For Information Contact:
Undergraduate Admission
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-3100
800-360-2522 (toll-free)
Fax: 617-552-0798
E-mail: ugadmis@bc.edu
COSTS:
Tuition:
$37,450
Room and Board:
$11,170
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,500
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Overview
Boston College (BC) was founded in 1863 by the Jesuits to serve the sons of Boston's Irish immigrants. Today a coeducational university on more than 200 acres in Chestnut Hill, BC may seem a world apart from the small school in the crowded heart of Boston that was its first home. Through more than fourteen decades of growth and change, however, BC has held fast to the Jesuit ideals that inspired its founders. A Jesuit education today, as a century ago, is grounded in the liberal arts and in a commitment to the service of others.
As the needs of its student body have grown, so have the university's offerings: twelve schools, colleges, and institutes now offer eleven degree programs and two certificate programs. Undergraduates may enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, the Connell School of Nursing, or the Lynch School of Education.
BC's more than 8,900 undergraduates come from many backgrounds. The university draws from all fifty states and nearly 100 countries. Students' religious and cultural backgrounds are similarly diverse. Today, the university's AHANA (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) and international students make up nearly 35 percent of the undergraduate student body.
In today's complex and increasingly diverse world, the university believes that the best education is one that broadens a student's capacity to reason, to think, and to make critical judgments in a wide range of areas. Thus, each BC student fulfills a core of liberal arts courses from which he or she can pursue degrees in more than fifty areas of study and choose from more than 1,400 class sections throughout the university.
According to several recent national publications, BC is in the top tier of the nation's colleges and universities. The foundation for that achievement is the university's scholars and researchers—662 full-time professionals who make up the faculty. The kinship between teachers and students is one of the hallmarks of a BC education; that relationship is nurtured by a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. The median class size at the university is 23 students.
Location and Community
Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Newton, BC sits on the doorstep of one of America's great cities, a center of culture and education for more than three centuries. It is an energetic, cosmopolitan city that draws life and enthusiasm from the more than 200,000 college students in residence during the academic year. Located just 6 miles from downtown Boston and with easy access to the city via the trolley system that stops at the foot of the campus, BC offers the best of both worlds: a scenic suburban setting neighboring an exciting metropolitan center.
Academic Life
Every BC education is centered on a core curriculum—a set of required courses. BC offers a core curriculum because it believes in the unity of knowledge. While the core, which is continually reviewed by a committee of faculty members, varies somewhat by school, its common elements include literature, natural science, writing, philosophy, theology, social science, modern European history, mathematics, fine arts, and the study of a non-European culture.
There are a wide variety of extraordinary academic programs that BC students can participate in to enhance their educational experience. They include, among others, honors programs within each of the university's four undergraduate schools, Undergraduate Faculty Research Fellows, the Scholar of the College, PULSE, and Perspectives on Western Culture.
BC encourages all students to take part in internship programs. More than 70 percent of BC undergraduates participate in at least one internship or prepracticum placement during their college years. Internships can be paid or unpaid and may take place during the academic year or the summer; some carry academic credit.
BC has 662 full-time faculty members. Of these faculty members, 97 percent hold doctoral degrees. The 110 Jesuits living on the BC campus make up one of the largest Apostolic Jesuit communities in the world. Nearly half of these members are active in the university's administration and teaching.
BC students may take on the challenge of international study in one of seventy-seven programs administered by BC at universities in more than thirty countries. BC students who study abroad typically do so in their junior year, but there is also a range of full-year and summer-abroad opportunities. The Office of International Partnerships and Programs helps students with program selection and applications and maintains a library of reference books and professional evaluations of international study programs.
Majors Offered:
The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) is the oldest and largest of the four undergraduate schools at BC. A&S students must complete thirty-eight 1-semester courses, thirty-two of which are in A&S departments. The normal course load is five courses per semester for the first three years and four courses per semester during the senior year. The undergraduate curriculum includes the university Core Curriculum and ten to twelve courses in the major field, with the remainder of courses chosen as electives. A&S offers degrees in the following areas: art history, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, classical studies, communication, computer science, economics, English, environmental geosciences, film studies, French, geology and geophysics, German studies, Hispanic studies, history, international studies, Italian, linguistics, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, Romance languages and literatures, Russian, Slavic studies, sociology, studio art, theater, and theology. Preprofessional advisement is also available in medical, dental, veterinary, and legal programs. Students can also select from twenty interdisciplinary programs.
The Carroll School of Management educates students to be leaders in business and industry and in public agencies, educational institutions, and service organizations. The Carroll School offers concentrations in accounting, computer science, economics, finance, general management, human resources management, information systems, marketing, and operations technology, placing special emphasis on ethical management and international management.
The Lynch School of Education prepares students for education and human services professions. Programs provide a general education, professional preparation, and specialized education in the major field. Fieldwork in area schools is closely linked to course work in each specialization. The Lynch School awards degrees upon completion of thirty-eight courses, including the University Core, a major field of study in education, and a second major in a subject field or an interdisciplinary area in A&S that complements the student's program. Areas of specialization include early childhood education, elementary education, human development, secondary education, and a minor in special needs education.
