SAT Requirements for Boston University

Sup y'all! Feeling stressed about junior year - I think it's going to hit me hard - but I'm trying to keep focused on the big picture - college. Specifically Boston University. Do they have direct SAT requirements, or is there a ballpark range I should aim for?

Hey there! Boston University (BU) doesn't have a specific requirement for SAT scores, but since this is quite a selective institution, most students unsurprisingly do quite well. According to the most recent data, the middle 50% of SAT scores for admitted students ranges from 1410 to 1500.

This statistic means that 25% of admitted students scored below 1410, 25% scored above 1500, and the remaining 50% fell within this range. To be a competitive applicant, you'd ideally want to be in the upper end of that range, or even have a score above 1500.

Of course, in addition to SAT scores, BU will also consider other factors like grades, course rigor, extracurriculars, and essays among others. So while test scores do play a part in their decision-making process, they are not the only factor BU takes into consideration. Even if you're within or above this range, you'll still want to focus on these other aspects of your application, while if you're slightly below a 1410, don't panic - just focus on showcasing your strengths in other areas.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at Boston University, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including not just test scores but also GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at Boston University and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, whether by raising your SAT score slightly or some other step, like earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars.

Or, if you want tips on how to strengthen the more intangible aspects of your application, I'd check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle Boston University's school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-boston-university-essays/. Especially at selective schools like Boston University, the essays are a great opportunity to showcase what you have to offer beyond the numbers.

Finally, it's worth noting that BU is officially test-optional, so you actually are not required to submit an SAT (or ACT) score. However, you're smart to still be thinking about target SAT scores, as at selective institutions, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Good luck with your junior year and with the college application process! You're doing the right thing by starting your research now.