Application Instructions — Freshman Applicants

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Boston University accepts the Common Application exclusively.

To complete your application and the required Boston University Supplement, please visit the Common Application website. We recommend that you read the following instructions carefully before beginning your application.


  • Application Process


    • Fill out the Common Application and the Supplement completely. On the Supplement, you must apply to a specific School or College within Boston University and indicate a specific area of intended study within that School or College (please refer to the Schools, Colleges, and Programs list of the instructions for options). If you have no one School or subject in mind, we suggest you apply to the College of Arts and Sciences and select "Undeclared" (CAS 23). The liberal arts curriculum will allow you two years to decide upon a field of study.

    Please note that admission requirements vary from School, College, or program based on the competition for seats in the class and the size of the program to which you apply. While you are guaranteed consideration for the School or College to which you have applied, it is possible that you would be offered admission to the College of General Studies, the Science and Engineering Program at Metropolitan College, or another program at the University for which you are academically qualified. Please note the following exceptions: Students who previously applied for admission to Boston University and were offered admission to the College of General Studies or to the Science and Engineering Program, or who were denied admission to the University, may reapply but must complete one full academic year of coursework before being considered for admission to Boston University.

    You may pay your $75 nonrefundable application fee by credit card when you submit the Common Application online.

    Please note that all materials and documents submitted as part of an application for admission become the property of Boston University and cannot be returned to the applicant.


  • Boston University Web Account


    • In order for the Office of Admissions to remain in contact with you, it is very important that you provide us with a valid e-mail address on the application and notify us whenever you change this address. Once the Office of Admissions has processed your application, you will be e-mailed instructions on setting up a secure Web account. Once you have set up your account, this site will allow you to: In order to ensure that messages from the Office of Admissions reach your account, please add admdept@bu.edu to your contacts or approved senders list.


  • Application Review


    • The Board of Admissions carefully reviews every application for undergraduate admission to decide whether to grant admission to Boston University. The Board places primary emphasis on the strength of a student's secondary school record. Students most competitive for admission will have excelled in the most challenging coursework available to them. For most programs at the University, the recommended high school/secondary school curriculum includes: The scores of required tests (see Standardized Testing below), essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, and other personal qualifications as demonstrated by extracurricular activities are also carefully evaluated and weighed before decisions to offer admission are made.



  • Required Supporting Credentials


    • These supporting credentials may be mailed to:  Boston University Office of Admissions, 121 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215.


  • High School Transcript


    • All applicants must submit official copies of their secondary school transcripts. Students enrolled in a foreign curriculum with national exams should also submit these results. Applicants should also request the results of all grading periods completed at the time of application. Applicants are required to submit midyear senior grades as soon as they are available. Please visit the Common Application website and click on "Forms" to locate the Midyear Report. Print a copy of the Midyear Report form and give it to your guidance counselor to return along with your midyear grades.

    Students who are offered admission are also required to submit proof of high school graduation, indicating satisfaction of all state graduation requirements. Students who are not graduating from a regionally accredited high school must submit results of the Test of General Education Development (GED). Students who are home-schooled may contact the Office of Admissions at 617-353-2300 or read the information for home-schooled students.


  • School Report Form


    • Applicants must also submit the School Report form. Please print the form found by clicking on the "Forms" tab on the Common Application website and give it to your guidance counselor or school offical.


  • Teacher Evaluation


    • All applicants must submit a Teacher Evaluation. Please print the form found by clicking on the "Forms" tab on the Common Application website and give it to a teacher who is directly familiar with your work. Please allow time for the writing of the evaluation, and please stress the importance of returning the form by the application deadline.

    Please note: All applicants to the Accelerated Medical or Dental Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences must submit three Accelerated Programs Teacher Evaluation Forms — one each from a teacher of English, laboratory science, and either history or a foreign language. The deadline for submitting these forms is December 1.


  • College/University Transcript(s)


    • All freshman applicants who have completed college or university coursework must submit official transcripts of this coursework. Any student who has enrolled with degree status at a college or university must apply to Boston University as a candidate for transfer admission. If you are not certain of your status at a college or university you have attended, please contact the registrar's office at that institution.


  • Standardized Testing


    • Applicants are required to submit results of the College Board's Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the ACT (with Writing Test), along with any SAT Subject Tests that are required for admission to the program of application. In most programs, the results of the ACT (with Writing Test) will be considered in lieu of the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. Please consult the Requirements and Standards chart for more detailed information.

    When you register to take the SAT, ACT (with Writing Test), or SAT Subject Tests, make sure you indicate on the registration form that you would like to have your official score report sent directly to Boston University. For the SAT, the College Board number for Boston University is 3087. The ACT code number for Boston University is 1794.

