Does Boston College prefer ACT or SAT?

Boston College is test-optional, meaning you can choose whether to submit scores, but they strongly encourage submitting competitive SAT or ACT scores because internal data shows scores help predict success, with most admitted students submitting them (around 75% for recent classes). BC doesn't prefer one test over the other; it's a matter of personal performance, but competitive scores (e.g., ACT 33-34+, SAT 1460-1520+) significantly boost your application in their holistic review.

Does Boston College require SAT or ACT?

Boston College has a test-optional admission policy.

Should I submit a 32 ACT to Boston College?

The 25th percentile ACT score is 33, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 35. Even though Boston College likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application.

Do any colleges prefer ACT over SAT?

Colleges don't have a preference. All colleges that accept or require an admission test accept the SAT. While ACT transitions test formats, some colleges are updating their test policies, ranging from requiring the ACT Science section to not calculating an ACT superscore in the 2025-26 application cycle.

Should I submit a 1400 SAT score to Boston College?

You should probably submit a 1400 SAT score to Boston College (BC) as it's near the lower end (around the 25th percentile) of admitted students, and BC is "test-preferred," meaning strong scores help, especially if they fall within their typical range (mid-1400s to mid-1500s) or if your score is strong for your high school. However, BC is holistic, so a lower score won't automatically hurt if your essays, GPA, and extracurriculars are exceptional, but scores significantly below 1350 are risky unless you have truly standout strengths. 

How I Got Into Boston College (GPA, SAT + ACT SCORES, ESSAYS, ECs, APs)

What was Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score?

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, achieving the maximum possible score before attending Harvard University. This high score reflects his exceptional academic performance, matching other tech leaders like Bill Gates and Will Smith who also attained near-perfect or perfect scores, according to various reports.
 

Is Notre Dame or BC harder to get into?

Generally, the University of Notre Dame is harder to get into than Boston College, based on lower acceptance rates and higher average test scores, making Notre Dame a more selective "reach" school, though both are highly competitive selective universities. While Notre Dame's acceptance rate hovers around 15-18%, BC's is slightly higher (around 16-27% depending on the year), but both demand strong academics, leadership, and service commitment. 

What is Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

Is 36 ACT or 1600 SAT better?

A 36 on the ACT is the highest possible score, and it is considered equivalent to a perfect 1600 on the SAT (the highest score possible on the SAT), according to official concordance tables, meaning they are generally viewed as equally exceptional achievements by colleges. While both represent peak performance, the ACT composite is an average of four sections, while the SAT total is the sum of two, but at this top level, they signify the same elite standing, making both scores highly competitive for any university. 

What was Bill Clinton's SAT score?

Bill Clinton

The 42nd president of the United States scored a 1032—12 points above average—on his SAT. Still, Clinton excelled at Georgetown University, where he majored in Foreign Service and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor in 1973.

Is BC or BU more prestigious?

Neither Boston College (BC) nor Boston University (BU) is definitively "more" prestigious; they are both highly regarded, but excel in different areas, with BC often seen as stronger in undergraduate liberal arts and BU as a larger, research-intensive university with strengths in global presence and professional programs like Medicine/Engineering, though rankings vary, with some placing BC slightly higher nationally and BU higher globally or in specific research metrics. The choice often depends on student preference for BC's Jesuit, campus-focused environment or BU's urban, expansive setting. 

Which ivy has the lowest SAT?

While all Ivies are highly competitive, Cornell and Dartmouth generally have slightly lower middle 50% SAT score ranges compared to schools like Harvard or Princeton, with Cornell often showing the most flexibility (e.g., 1430-1550 range), but scores around 1440-1500 (25th percentile) are typical for the lower end of admitted students across the league, with some exceptional admits getting in with lower scores due to other strengths, according to Prep Expert and PrepScholar. 

How to get a full ride to Boston College?

Presidential Scholars receive a merit scholarship that covers full tuition at BC, regardless of financial need. If the merit award does not meet their financial aid requirements, Scholars receive additional grant and aid resources sufficient to meet full need. The cost of summer programs is covered by a separate award.

What SAT score is top 1%?

A top 1% SAT score generally starts around 1530 and above, with scores like 1530-1600 placing you in the 99th percentile, indicating exceptional performance, though exact thresholds shift slightly year to year with the test takers. A score of 1450+ is often cited as the top 10% or so, while 1500+ firmly puts you in the top 1-2% for college admissions, with scores like 1560+ often seen as competitive for top universities. 

What is a good ACT score for Boston College?

Boston College has an acceptance rate of 16%. Half the applicants admitted to Boston College who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1440 and 1540 or an ACT score of 33 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.

Does MIT require an ACT?

MIT requires either the SAT or the ACT from all first-year applicants. They do not require the ACT writing section or the SAT optional essay. If you take the same test multiple times, they will consider the highest score achieved in each section, so they can consider all applicants in their best light.

Did Mark Zuckerberg get a 1600 on SAT?

Yes, reports widely state that Mark Zuckerberg scored a perfect 1600 (or sometimes a near-perfect 1590) on his SAT, achieving top marks before attending Harvard University, consistent with his reputation as a gifted student and programmer.
 

What is Elon Musk's SAT score?

Elon Musk reportedly scored a 1400 on the SAT in the late 1980s, on his second attempt, according to his biographer Walter Isaacson, though this score is often discussed in relation to estimated IQ rather than as a definitive measure of his intelligence, with various interpretations placing his IQ in the mid-130s or higher, depending on the source and calculation.
 

What was Kobe Bryant's SAT score?

Kobe Bryant scored a 1080 on the SAT, a respectable score that, along with his high school grades, would have qualified him for many top universities, but he chose to go directly to the NBA from high school, becoming one of the first players to do so in the 90s.
 

Did Taylor Swift have a 4.0 GPA?

Yes, Taylor Swift had a 4.0 GPA in high school, graduating early by completing her junior and senior years through homeschooling in just 12 months alongside her busy music career. She was known as a diligent student, achieving straight A's and even getting a B in math in ninth grade before accelerating her studies, according to reports from Rolling Stone and Quora users.
 

What's harder to get into, Georgetown or Notre Dame?

If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Georgetown University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

Should I submit a 1440 to Boston College?

Yes, you should submit a 1440 SAT score to Boston College (BC) as it falls within their middle 50% range (1440-1540) and strengthens a holistic application, but it's on the lower end, so ensure your GPA, essays, and extracurriculars are strong to compensate. BC is test-preferred, meaning scores help, but they're one piece of a holistic review, so a 1440 is a good credential that supports your academic competitiveness. 

What are the top 3 hardest colleges to get into?

What is the #1 hardest school to get into? Harvard University, with a ~3% acceptance rate, remains the hardest college in 2025. Stanford and MIT follow closely, with Yale and Princeton rounding out the top five.