How to get into Boston University
How to get into Boston University: the supplement that actually filters, ED math, and the special programs
11.1%
Acceptance rate
$68,102
In-state cost
What makes Boston University admissions different
BU's headline acceptance rate has fallen into the low teens, but the real story is the school-by-school spread. Questrom (business), the College of Communication's combined-degree tracks, the seven-year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program (LAMEP), and the Kilachand Honors College all admit within the BU application and each has its own bar. BU's 'reason for transferring within BU' culture is real — many admitted students arrive via CAS and transfer internally — but the cleanest path is to pick correctly the first time and use the supplement to prove the fit.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply Early Decision I (Nov 1) or ED II (Jan 4) if BU is your top private-university choice. BU's ED admit rate runs meaningfully higher than RD and the binding signal carries real weight here.
- 2.
Pick the right school within BU. Questrom and the joint-medical LAMEP program are the most competitive entry points; CAS is the broadest. The supplement is read against the school you applied to, so the 'why BU' answer has to match the major and school.
- 3.
If you're interested in medicine and a top-2% applicant, look hard at LAMEP — the seven-year combined BA/MD program at BU's School of Medicine has its own essays, requires distinct preparation (shadowing, research, leadership), and admits a very small cohort directly from high school.
- 4.
Apply to the Kilachand Honors College by checking the box on the BU application and writing the additional 600-word Kilachand essay — admission is selective but adds a four-year living-learning community and Honors curriculum on top of any BU degree.
- 5.
Submit scores if competitive (SAT 1450+ / ACT 33+) — BU has been test-optional but published median scores for submitters skew high; submit only if your numbers reinforce the rest of the file.
- 6.
Use the 'why BU' supplement to name specific departments, professors, programs, BU Hub modules, or research labs — and connect them to what you've already done. 'I love city schools' is not enough.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Applying to Questrom with no business preparation. Questrom admits in a far tighter pool than CAS — coursework, work experience, DECA, FBLA, or a real venture all help; absence of any business-adjacent signal hurts.
- ✕
Skipping ED when BU is genuinely your top choice. The ED bump at BU is real and the binding constraint is not as punishing as students fear if BU is honestly first on the list.
- ✕
Treating the 'why BU' supplement like a 'why Boston' essay. The location matters, but the answer needs to be about BU specifically — programs, professors, Hub courses, College of Communication tracks, BU Spark!, the UROP research program.
- ✕
Assuming you can internal-transfer into Questrom or LAMEP after enrolling in CAS. Internal transfers do happen but they're competitive; do not plan around them.
- ✕
Forgetting to check the box for Kilachand Honors College and the Trustee Scholarship. Both are opt-in within the application and easy to miss.
The specifics for Boston University
Application deadlines
- Early Decision I2025-11-01Binding. Decision by mid-December 2025.
- Early Decision II2026-01-04Binding. Decision by mid-February 2026.
- Regular Decision2026-01-04Decision by late March 2026. Reply by May 1, 2026.
- Trustee Scholars Program2025-12-01Separate application + nomination required. Most scholars come from RD pool; ED applicants may also apply.
- Kilachand Honors College2026-01-04Apply by checking the Kilachand box and submitting the Kilachand essay with the BU application.
- Financial Aid (ED1)2025-11-15CSS Profile and FAFSA.
- Financial Aid (ED2 + RD)2026-02-15CSS Profile and FAFSA.
Supplemental essay prompts
- What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? How do you hope to contribute to our campus community?250 words · Required of all first-year applicants. Common App / Coalition / BU's portal.
- Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?250 words · Optional supplement.
- What does it mean to you to be a member of a community? How do you embody those values?250 words · Optional supplement.
- Kilachand Honors College: Briefly describe a meaningful experience in which you went out of your comfort zone — intellectually, socially, geographically, or personally — and what you learned from it.600 words · Required only for applicants to the Kilachand Honors College. Submit by checking the Kilachand box on the application.
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program (LAMEP) — 7-year BA/MD ↗
BU's combined-degree program admits a small cohort of high school seniors directly into a seven-year track that culminates in an MD from Boston University Chouinard School of Medicine. The program is among the most selective combined-degree pathways in the country; applicants must apply through the BU application and complete supplementary LAMEP materials.
A four-year honors living-learning community open to admits from any of BU's undergraduate schools. Kilachand students take Honors-specific seminars, complete a Keystone capstone project, and live together in dedicated residence halls. Admission is selective and requires the additional Kilachand essay.
10+ undergraduate schools and colleges ↗
BU's application is read by the specific school you apply to (College of Arts & Sciences, Questrom School of Business, College of Communication, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Sargent College, School of Hospitality Administration, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, etc.). Questrom and LAMEP run especially competitive pools.
Notable scholarships at Boston University
Trustee Scholars Program ↗Full tuition (renewable for 4 years)
BU's premier merit award. ~20 scholars selected per year. Applicants must be nominated and complete the separate Trustee Scholars Application by December 1. Selection emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, creativity, and impact.
Presidential Scholarship ↗$25,000/year (renewable)
Awarded to a small group of admitted students each year based on academic excellence and contribution to the application. No separate application — selection from the admit pool.
BU Community Service Awards ↗Up to $25,000/year
For admitted students with a sustained record of community service. Selection from the admit pool; separate application not required.
Heads up — recent changes
- BU remains test-optional for first-year applicants for the 2025-26 cycle (verify current policy).
- The Common App supplement structure (one required, plus optional) continues; the optional supplements are read into the file when submitted.
- BU continues to admit by school within the university — the supplement is read against the school you apply to, and applicants list a first- and second-choice school.
What graduates actually do
BU graduates enter finance, healthcare, media, and education, with strong pipelines into Boston-area employers. Median 1-year earnings ~$60k. About 25% head to grad school within a year. Top employers include Fidelity, Boston Children's Hospital, Liberty Mutual, Wayfair, and various Boston-area startups. The College of Communication drives a distinctive media/journalism pipeline.
Notable alumni
- Martin Luther King Jr. — Civil rights leader (PhD Theology)
- Howard Stern — Radio host
- Geena Davis — Actor
- Bill O'Reilly — Commentator (MA)
- Rosie O'Donnell — Comedian, talk show host
Transfer pathway
45% transfer acceptance rate
BU is fairly transfer-friendly, admitting ~1,500-2,000 transfers per year. BU has articulation agreements with several Massachusetts community colleges via the MassTransfer pathway. Transfer deadlines: November 1 (spring) and March 15 (fall). Minimum 12 transferable credits required.
Articulation partners
Bunker Hill Community College · MassBay Community College · Massasoit Community College · Quincy College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
BU rewards strong-stat applicants who can articulate a specific academic plan and who apply ED. If you're at BU's published median GPA/test band and you can credibly commit, ED1 to the right school is the single most leverage-y move you can make. If you're below the median for the school you want, ED2 with a sharper supplement gives you a second binding shot.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.