| Location: | Northeast |
| Setting: | Large Town Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Affiliation: | Roman Catholic |
| Size: | Large (5,000 to 10,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | Eagles |
| Nickname: | BC |
Boston College is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic universities in the United States. U.S. News and World Report ranks Boston College 35th among national universities.
Boston College confers more than 4,000 degrees annually in more than 50 fields of study through 7 schools and colleges. Faculty members are committed to both teaching and research and have set new marks for research grant awards over the last ten years, more than $44 million in the last year alone.
The University has made a major commitment to academic excellence. It is in the process of adding faculty positions, expanding faculty and graduate research, increasing student financial aid, and widening opportunities in key undergraduate programs, such as foreign study, internships, community service, and personal formation.
Boston College has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, including a 43 percent increase in undergraduate applications over the past decade. During the same period, a remarkable increase in revenue from voluntary giving has helped to move the University's endowment to approximately $1.4 billion, among the 50 largest in the nation.
Boston College (BC) is a private university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, in the New England region of the United States. Its historic campus, one of the earliest examples of Collegiate Gothic architecture in North America, is set on a hilltop six miles (10 km) west of downtown Boston. Although chartered as a university by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1863, Boston College's name reflects its early history as a liberal arts college and preparatory school in Boston's South End. It was the first institution of higher education established in Boston, though it later outgrew its urban location and moved to Chestnut Hill on the city's western edge. Boston College is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic universities in the United States and is home to one of the largest Jesuit communities in the world.
Founded by the Society of Jesus, Boston College opened its doors in 1863 to 22 students whose studies were concentrated within a liberal arts curriculum. BC became the second Jesuit institution of higher learning in Massachusetts and the first located in the Boston area. Its charter was among the first documents to stipulate that the institution "from its inception shall be open to youths of any faith," a policy since expanded to include those "of no religious faith at all."
Boston College is called The Heights, a reference to both its lofty aspirations — the college motto is "Ever to Excel" — and its elevated location on Chestnut Hill, or "University Heights" as the area was initially designated. The name has lent itself to a number of campus organizations — including the principal student newspaper, The Heights — and to those affiliated with the university: BC students were universally called "Heightsmen" until 1925 when Mary C. Mellyn became the first "Heightswoman" to receive a BC degree. Today, the university's legacy includes over 143,000 alumni in over 120 countries around the world.
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| Percent of Students International: | 4% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 55% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Atlantic Coast Conference) Basketball (Atlantic Coast Conference) Baseball (Atlantic Coast Conference) Track (Atlantic Coast Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 31,438 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 30,950 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 488 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,483 | 13% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,557 | 5% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 18,159 | 46% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,195 | 50% | |
Any Aid: |
56% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 31% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 96% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 610, Math: 640 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 700, Math: 720 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 26% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 27, Verbal: 26, Math: 26 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 31, Verbal: 32, Math: 31 |
| Application Fee: | $ 60.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Recommended |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
College Advice
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Best Answer
it depends on what you want. i would go with BC because it's more respected and smaller and doesn't have GRADE DEFLATION like BU does....
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Question:
Boston College?
I want to go to Boston college but I am not sure if its possible for me. I have a 2.1 GPA and chances are its going to fall even more because the school refuses to help me out with my conditon. I have a learning disability and they are very reluctant to do anything about the future or my past grades. I have taken AP Euro (i got a 4 on the exam) I took AP US (grade not yet known) and I took AP English (I got a 3 on the exam). What are my chances of getting into the university? I have asked my counsler and he wont help and I have no clue about colleges since I wasn't born here (I was born in Ukraine but I am a US citizen). So what are my chances on acceptance?
One additional question to those who can answer this. How likely would it be able for me to sue the college into accepting me on the stance of discrimination against the mentally disadvantaged?
One thing I forgot to add, I dont have any ACT or SAT scores. I took the ACT because its a state requirement and I got an 11 (the grade I had it wiped) despite that I took classes had tutors and bought those worthless books.
13 months ago
Best Answer
With a 2.1, sorry not even the slightest chance. You need at least a 3.8 with great SAT's. AP grades don't help you get into college, there only for college credit.
Also you probably won't have any luck suing. Boston College has its standards, and even though you are unfortunately mentally disadvantaged, Boston can only accept the brightest.
Sorry man, try going for a community college getting great grades, and then transferring.
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Question:
boston college...?
Is Boston college like a suburban campus in a city? also, how close is it to Northeastern?
14 months ago
Best Answer
Boston college not in Boston proper; it's actually in Chestnut Hill. . It is a beautiful campus that is removed from downtown Boston - if you want to be in the middle of the city, you should look at Boston University or Northeastern, both of which are actually in Boston city boundaries.
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is there a curfew in boston college dorms? any weird boy/ girl rules?
15 months ago
Best Answer
Curfew
Our program does have a curfew. All students must be inside their dorm room by 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and by midnight on Friday and Saturday for curfew check. There are no exceptions or extensions to the curfew.