    Your application will not be considered complete until we have received official score reports directly from the College Board or ACT, even if your scores are recorded on your high school transcript.

    If English is not your first language, or if English is not the primary language spoken in your home, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

    The following are test scores required on the different types of TOEFL exams. Students should indicate on the TOEFL registration form that they wish the test results to be sent directly to Boston University. The TOEFL code for Boston University is 3087. To receive information about the TOEFL, applicants should contact: For testing in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, telephone: 1-800-468-6335. Other countries, telephone: 609-771-7100. Information may also be found online at www.toefl.org.

    In lieu of the TOEFL exam, students may submit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A score of 7 or higher on this exam will also satisfy our English Language proficiency requirement for all programs. Information on IELTS may be obtained from the system's website at www.ielts.org.


  • Essays


    • All applicants are required to submit one long essay in the space provided on the Common Application as well as a short essay on the Boston University Supplement. Some programs require additional essays. Please see the Boston University Supplement for further information.


  • Portfolios and Auditions


    • A portfolio or an audition is a required component of an application for admission to the College of Fine Arts. Students who wish to study theatre, music, or visual arts must satisfy both academic and artistic entrance standards of the University. For more information about auditions and portfolios, please visit the College of Fine Arts website.

    If you are not an applicant to the College of Fine Arts, please do not submit portfolios, videotapes, CDs, tapes, or other samples of personal work. These materials will not be considered by the admissions committee or be reviewed by the faculty.


  • Interviews


    • Interviews are not required for admission with the following exceptions: selected finalists for our Accelerated Medical and Dental Programs will be invited to Boston University for the required interview, and all students applying for the nonperformance majors in the School of Theatre must schedule an interview with that program as part of the application process.



  • Early Decision Applicants


    • If Boston University is your first choice, we welcome your application under our binding Early Decision Program. The Early Decision Program is an option only for high school seniors applying for September admission; some programs and scholarships do not have an Early Decision option. Be certain to consult the Requirements and Standards chart before applying to the School or program in which you are interested.

    Students applying under Early Decision will be required to submit complete applications by November 1 and will be notified of an admissions decision by December 15.

    Please Note: students will not be considered for admission to the College of General Studies through Early Decision unless they apply to that College directly.

    Early Decision candidates are required to submit an Early Decision Agreement, which can be found on the Common Application website. This Statement outlines the binding nature of this option and must be signed by the applicant, a parent or guardian, and a guidance counselor.

    If admitted under Early Decision, you are required to submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit. You are also required to withdraw applications to other colleges and universities. Students who are not admitted for Early Decision and who are deferred to Regular Decision will be considered for admission only after they submit their midyear grades. Students deferred from our Early Decision Program to Regular Decision will be notified of a final admissions decision in late March.

    In addition to early notification of admission, students who are admitted under Early Decision will be given priority consideration for housing.

    Please note: Early Decision applicants will not receive notification of any full-tuition merit awards until late March.

    Please make sure that all credentials are addressed to:

  • Early Admission Program


    • Early Admission provides an opportunity for students to enter undergraduate programs before graduating from high school. Applicants must complete three years of secondary school, and may only apply for September admission.

    All students who enroll early must satisfy the University's requirement of a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to the fall semester of their sophomore year. Some secondary schools confer a diploma on students after they complete their freshman year at the University. Consult your guidance counselor for the practice in your school.

    Candidates for Early Admission are expected to present an academic record of notable achievement and superior test scores, and to demonstrate exceptional maturity. More information may be obtained by contacting us at 617-353-2300. Some programs do not have an Early Admission option. Please consult the Requirements and Standards chart in the instructions.



  • January Admission


    • If you are applying for January admission, please check the Requirements and Standards chart to be certain that the program to which you are applying allows January admission.



  • Second Bachelor's Degrees


    • Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree may apply to the University to pursue a second bachelor's. The deadline for January admission is November 1. The deadline for September admission is January 1. Credit that was earned toward a first bachelor's degree cannot be considered for transfer. Admitted students must meet all of the degree and residency requirements of the School/College and program of admission. Students who enroll in a second baccalaureate program may be eligible for some types of loan funding; however, they cannot be considered for institutional financial aid funds, or for federal or state grants. Second Bachelor's Degree candidates must apply as freshman applicants.



  • Part-time and Evening Programs


    • If you are interested in part-time or evening study, you should request information by calling Boston University's Metropolitan College at 617-353-6000. International students are not eligible for part-time study. International students interested in full-time degree programs of Metropolitan College should contact the Office of Admissions at 617-353-4492 or intadmis@bu.edu.



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