@BridgetBostonU, @AnastasiaBostonU, what advice do you have for students hoping to get accepted into the Class of 2029 at Boston U?
@SmallKindergardener International applicants will need to provide English proficiency exam scores. We take a variety of exams like the Duolingo, TOEFL and IELTS. The scores will vary depending on the exam.
Oh thanks for your reply!
In terms of higher level coursework, can you elaborate at all on whatâs expected.
My 2026 student is planning to apply to BU. My 2024 was offered GT but she has completed 11 AP classes including various social science APs and BC Calculus (scoring mostly 3âs and some 4âs). She is taking honors science classes as well but not AP. My 2026 will have only 6 AP courses by the time she graduatesâŠshould we maybe reconsider applying? Sounds like itâs not enough
Awesome question @Bao_Khang_Nguyen! Thereâs tons of different projects going on all throughout campus. With the new CDS building, research is really at the forefront of students and faculties experience. You can see a lot of the really great work being done here: https://www.bu.edu/eng/research-impact/research-centers-institutes/
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Thank you ! Yes, guaranteed housing in Boston is a huge benefit. With respect to standardized tests, do you recommend that a student NOT submit a score that falls below the middle 50%? For example, should a student submit an SAT socre of 1420?
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@Bruno99 not necessarily. Every year in admissions is different and each applicant pool brings different calibers of students. Different programs will look for different things, we also factor in extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, etc. Students are far more than just a transcript! If BU is a place your student is interested in, weâd certainly encourage them to still apply.
BostonU is one of the few schools that offers awards to National Merit Finalists. @BridgetBostonU, @AnastasiaBostonU, do you want to share more information about this?
@MA2025 We are test optional for studentâs applying Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. This is truly your choice whether to submit or not. I think if you are falling in the median it is worth consideration, however, you should weigh whether you believe it is a strong indicator of your academic ability. If you choose not to submit it does not reflect poorly on you as an applicant!
One of the best ways to connect with us is to visit! We offer informational sessions and tours 6 days a week throughout most of the year. We also offer virtual sessions and tours each month if youâd like to learn more about us online! You can find more about our visit opportunities here: Visiting Boston University's Campus | Admissions
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My best piece of advice is to be thoughtful through the application process. We receive a large number of applications every year and while we would love the opportunity to engage with all of our students we simply canât. The application is the place for us to do that. Please be sure to include ALL of the wonderful things you do and participate in. Use the essay as a way for us to get to know you more - what is the one thing you would want me to walk away knowing about you. Lastly, ask your questions and proof read 
!
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In the polls above, students have indicated they want to find out more about the student life at BostonU. Can you share something about your culture, life on campus, opportunities for students, etc.?
Great question! High school seniors who have been chosen as National Merit finalists and are offered admission to Boston University will be considered for a four-year, $25,000 tuition BU Presidential Scholarship.
**To be eligible; Students must submit your application for admission and all supporting credentials by January 4 of their application year AND Designate BU as your first-choice college with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation before March 1st
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We have over 450 different clubs and organizations at BU! Our community of just over 17,000 undergraduates is made up of students from all 50 states and over 100 different countries, meaning there are hundreds and thousands of different interests represented around campus. With so much to do itâs really easy for students to create small pockets of community to be apart of! Students can learn more about our clubs and activities here: Student Activities | Admissions
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I will add that we have some really great traditions including Lobster Night in the dining hall, the pumpkin drop through the physics department and Splash - our student activities fair that highlight our 450+ clubs and orgs at the beginning of each semester.
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@Publisher as far as financial aid is concerned we are need-aware in our review process. For the vast majority of students financial need does not play a large role in the decision, but when it comes down to those final few decisions financial need is a piece that gets considered. However, we do meet 100% of demonstrated need for our admitted domestic first year students.
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If there arenât any other questions, letâs wrap this live session. @BridgetBostonU, @AnastasiaBostonU, THANK YOU for making time to answer our questions! Itâs been a super helpful session and we look forward to doing this again soon.
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Thank you !
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Thank you so much @CC_Sorin for a great session! If folks have additional questions about BU, please feel free to email admissions@bu.edu to have them answered by one of our staff members, or register for an information session via our admissions website to learn more about our amazing opportunities. We look forward to helping you throughout your college search process and hope to see you all soon!
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@BridgetBostonU So grateful that BU offers this scholarship for NMFs. For students applying RD to BU, do they have more time to designate BU as their first choice? The 3/1 deadline is before RD applicants hear back from BU. For students relying on merit aid, it doesnât seem ethical to ask those students to designate BU as a first choice before they hear back on the admission decision.