The Boston College Transfer Application and Personal Statement

With roughly a quarter of fall transfer applicants admitted in Fall 2024 and fewer in most earlier years (see the Boston College transfer acceptance rate data), the written parts of the file matter. This page describes what BC asks for, based on its transfer admission page as of November 3, 2026. We don’t invent prompts or supplements: the statement described below is the only essay BC lists.

Where you apply

BC’s transfer page links to its own online transfer application, and supporting forms are available in your applicant portal once you start. BC strongly encourages submitting the application, fee and documents electronically. Some older guides refer to the Common Application for BC transfers; the current page does not mention it, so start from the link on BC’s site.

The application fee is $85. BC waives it automatically for applicants eligible for a federal Pell Grant, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents for whom the fee is a hardship can ask for a waiver at transfer@bc.edu.

The personal statement

BC asks for a statement addressing two things: your reasons for transferring, and why you are choosing to apply to Boston College. The limit is 650 words. There is no separate “why this major” or short-answer section listed on the page.

A structure that fits the prompt

Because the prompt has two halves, a simple plan works well. This is our editorial suggestion, not BC guidance.

1. Where you are now (about 150 words). What you have studied, what you have done well, and the specific limit you have reached: a missing program, a research gap, a change in academic direction.
2. What you want next (about 200 words). The academic goal that your current school can’t serve. Keep it concrete: a field of study, a sequence of courses, a kind of work.
3. Why BC specifically (about 200 words). Connect your goal to things at BC you have checked yourself, such as the school you are applying to, its required coursework, or programs listed on BC’s site.
4. What you bring (about 100 words). How your experience so far, including any work or family responsibilities, will shape what you contribute at BC.

Habits that help

• Explain your reasons for leaving in terms of what you are moving toward. Criticizing your current school rarely helps.
• Match the essay to the division on your application. A Carroll applicant writing only about literature leaves the committee guessing.
• Use your college record as evidence. BC says that record receives primary emphasis, so tie your claims to courses and grades the reader can see.
• If your record has a dip, address it briefly and factually. BC separately invites a written explanation of any disciplinary mark.
• Stay under 650 words and read the final version aloud.

The recommendation

BC asks for a recommendation, ideally from an instructor who can speak to your academic work and your contribution to your school. If you have been out of school for more than a year, a recommendation from an advisor, supervisor or employer may be submitted instead. Ask someone who taught you in a course related to your intended BC school, and give them your draft statement so their letter can reinforce it.

The Academic & Disciplinary Report and Mid-Term Report

The Academic & Disciplinary Report lets BC assess your standing at your current school. You fill in the personal information section and send it to the Dean of Students at every institution you have attended full time. BC treats a file without this report as incomplete. If your record includes a disciplinary mark, BC asks for a separate statement explaining it.

The Mid-Term Report is recommended but not required. It lists the courses you are taking now, which lets the committee see work in progress, including recommended courses you may still be completing.

Transcripts and test scores

BC requires your high school transcript (or GED certificate) and official transcripts from every college you have attended. Transcripts must come from the institutions themselves; faxed copies and copies issued to students don’t count as official.

Testing is optional for transfer applicants. If you send scores, BC superscores and accepts self-reported results, then requires an official report if you enroll. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit a recent TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score, subject to the waivers listed on BC’s page.

Who sends what

BC does not conduct admission interviews, though it offers information sessions and virtual conversations with current transfer students.

Related reading

Deadlines and eligibility are covered in BC transfer requirements and deadlines. For grade rules and credit limits, read GPA, courses and credit transfer at BC. To see how BC’s odds compare with other schools on your list, use our Boston-area transfer acceptance rate comparison.