How many people get waitlisted at BU?

Boston University (BU) waitlists thousands of students annually, with numbers fluctuating significantly, from over 14,000 in 2021 to around 15,000 for recent classes, though very few are actually admitted from the waitlist, with rates often under 1%, making it highly competitive. For example, for the Class of 2024, over 15,000 were waitlisted but only 18 accepted (0.1%), and for the Class of 2023, 34 were accepted from 15,033 offers (0.22%).

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

Boston University's wait list acceptance rate for the application year 2024 is a mere 0.1%, with only 18 out of 15,339 waitlisted applicants being accepted.

What percent of waitlisted students get accepted?

Waitlist acceptance rates vary wildly by college, averaging around 20% overall but much lower (often 0-7%) at highly selective schools, though some, like Michigan State, can admit nearly everyone, while others, like Yale or Caltech, admit none. Rates depend heavily on a school's yield (how many accepted students enroll) and fluctuate yearly, with recent trends showing lower acceptance rates at top-tier universities.
 

How does BU waitlist work?

Waitlist priority is calculated based on your course requirements, your expected graduation date and the time and date that you submitted your waitlist form. If we are able to offer you a seat, we will send an offer to your BU email account. If you receive an offer, you will have 72 hours to respond.

Is BU or tufts harder to get into?

While both are highly selective, Tufts often appears slightly harder to get into based on lower acceptance rates (around 9-11%) compared to Boston University (around 11-14%), but BU is also very competitive, with the difference often coming down to campus fit (Tufts' suburban feel vs. BU's urban integration) and specific program strength. Tufts is considered more exclusive with a traditional campus, while BU offers a larger, bustling city experience, making fit as crucial as stats for either. 

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE WAITLISTED FOR A COLLEGE and What NOT to do

What is the hardest college to get into at BU?

At Boston University (BU), the most competitive colleges to get into are often the Questrom School of Business, College of Engineering (ENG), Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (SAR), and College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), though specific demand fluctuates; these programs attract high-caliber applicants, especially for STEM/business, making them harder than others like the former College of General Studies (CGS), which served as a pathway. Admission is generally tough across BU, with overall low rates (around 11% for Class of 2028) requiring strong academics and compelling essays to stand out, particularly for sought-after majors. 

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 a waitlist a soft rejection?

If you've been waitlisted, don't panic. We know it's not the decision you were hoping for, but it's also not a rejection. And yes, you still have a real chance of getting accepted. Or you can return to considering other schools, like those with rolling admission application deadlines.

What type of students does BU look for?

BU looks for students who are highly driven, intellectually curious, and ready to enrich the BU community. So, if your GPA is lower than the Boston University average GPA, don't worry. There are other aspects of your application that can make up for a lower GPA.

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.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

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 is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is BU harder to get into than NYU?

NYU is generally harder to get into than BU based on recent acceptance rates, with NYU's acceptance rates dropping into the single digits (around 8%) for recent classes compared to BU's slightly higher rate (around 10-11%), though specific programs like NYU's Stern School of Business are significantly more competitive. Both are prestigious private universities, but NYU's low acceptance rate places it in a tougher admissions tier, even as BU remains selective. 

Is BU tier 1 or tier 2?

Boston University (BU) is generally considered a high-end Tier 2 university or a strong borderline Tier 1, classified as a top-tier research institution (R1) by Carnegie, highly ranked nationally by sources like U.S. News & World Report (around #42), and included in lists of very selective schools with low acceptance rates (around 11%). While some lists place it just below the absolute elite (like Ivy League), its research output, national rankings, and selectivity firmly put it in the upper echelon of universities, often grouped with other highly selective private schools in Tier 2, but with strengths akin to Tier 1.
 

What is the easiest school to get into at BU?

The easiest school to get into at Boston University (BU) is generally considered the College of General Studies (CGS), often for students who didn't quite meet the profile for other BU colleges but still show potential, though it's a two-year foundational program before transferring, with BU overall being competitive and CGS being a pathway into it. Other schools like Engineering (ENG), Questrom (Business), Communication (COM), and Sargent (Health & Rehab Sciences) are typically harder to get into due to high demand and program rigor. 

Is northeastern or BU harder to get into?

While both are highly selective, Northeastern University (NEU) is generally considered harder to get into than Boston University (BU) based on recent acceptance rates, with NEU often hovering around 5-7% compared to BU's higher rates (around 14%), though admission difficulty can vary by program and applicant profile, making them effectively comparable in overall selectivity. 

What is the hardest school to get into at BU?

At Boston University (BU), the hardest schools to get into generally include the Questrom School of Business, College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), College of Engineering (ENG), and Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (SAR), often requiring strong academic profiles and specific prerequisites, while the College of General Studies (CGS) is typically the most accessible entry point for transfer after two years. Specific programs like the 7-year Accelerated Medical Program and the College of Fine Arts (CFA) with its audition/portfolio needs are also highly competitive. 

Is $70,000 enough to live in Boston?

Yes, $70k is enough to live in Boston as a single person, but it requires careful budgeting, prioritizing roommates, and using public transit to manage high housing costs, making it tight for comfort but feasible for survival and modest savings, though not ideal for thriving without roommates. Living alone on this salary will be very challenging, with little left over after essentials like rent (which can easily eat up half your take-home pay). 

How likely is it to get in 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.
 

What not to do when waitlisted?

Top 10 Things To NOT Do After Being Waitlisted

1. Don't email an update to admissions that you've been named a National Merit Finalist. ...
2. Don't call the admissions office to find out why you didn't get in outright. ...
3. Don't send off a short note to admissions thinking you'll send a longer note later.

Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?

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 BU a top 25 school?

Overview. Boston University is a private institution that was founded in 1839. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Boston University is ranked No. #42 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #11 in Lowest Acceptance Rates.

Is Boston College or BU harder to get into?

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 is the student life like at BU?

University living begins with academics, but it doesn't end there. At Boston University, the list of social, athletic, artistic, and other types of clubs is more than 450 lines long and runs from Ad Club to Zen Community. There are literary clubs, rocket clubs, music clubs, and dozens of intramural and club sports.