Hi everyone! I'm really considering applying to Boston University, but I'm not quite sure how competitive it is. Can anyone provide some insight into BU's admissions statistics, like acceptance rate, average GPA or test scores, etc.? Thanks!
Hi! Boston University is a fairly competitive school, and here are some admission statistics to help you gauge its selectivity.
The acceptance rate for BU in recent years has been around 15%. Given this selectivity, unsurprisingly admitted students typically have strong academic backgrounds. The middle 50% of admitted students have a GPA ranging from around 3.8 to 4.0 (unweighted).
Although BU is currently test-optional, accepted students who did submit test scores typically have an SAT between 1350-1500, or an ACT score between 31-34. Given that BU has been getting increasingly competitive in recent years, investing time and energy into aiming for a score within these ranges would likely be worth your while, despite the school's official test-optional policy. If you want to read more about how to navigate test-optional policies, you can find detailed guidance on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional/.
Keep in mind that BU, like many other universities, also considers a variety of factors beyond just test scores and GPA in their admissions process, such as essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest. While these statistics can be helpful to understand the general competitiveness of the university, remember that every applicant's profile is unique, and other aspects of your application can also enhance your chances of admission.
For example, personal essays are often what distinguishes one qualified applicant from another. If you want guidance on how to tackle BU's school-specific supplemental essay prompts, check out this post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-boston-university-essays.
Good luck with your application, and I hope this gives you a better sense of Boston University's admissions landscape!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.