How hard is it to get off the Boston College waitlist?

Getting off the Boston College (BC) waitlist is very difficult but not impossible, as movement varies yearly, with some years seeing hundreds admitted and others only a handful; your best bet involves opting-in, writing a compelling Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) showing genuine enthusiasm, updating your achievements, and maintaining strong grades, all while securing a backup plan.

How many get off the Boston College waitlist?

On average, around 2.79% of waitlisted applicants to BC — or 104.5 students — earned admission for the years the school chose to release data.

How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?

Waitlist confirmation probability varies by system (trains, universities), calculated by algorithms using historical data, current demand, and cancellations, often shown as a percentage (e.g., <50% red, >65% green) or specific statuses like GNWL (higher chance) vs. RLWL (lower chance). Higher waitlist numbers, off-peak travel, and specific quotas (like GNWL) generally improve odds, while fewer available seats or high demand decrease them.
 

Is it harder to get into BC or BU?

While both are highly selective, Boston College (BC) often appears slightly harder to get into than Boston University (BU) based on recent acceptance rates, with BC often hovering around 15-19% and BU around 11-20%, though BU's rate dropped significantly for the Class of 2027. BC generally shows higher average SAT/ACT scores and a lower international student ratio, suggesting a highly competitive applicant pool, but ultimately, admission depends on individual fit and program strength for each university. 

What are the odds of getting off the waitlist for Boston University?

Your Chances of Admission to BU After Being Waitlisted

In the past 14 years, Boston University's waitlist acceptance rate has hovered around 10.26%. There's some variation in the numbers in the table, with the admissions committee sometimes digging deep down its waitlist and other times not so much.

deferred to accepted from cornell | my letter of continued interest

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. 

Is it better to get waitlisted or deferred?

Generally, being deferred is better than being waitlisted because deferral means your application gets a second, full review with the regular decision pool, offering a stronger chance to improve your standing with new materials, whereas waitlisted means the school couldn't admit you but might if space opens up after accepted students enroll, a much less certain outcome. Deferral implies potential, while waitlist implies a backup, dependent on others declining, making deferral often more promising. 

Is Boston College as good as an Ivy League?

Boston College (BC) isn't an Ivy League but is often considered on a similar tier by many, frequently called a "New Ivy" by Forbes due to strong employer regard, excellent career outcomes (like LinkedIn rankings), and high academic quality, though it generally ranks slightly below traditional Ivies in some overall rankings and selectivity but excels in specific areas, offering a strong alternative. 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

Is a waitlist basically a rejection?

No, being waitlisted is not the same as being rejected; it's a "maybe" status, meaning you met the qualifications but there's no space yet, so you're on hold for potential acceptance if spots open after accepted students decline their offers. It's a better position than outright rejection, but you should still plan to attend another school, as admission from the waitlist isn't guaranteed and often happens later (e.g., after May 1st). 

How can I increase my chances of getting off the waitlist?

Keep Up Your Grades

Generally, students need to maintain senior year grades, study hard for AP exams and finals, and above all, maintain a great attitude in school in order to have the best chance of getting off the waitlist.

What college has the highest waitlist acceptance rate?

These universities included the University of Notre Dame which offered admission to 42.3% of waitlisted applicants, Stanford University which offered admission to 36.6% of waitlisted applicants, Washington University in St Louis which offered admission to 33.9% of waitlisted applicants, University of California ...

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. 

How do colleges decide who gets off the waitlist?

If you rank higher, you'll have a greater chance of getting off the waitlist. But some colleges may neither rank waitlisted students nor accept them by priority. Individual colleges may take a more holistic approach. They may make their decision based on factors such as which majors they want represented.

Is BC a top 30 school?

Yes, Boston College is generally considered a top-tier university, often ranking just outside the top 30 nationally, typically in the low to mid-30s according to U.S. News & World Report, placing it firmly in the elite tier of U.S. colleges. For example, in the 2026 rankings, BC was #36, and it also excels in specialty areas like undergraduate teaching and service learning, showing its strong overall reputation.
 

What's harder to get into, BU or BC?

While both are highly selective, Boston College (BC) often appears slightly harder to get into than Boston University (BU) based on recent acceptance rates, with BC often hovering around 15-19% and BU around 11-20%, though BU's rate dropped significantly for the Class of 2027. BC generally shows higher average SAT/ACT scores and a lower international student ratio, suggesting a highly competitive applicant pool, but ultimately, admission depends on individual fit and program strength for each university. 

Is BC a baby ivy?

Yes, Boston College (BC) is often considered a "Little Ivy" or "Hidden Ivy" due to its high academic standards, selectivity, strong reputation, and similar elite feel, often appearing on lists alongside traditional Ivies and other top-tier private universities that employers value highly, like Duke, Notre Dame, and Georgetown. While not part of the formal Ivy League, Forbes even named BC a "New Ivy" for its strong outcomes and appeal to top employers. 

What are the 11 little Ivies?

The Little Ivies are also sub-grouped by the following consortia: The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) members: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan and Williams.

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. 

Is BC harder to get into than Villanova?

Boston College is more selective than Villanova, with an acceptance rate of 12.6% compared to Villanova's 27.4% for the most recent cycle. Both universities are nationally respected, but Boston College generally ranks higher. In the U.S. News National Rankings, Boston College sits at #37, while Villanova is ranked #58.

What are the cons of Boston College?

Cons: 1. Expensive: Boston College is a private institution, and its tuition and fees can be steep. However, the school does offer financial aid packages to help offset costs.

How likely are you to get accepted after being waitlisted?

Waitlist confirmation probability varies by system (trains, universities), calculated by algorithms using historical data, current demand, and cancellations, often shown as a percentage (e.g., <50% red, >65% green) or specific statuses like GNWL (higher chance) vs. RLWL (lower chance). Higher waitlist numbers, off-peak travel, and specific quotas (like GNWL) generally improve odds, while fewer available seats or high demand decrease them.
 

How long do waitlists usually last?

Waitlist durations vary wildly, from days to months, depending on the type (college vs. class), but for colleges, most movement happens from May to June as students decide, while class waitlists often clear within the first week or two of the semester as people drop classes after the first lecture. Top-tier colleges might not move their lists much at all, whereas less selective ones or popular classes can see significant movement quickly. 

Is it worth staying on a waitlist?

Furthermore, waitlists can vary greatly from year to year, and there's no surefire way to predict whether a student will be offered a spot in the incoming class. However, if a student is genuinely interested in attending a school, it doesn't hurt to stay on the waitlist.