their paper hither for emphasis.

Students could also share their original poetry, published manufactures they've written, or newspaper clippings celebrating their achievements. But before adding these extra pieces, applicants should ask themselves, "Will this add to or strengthen my awarding? Does this work tell more of my story or is information technology redundant?"

When the admissions stakes are this high, BU applicants have to ensure every word and every aspect in their application is meaningful and then they tin truly put their all-time foot forward.

(Suggested reading: The Ultimate Guide to Supplemental Higher Application Essays)

Final thoughts

Boston University is a world-class research establishment that can offer your child a meaningful college experience as well as advantageous career opportunities. While getting into Boston University is no like shooting fish in a barrel feat, your child can gain an admissions edge by taking rigorous coursework, pursuing in-depth extracurriculars, and writing powerful BU supplemental essays.

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Source: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-get-into-boston-university

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