Curfew does not mean lights out, however. Once you have been checked in, you are free to visit the other floors of your tower or hang out in the common areas on the 4th floor until 1 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, when you then have to be in your dorm room.
I couldn't find any info on boy/girl rules, sorry.
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Any help would be appreciated. Especially if you've been accepted/attended/know BC.
16 months ago
Best Answer
Unfortuately, being a legacy is huge at Boston College.
But besides that, community service is big there considering it is a Jesuit school. If you seem to exude their jesuit ideals of giving back (aka community service) that could really make you stand out.
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Question:
Boston College Admissions?
G.P.A.- 3.9
SAT- 1900-2100
Extra curriculars- too many to list, well over 15, including ballet, piano, and varsity soccer.
Volunteer work- 50 hours
* I am also taking 5 A.P courses and a member of the National Honors Society. I have also recieved many awards for leadership and I am an extremely well rounded and focused individual.
G.P.A.- 3.9
SAT- 1800-2100
Extra curriculars- too many to list, well over 15, including ballet, piano, and varsity soccer.
Volunteer work- 50 hours
* I am also taking 5 A.P courses and a member of the National Honors Society. I have also recieved many awards for leadership and I am an extremely well rounded and focused individual.
also,any more advice to increase my chances is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
16 months ago
Best Answer
ull get in. No doubt. also consider stanford, caltech, penn state, and notre dame
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Question:
University of Michigan & Boston College?
If you are admitted into U of Michigan Ann Arbor and Boston College, which one will you choose?
By comparing these two schools, can you list out the advantages and disadvantages of attending either school?
I hear that Detroit has a pretty high crime rate, is it true?
Is it hard to find internships or safe jobs there? in this case, is BC better?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
16 months ago
Best Answer
Michigan is not an ivy but it is a very hard school to get into out of state. If you are an out-of-stater, you will most likely be on the higher end, in terms of intelligence level. Also, Mich is not in Detroit, it's in Ann Arbor, so I wouldn't be too worried about Detroit. Michigan has great sports and its a big public schools. If you want a big place, the academics there are great.
Boston College is a smaller private school. It's fairly close to Boston, allowing for easy access to go into the city. Also, Boston is America's College Town so you have the possibility of meeting many other students your age. BC is a Jesuit school. If you are catholic, that might be a great match for you. If you are interested in Greek Life though, it doesn't exist at BC.
BC has a reputation for being a party school so the Michigan name might be a little better but it all depends. They are both really great schools.
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Question:
Undergraduate Boston College?
is it really that undergraduate study doesn't matter that much?
For my brother who wants to pursue in the medical field, he was admitted into University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Boston College. i dont know where i should advise him to go to. Someone once told me that it doesn't really matter what school you are going to when you are an undergraduate student. the most important is the graduate school. but is this really true?
i know U Michigan is better than Boston College in medical education. but it is related to the Graduate Medical School. If he goes to UMichigan rather than BC for undergrad, will he become a more competent student in this field? Does anyone have any ideas? Do you know where i can find out the strength of the science or medical programs of the universities in the US? Thanks a lot..
16 months ago
Best Answer
Both UMich and BC are great places to take all the requisite courses for medical school admissions. Both have great pre-med advisory programs.
Whether your brother chooses BC or UMich will have absolutely no bearing on getting into the Medical School at UMich (or anywhere else). His performance in his undergrad classes, his MCAT scores, his ability to do research with his undergraduate professors, and his ability to volunteer in some medical capacity while an undergrad will be the major factors in med school admissions.
From my perspective, his choice should be based on whether he would do better as a student at a smaller, more intimate college, or at a larger university.
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Question:
Should I transfer to Boston College?
I am a focussed and motivated student at Syracuse University. I have the chance to be a Finance, Accounting, and Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises triple major in the Whitman School of Management, which is ranked 42nd in the country by BusinessWeek.com. Or, I have the choice to be a Public Relations, Television Radio Film (Management), or Advertising (Management) major in the SI Newhouse Communications School, which is one of the top schools in the country. Whichever choice I take, I feel may change my life down the road one way or another. I am not so passionate one way or the other about the subjects, I am just a focussed student. Which path do you think I would be better off taking? Should I transfer for Boston College if I get the chance? Please state your expertise or background when answering the question. Thanks so much for your help, this is one of the biggest decisions I will have to make. THANKS!
17 months ago
Best Answer
First off, Syracuse is a great school. It would be tough to compare it against BC because both are very well-respected, and you can get a top notch education at either one. The Whitman School is a very good school, and you wouldn't go wrong there, but the Newhouse School is, by far, one of the best among communication/media/journalism programs in the country. I'd suggest factoring other things into the equation as well such as cost of living. Syracuse is relatively cheap and much easier to live in than Boston. Boston, however, is just an overall amazing, American city with so much to offer. Think long enough and you'll come up with a huge list of trade-offs.
