What Is Boston College’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?
BC’s waitlist is one of the most volatile among selective schools (BC Admissions). For the Class of 2028, BC admitted 352 students from 4,139 who accepted their spot, an 8.5% rate. But for the Class of 2026, only 13 were admitted from 8,019, a rate of just 0.16% (BC CDS, 2022-2025). The Class of 2023 was the most generous recent year, with a 9.24% rate (273 admitted from 2,953). This volatility makes it impossible to predict your individual odds based on one year’s data. For complete data, see our waitlist rates comparison.
| Class | Accepted Spot | Admitted | WL Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 | 4,139 | 352 | 8.50% |
| Class of 2027 | 8,671 | 116 | 1.3% |
| Class of 2026 | 8,019 | 13 | 0.16% |
| Class of 2023 | 2,953 | 273 | 9.24% |
| Class of 2022 | 3,791 | 16 | 0.42% |
Source: BC CDS, 2018-2025.
When Does Boston College Notify Waitlisted Students?
BC releases Regular Decision results by April 1. Waitlist decisions typically come between mid-May and late June, after the May 1 deposit deadline. BC historically revises its published acceptance rate upward after waitlist admissions – the Class of 2029 went from an initial 12.6% to a final 14% in the BC Fact Book.
How to Write a BC LOCI That Works
BC’s Jesuit identity should be central to your LOCI. Express genuine alignment with BC’s mission of service, intellectual inquiry, and formation of the whole person. Reference specific programs, the living-learning communities, or BC’s location in Chestnut Hill. Include one meaningful update since your application. State clearly that BC is your first choice. For a detailed template, see our LOCI guide. For BC-specific data, see our BC acceptance rate analysis.
How Does BC’s Waitlist Compare to Peer Schools?
| School | Recent WL Rate | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Boston College | 0.16-8.5% | Extremely volatile |
| Notre Dame | 2.47% | Volatile (0-48% range) |
| Georgetown | 3-10% | Relatively consistent |
| Tufts | 35.72% | Very generous |
| Emory | 3-12% | Moderately active |
Source: Common Data Sets, 2020-2025.
Final Thoughts: Your BC Waitlist Action Plan
Accept your waitlist spot. Write a Jesuit-mission-aligned LOCI within 7-10 days. Commit to your alternative by May 1. BC’s waitlist is volatile, but the 8.5% rate for the Class of 2028 shows it can move meaningfully when yield drops. For personalized strategy, schedule a consultation with Oriel Admissions.
What Else Can You Do While on BC’s Waitlist?
Beyond writing a mission-aligned LOCI, send updated transcripts showing strong senior year performance. Ask one additional recommender who can speak to your character, service, and community engagement – the qualities BC’s Jesuit mission prioritizes. If you have a meaningful new accomplishment in service, leadership, or academics, share it briefly. For recommendation strategy, see our recommendation letter guide. For broader waitlist strategy, see our complete waitlist guide.
Commit to your best alternative by May 1. If admitted off BC’s waitlist, you withdraw from the other school. For BC-specific admissions data, see our BC acceptance rate analysis. For help comparing options, see our yield rates guide and decision strategy guide.
Highly unpredictable. BC’s recent waitlist acceptance rates range from 0.16% (Class of 2026, 13 admitted) to 8.5% (Class of 2028, 352 admitted). There is no consistent pattern. Your odds depend entirely on BC’s yield that year.
BC’s Jesuit mission attracts a self-selecting applicant pool with strong institutional loyalty, but the school does not use the Common App, which creates yield uncertainty. When BC’s predicted yield is accurate, the waitlist barely moves. When it overshoots, BC may admit 300+ students from the waitlist.
Yes. BC historically publishes an initial acceptance rate when RD decisions go out, then revises it upward in the Fact Book after waitlist admissions. The Class of 2029 went from 12.6% initially to 14% final. This means the published rate you see in March understates the true rate.
If genuine, yes. BC’s Jesuit identity is central to admissions. Expressing alignment with BC’s mission of service, intellectual inquiry, and formation of the whole person strengthens your LOCI. However, sincerity matters more than faith affiliation. Non-Catholic students who genuinely resonate with Jesuit values can write equally strong LOCIs.
Worse on average. Georgetown’s 25-year average (7.42%) is more consistent than BC’s wild swings (0.16% to 9.24%). However, BC’s best years (8.5% for Class of 2028) are comparable to Georgetown’s best years. The key difference is predictability: Georgetown is more consistent, BC is more volatile.
Your application is to a specific school within BC. If you applied to the Carroll School of Management, your waitlist status is for that school. You cannot change schools from the waitlist.
Typically mid-May to late June, after the May 1 deposit deadline. BC needs to see its yield before deciding how many waitlisted students to admit. The timeline is similar to Georgetown and Notre Dame.
Yes. Students admitted from the waitlist receive the same financial aid consideration as all other admitted students. BC meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students.
