Boston University seeks to attract academically talented students who will succeed and thrive here and also contribute to the growth of the University’s community.

Our best indicator of how you will do at Boston University is your performance in high school. When we review your high school transcript, we consider a variety of factors, including overall level of achievement, enrollment in honors and AP- or IB-level courses, and individual academic strengths.

The Board of Admissions carefully reviews every application for undergraduate admission to decide whether to grant admission to Boston University. The Board places primary emphasis on the strength of a student’s secondary school record. Students most competitive for admission will have excelled in the most challenging coursework available to them. For most programs at the University, the recommended high school/secondary school curriculum includes:

Four years of English

Three to four years of mathematics (precalculus/calculus recommended)

Three to four years of laboratory science

Three to four years of history and/or social science

Two to four years of a foreign language

The scores of required tests (SAT or ACT), teacher and counselor recommendations, and other personal qualifications as demonstrated by extracurricular activities are also carefully evaluated and weighed before decisions to offer admission are made. Your application essay is also significant, because it demonstrates what you think and how clearly you express yourself.

We also want to see what kind of citizen you have been in your high school community—what activities you participate in or after-school jobs you have held. We also look for extracurricular activities in which you have participated that indicate a match between your experiences or academic interests and the opportunities available at Boston University.

Because there are so many special programs, Schools, and Colleges at the University, we ask that you carefully read the specific requirements outlined in the Application Instructions.

Notheastern is the hardest to get into. Just remember … its not all about GPA.