The Connell School of Nursing offers a four-year program of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. The three major components to the curriculum are nursing major courses, electives, and the required University Core. In all courses, principles of wellness, illness, rehabilitation, and health maintenance serve as a theoretical basis in preparing students for professional nursing practice. Nursing courses include traditional classes, simulated and audiovisual laboratory activities on campus, and clinical learning activities in health-care settings.
Facilities and Resources
BC's eight libraries contain 1.97 million printed volumes, more than 4 million items in microform, approximately 207,500 government documents, 6,800-linear feet of manuscripts, and a wide collection of films and archival items. The resources of the library system range from some of Europe's earliest printed books to hundreds of computerized databases. Students with personal computers have dorm-room access to these databases as well as to Quest and other library information sources through Agora, the campus information network.
Research laboratories in the state-of-the-art science facilities have been specially designed to accommodate the advanced instrumentation required for modern science and to provide flexibility for accommodating new equipment. The recent $85-million expansion to the Higgins Biology and Physics Center was carefully designed to place classrooms, laboratories, computer facilities, and office space in proximity and to facilitate interaction among faculty members, researchers, and students. In addition to the Center's seventeen new teaching laboratories, special working labs are designed and outfitted for research and teaching in the fields of biology and physics.
Campus Life
At BC, learning continues beyond the classroom in more than 200 student-run organizations. These include student government, honor societies, language and cultural organizations, performance ensembles, political groups, preprofessional clubs, publications, and service organizations.
The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC), formed in 1968, is led by the president and vice president, who are elected in the spring of each year by the entire student body. UGBC's goal is to serve the students by providing services and opportunities and by representing them in the best manner possible to the university community. To accomplish this goal, UGBC provides many educational, social, and cultural programs, such as concerts, lectures, roundtables, and other programs.
Off Campus/Study Abroad
Boston College has a vibrant study abroad program and approximately 25-30% of the junior class studies in another country.Through the Office of International Programs, BC has over 40 partnerships worldwide through which students are integrated into overseas universities. has over 40 partnerships worldwide through which students are integrated into overseas universities. BC has over 40 partnerships worldwide through which students are integrated into overseas universities. Office of International Programs
Diversity
The Office for Institutional Diversity (OID) was established in the spring of 2004 as the successor to the Office of Affirmative Action, which was itself established in September 1971 and was one of the first of its kind in the nation. In establishing the OID, the University signaled its commitment to redirect and strengthen its efforts in the area of diversity. Our overarching goal is to make diversity a way of life at Boston College.
International Students
Boston College is home to international students from 97 nations around the world. Since preparations for entering a college in the United States are complex, international students should begin their application process one year before intended enrollment. The F-1 student visa is the most common visa for undergraduate students at Boston College. The eligibility criteria include admission to the University, evidence of financial funds to support the student's studies and living expenses in the US, and indication of English proficiency.
The Office of International Students & Scholars at Boston College serves as one of the primary offices devoted to meeting the needs international students at Boston College. Additionally, the office provides program advisement to nearly 40 intercultural clubs.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
Boston College sponsors fourteen varsity teams for men and seventeen for women, all of which compete at the NCAA Division I level. The university also supports thirty-eight club and intramural sports.
Expenses
Tuition for the academic year is $37,450. The freshman room rate is $6,270. The board plan, which is required for all resident freshmen, is $3,900. Freshman mandatory fees, which include a charge for on-campus orientation, totaled $900.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
BC maintains a financial aid program to assist deserving and qualified students who might otherwise not be able to attend the university. Boston College is committed to providing funds to meet the full demonstrated need of every admitted student who applies for financial aid. Overall, 62 percent of students receive some form of financial aid. Assistance for freshmen alone included more than $16 million in need-based grants. The university offers financial aid to students based on need as demonstrated by completion of the College Scholarship Service's Financial Aid PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All requirements and deadlines and complete instructions are available in BC admission literature. An application for financial aid in no way affects a decision on admission.
Each year, BC chooses 15 incoming freshmen as Presidential Scholars to receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships. Students are selected from all candidates who apply through the Early Action program.
Admission Requirements / Application
The undergraduate admission staff pays particular attention to students who have done well in a demanding college-preparatory curriculum, including Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses when available. For the class of 2009, there were nearly 24,000 applications for 2,250 places. The majority of incoming freshmen ranked comfortably in the top 10 percent of their high school class. The SAT scores of the middle half of admitted freshmen were 1260–1410. On the ACT, scores of the middle half were between 27 and 31.
Students applying to Boston College for a place in the freshman class must complete both the Common Application and the Boston College Supplemental Application. All applicants should submit the BC Supplemental Application as soon as they have decided to apply to Boston College.
Students applying through the regular admission program must submit the Common Application and all other required forms, along with the $60 application fee, by January 2. Candidates are notified of action taken on their application in early April. Admitted students intending to matriculate are required to forward an acceptance fee to the Admission Office postmarked by May 1.
Students with superior academic credentials who view Boston College as a top choice may apply through the nonbinding and nonrestrictive early action program. These applicants must submit both application forms, along with the $60 application fee, by November 1. Candidates learn of their admission decision before December 25 but have the standard deadline (May 1) to reserve their places as freshmen.
BC accepts transfer applicants each semester. Transfer candidates should request applications for transfer admission from the Office of Undergraduate Admission or via the Web site at http://www.bc.edu/transfer. In addition to high school records and standardized test results, transfer applicants must furnish transcripts from all postsecondary institutions they have attended.
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