Boston College was once described by The New York Times as a university on a mission to become “the nation’s Catholic intellectual powerhouse,” and “the center for the study of Roman Catholic theology in the United States.” With its $3.78 billion dollar endowment and its status as a leading Jesuit institution of higher learning, BC has arguably attained this lofty mission. Not only has the private research university drawn the likes of former Secretary of the Treasury Alicia Munnell and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate John Hume as faculty, but former Secretary of State John Kerry, CEO of CVS Health Karen Lynch, and actress and comedian Amy Poehler are all alumni. Depending on who you ask, such alumni are called either “Eagles” (in reference to the prestigious Division I athletics program’s mascot) or “Heightsmen and Heightswomen” (which stems from campus’ nickname, The Heights).

Most undergraduates enroll in the Robert J. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, which is the oldest of BC’s schools and programs. Other programs accepting undergraduates include The James A. Woods, S.J. College of Advancing Studies for students following nontraditional academic paths, and the Carroll School of Management, one of the most rigorous and highly-ranked undergraduate business programs in the country. William F. Connell School of Nursing and the Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch School of Education and Human Development also run undergraduate programs. Associate degrees will soon be offered by the newly-minted Messina College, a two-year residential program, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. And don’t let the “College” moniker fool you, Boston College also operates graduate schools for law, theology & ministry, and social work.

The Boston College Core Curriculum is shared among all undergraduates to “acquire a common intellectual foundation” across the student body. Coursework is required in the following disciplines: “Arts,” “Cultural Diversity,” “History,” “Literature,” “Mathematics,” “Natural Science,” “Philosophy,” “Social Sciences,” “Theology,” and “Writing.” By taking a “Complex Problems and Enduring Questions” course, taught by two faculty from different departments to encourage an interdisciplinary exploration of the subject material, students can satisfy two core requirements at once.

In 1863, Boston College’s charter was formally approved by the state of Massachusetts after decades of opposition from Boston’s Protestant establishment. The school initially served the city’s growing Irish immigrant population, and the first curriculum was strictly Jesuit, with required coursework in the Classics, philosophy, and Christian theology. In the 20th century, BC moved to its current location in gorgeous Chestnut Hill. A registered historic district, the main campus has buildings in the Gothic Revival style and houses a two million volume library system with some of the largest collections of Jesuit historical manuscripts in the United States.

If one were to arrive on campus today, one would find a spirited student body composed of an elite cache of learners who bring their talents to The Heights, the student-run newspaper, The Stylus, the undergraduate literary magazine, and the Cross and Crown Honor Society, for seniors who have distinguished themselves with academic prowess and leadership. If one attended a highly-anticipated game of the men’s hockey or women’s lacrosse teams, both of which have brought home national championships, one might hear everyone sing along to “For Boston,” the university’s fight song (and the first college fight song in U.S. history!).

Boston College has been no exception to the recent decline in acceptance rates for elite institutions in the United States. 5,00 applicants were accepted to the Class of 2029 from a pool of 39,681. This 15% acceptance rate was the lowest in the school’s history, a figure which continues to descend with each admissions cycle. According to Boston College Admissions, the BC experience is composed of a blend of “liberal arts,” “Jesuit, Catholic tradition,” and a “formative education” that cultivates holistic personal growth. Prospective applicants should consider that demonstrating an investment in Jesuit values, regardless of one’s own faith, is integral to crafting a competitive application. If you’re wondering how to best go about conveying your spiritual character, consulting with New Ivies will answer all of your questions and take you one step closer to sporting the school’s signature maroon and gold!

What are Boston College looking for?

We’re educating men and women who shape the world with vision, justice, and charity. Be part of a new generation of independent thinkers and change-makers addressing the challenges of contemporary life.

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Additional essay questions of the application.

Supplemental Questions 2025-26

We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the first four prompts below (400 word limit). Students applying to the Human Centered Engineering major should respond to Prompt #5 instead.

1. Strong communities are sustained by traditions. Boston College's annual calendar is marked with both long-standing and newer traditions that help shape our community. Tell us about a meaningful tradition in your family or community. Why is it important to you, and how does it bring people together or strengthen the bonds of those who participate?

2. The late BC theology professor, Father Michael Himes, argued that a university is not a place to which you go, but instead, a "rigorous and sustained conversation about the great questions of human existence, among the widest possible circle of the best possible conversation partners.” Who has been your most meaningful conversation partner, and what profound questions have you considered together?

3. In her July 2009 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

4. Boston College’s Jesuit mission highlights “the three Be’s”: be attentive, be reflective, be loving – core to Jesuit education (see A Pocket Guide to Jesuit Education). If you could add a fourth “Be,” what would it be and why? How would this new value support your personal development and enrich the BC community?

5. Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?