Early Consideration Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in the College of Engineering at Boston University! Our staff and faculty are excited to work with you with your upcoming application to our Graduate Programs.

As an Early Consideration student, you may not be required to submit a full application, even though our application system may require it. Instead we have created work-arounds for each section of the application that you are exempt from completing. The instructions listed below will provide specific details about the work-arounds for each section.

If you have any questions about the application process please email enggrad@bu.edu or call 617-353-9760.

Application Overview

Apply online starting September 3rd.

Your first step will be to create an account. Once this is created you will be directed into the application.

The application consists of ten main sections: Personal Background, BU Affiliation, Program Selection, Term, Modality, Location, Academic History, Questions, Additional Questions (ENG), Document Upload, References, Signature, and Review.

Personal Background 

In this section you will list your biographic information.

 BU Affiliation 

For those applying to early consideration, please make sure to answer the following questions:

• Are you associated with Boston University? If multiple categories apply, please pick the current or most recent one. Students who work on campus should select “current student”.
  • Select Current Student from the dropdown.
• Please enter your BU ID number (starts with U and then 8 digits)
• What is your current academic program?
  • Select Undergraduate from the dropdown.
• Please identify your current primary school or college of enrollment:
  • Select College of Engineering (ENG) from the dropdown.

 Program Selection 

In this section, you will select your desired program. Please note that all programs offered at Boston University may be listed, not just the College of Engineering. To view only programs offered by the College of Engineering, that selection can be made by filtering by School or College.

Term, Modality, Location 

In this section, you will choose your desired start date and location. Please note that the vast majority of programs are offered on the Charles River Campus, and that not all programs are offered in both spring and fall. 

Academic History 

In this section, you will provide information regarding your educational history. You will also be asked to upload unofficial transcripts as well.

Questions 

In this section, you will answer questions regarding your employment and other matters.

Additional Questions (ENG) 

In this section, you will answer questions specific to the program you have selected.

Document Upload 

In this section, you will supply documents to supplement your application such as personal statement, CV/Resume and any other information you’d like the admissions committee to be aware of. 

References 

In this section, you will select individuals that can speak to your academic abilities, character, or qualifications. Once you enter their information, an email will be sent to them. Instructions will be provided to the references on how to upload letters of recommendation.

Signature and Review 

In these sections, you can provide an application access code, sign your application, confirm you have completed all required sections and pay your application fee.

You will receive emails to update you on your status, to inform you if application documents are missing, and to inform you when your application is complete. These will be sent to the email that you have listed on your application. You can respond directly to these emails or to enggrad@bu.edu if you have any questions during this process.

Workarounds for Early Consideration Students

The College of Engineering requires specific documents in order to consider your application complete upon submission. Because of your status as an Early Consideration applicant, you may not be submitting all the standard requirements. Therefore, we have established workarounds for you to submit your application. 

Review the instructions below for specific details about applying with these work-arounds. When necessary, we have provided PDF documents for you to use in lieu of providing official documentation. 

* Students applying to PhD programs will be required to submit the full application and required credentials. PhD programs are not part of Early Consideration.  

Please use the following work-arounds to ensure your application is complete:

Submitting your Application

Once you are ready to submit your application, go to ‘Review’ to confirm that you have completed all requirements. Any missing requirement will be listed and you can navigate to that section to complete the requirement.

If all requirements are complete, you can select ‘Finalize Application and Pay’.

You will receive a confirmation screen and notification upon submitting your application(s). Your application is not submitted until you reach this screen. When you are finished, you can view your applicant portal and the Application Checklist to see what else may be needed for your specific application. Please note that it can take a few minutes for some uploaded documents to be updated on the Application Checklist. 

Thank you for your interest in continuing your education as part of our exceptional Boston University College of Engineering community and we appreciate your patience in our new application system. If you have any questions regarding our programs or the application process please do not hesitate to email enggrad@bu.edu.