Admission Criteria for Transfer Applicants
If you are now or have been enrolled at another college or university as a degree candidate, you must apply to BU as a transfer applicant. If you’ve taken college classes without enrolling in a degree program, you should apply as a freshman. If you’re unsure of your status at the school you attended, contact the registrar’s office at that institution.
All of our undergraduate schools and colleges accept transfer students except the College of General Studies and the Science & Engineering Program at Metropolitan College; however, certain programs in other schools do not accept transfer applications. Check the Program Requirements chart to make sure you are eligible for your chosen program.
In considering transfer candidates, we look for students who have excelled in their current program of study and who will thrive in our community—a diverse mix of students with a wide variety of interests, talents and goals. The Board of Admissions reviews every application carefully to decide who will be admitted. Here are the factors we consider:
Your college performance
This is our best indicator of how you’ll do at BU. The most competitive transfer applicants are those who enrolled and excelled in the most challenging curriculum available to them. We look for students who have taken a range of courses, including mathematics, social science, natural science and humanities. On average, transfer students who are admitted earned a 3.5 GPA or higher in college courses.
Your high school performance
Although college achievement takes priority, we also consider high school records. In general, admitted transfer students earned at least a B+ GPA in high school coursework.
Your standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
Average SAT scores are 600-650 in each test section (1800-1950 overall) or higher for the most qualified students.
Instructor Evaluation and College Official’s Report
These give us a better view of your performance in and out of class. Both of these forms are available on the Common Application website.
Other personal qualifications
We like to see what you’ve done outside of class: your activities — both at college and in your community — and jobs. We look for activities in which your experiences or interests match the opportunities available at BU. Special skills, talents and accomplishments are also considered important in our review process.
Your application essay
This is an important part of your application because it demonstrates what you think and how clearly you express yourself. It’s also an opportunity for us to learn who you are beyond your grades and standardized test scores. Let your voice come through in your essay — this will help us better understand what distinguishes you from other applicants. Check our essay-writing tips.