I would say that eventually you will need to find a passion, or at the very least an area that you're good at and work your hardest to become the best at it. Many people study a subject in college that they don't even end up practicing in their careers, but that doesn't mean you should arbitrarily study modern dance with hopes of becoming a neurosurgeon. :)
My background: Bachelors and Masters degree, previously worked as a journalist, now working in government and public policy.
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I am a focussed and motivated student at Syracuse University. I have the chance to be a Finance, Accounting, and Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises triple major in the Whitman School of Management, which is ranked 42nd in the country by BusinessWeek.com. Or, I have the choice to be a Public Relations, Television Radio Film (Management), or Advertising (Management) major in the SI Newhouse Communications School, which is one of the top schools in the country. Whichever choice I take, I feel may change my life down the road one way or another. I am not so passionate one way or the other about the subjects, I am just a focussed student. Which path do you think I would be better off taking? Should I transfer for Boston College if I get the chance? Please state your expertise or background when answering the question. Thanks so much for your help, this is one of the biggest decisions I will have to make. THANKS!
17 months ago
Best Answer
Boston College clearly ranks higher than Syracuse overall and if you ever wanted to go on to grad school including MBA or law school, you would be MUCH better off if you graduated from BC.
If you stay at Syracuse, their communications school is clearly one of their best assets. The TRF sounds like it combines your interest in communications with your interest in management.
There are going to be lots of changes in the media field in the upcoming decade with the growth of high speed internet and user generated content. This could be a very hot field.
Remember though that college gives you a background in liberal arts with a concentration in a professional field. But it doesn't set your career path for life. The most important thing is to enjoy your few precious years in college!
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Question:
Can I get into Boston College?
I am a sophmore at a large NW public high school and I really want to attend Boston College. I want to know anything else I can do so that I can raise my chances of acceptance.
Stats
Sophmore
3.79 GPA
3 honors classes (school doesn't offer AP until junior year)
2 sports
9th grade Vice President (no student government this year but I plan on running for 11th grade)
Member of ambassadors club (members chosen by teachers)
Peer mentor club
took full year of leadership class
ran schoolwide food drive and penny drive and helped with and participated in school-wide empathy day
no missing assignments member
varsity tennis and jv soccer (9th grade)
varsity tennis and hopefully varsity soccer (sophmore year)
Around 20 hours of community/volunteer service
volunteer weekly at local nursing home with my dog
helped run beneficial car wash for local student who had a brain aneurism.
So those are my stats and a few things I have done....what else should I do so that I can get into Boston College?
18 months ago
Best Answer
Here is the Freshman Profile they have from their website.
http://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/class.html
It shows the number of people they have from certain class ranks and the average (and middle 50%) SAT scores of their freshman class. You can compare your scores with them (although I recommend thinking of the scores on that site as the minimum, as getting into colleges gets harder each year).
Colleges generally like students with plenty of volunteer hours that don't seem sporadic or crammed into their last two years of high school. Keep up with what you're doing and you should get in easily.
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19 months ago
Best Answer
First of all, both are pretty well known. BU is much larger than BC. Boston College has a Catholic affiliation whereas BU has no religious affiliation. BC is much like Notre Dame. If I had to make a call, I'd say BU is more prestigious.
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Best Answer
There is quite a difference between those two schools. Boston College is one of the best Catholic Universities in the country -- while St John's -- let's just say "not so much." I'm not sure why so many people here are saying that it is a good schol. It isn't.
The St John's in New York -- it isn't a particularly selective school. The average GPA is about 3.1 and the average SAT is only a little over 1000/1600. You can probably get in there -- and may be able to do better.
Boston College is a stretch for you. It is one of the better universities in the country. The average SAT score is about 1350 and 80% of the admitted students are in the top 10% of their class.
If you really want a Catholic University -- there are many that aren't quite as selective as Boston College but are a lot better than St John's.
Georgetown, Notre Dame and BC are clearly at the top of the pile.
Just below them, you have Villanova, Fordham, Holy Cross and Marquette.
Then you have dozens of other decent Catholic universities like Dayton and Fairfield.
Then, you have schools like St John's and Seton Hall that aren't particularly good.
Princeton Review has a tool that will help you find the right school for you.
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Just in case you were talking about the other St John -- here is a comment on that.
If you mean the St John's in Annapolis, Maryland (the Great books school) -- you have a shot if you have high SAT scores -- but it is much more selective.
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23 months ago
Best Answer
Boston College -- excellent academics, more national student population, superior athletics. People will know a BC degree, but they may or may have ever heard of Emerson and Northeastern.
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Question:
Brandeis or Boston college?
I am planning on applying to both these schools, I'd like to know if anyone has any experience in either schools. I heard some pros and cons, some say they didn't enjoy Brandeis, if you are one pls share your comments, it will be deeply appreciated.
23 months ago
Best Answer
You will have better city access at Boston College, if that's important to you. Brandeis has an outer-suburban location in a not-wildly-exciting town.
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Best Answer
Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, MA, which is right outside of the city limits and the last stop on the Green (B) Line of the T. It offers the combination of a suburban-like campus with the excitement of a major city nearby.
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