Application Process
Important Downloads
(updated for Fall 2012)
The online application will be available beginning September 1, 2012 for Fall 2013 admission. We encourage Fall 2013 applicants to send all other application materials in a single admission packet to the College of Communication, Graduate Services Office. All materials must be received by the February 1 deadline.
Standard Application Requirements
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $70 (online application only). The application fee is an application processing fee, not an application consideration fee.
December 15th Priority Admission Notification Deadline
If you submit your online application (just the online application portion) by December 15th, you will receive priority admission notification once we have admission decisions – as long as the rest of your application is completed by our February 1st deadline.
Priority admission notification is a great way to get a head start on the application process! Students who submit the online portion of their application (this does not include essays, test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) by December 15th will be notified by late December regarding your application status (if you are missing anything or if you application is complete). That way you’ll have plenty of time to ensure your application is complete by our February 1st deadline.
Transcript(s)
An official transcript of the applicant’s undergraduate record listing the degree conferred. In addition, we require all transcripts from colleges and/or universities attended as a non-degree student. A college senior should submit an official report of work completed in the first semester of the senior year as soon as it is available. All transcripts must arrive in signed and sealed envelopes within the admission packet and must be in English or an official translation. All transcripts should have a letter from the Registrar of the school indicating what the GPA is on a 4.0 scale.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation, written by people who know the applicant well, preferably professors and/or employers. These must arrive in signed and sealed envelopes within the admission packet. Additionally, letters of recommendation may be sent online via our application service. We do not accept e-mailed or faxed recommendations.
International Students
International students must fulfill additional requirements to be considered for admission. Please review our International Student admissions requirements before applying.
Late Applications
We do not accept late applications or late materials. Only completed applications are reviewed for admission. Review the rest of COM’s Helpful Hints before submitting your application.
Required exams
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
The GRE is required for all students. Our GRE code is R7090. You may take the computerized GRE until mid January. Please let us know your score right away so we may verify it with ETS. We must receive the official score.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Students who received their undergraduate degree from a non-English speaking institution must also take the TOEFL (in addition to the GRE. Please see our International Admissions requirements for more information). We must receive an official TOEFL score by our deadline; we recommend taking your TOEFL well before mid January to assure that we receive the score.
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Applicants to the dual degree (MS/MBA) Media Ventures program must take the Graduate Management Admissions Test.
Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
Applicants to the JD/MS in the Mass Communication Program must take the Law School Admissions Test (test results for all programs are valid for four years).
Program Requirements/Writing Assignments
Applicants are not required to have experience in communication industries or in the academic areas of the department concerned. Students from the fields of humanities, sciences and social sciences generally are preferred. Download COM’s Application Program Requirements/Writing Assignments.
Mailing address
Boston University
College of Communication
Graduate Admissions & Services
640 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215Email: comgrad@bu.edu
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