How to Apply to Chemistry at Boston College: You Choose a College, Not a Major, at Application, with Chemistry (B.S., ACS-Certifiable) in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Boston College is a private Jesuit university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and its undergraduate chemistry programme is in the Department of Chemistry of the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences. At application you do not apply to a major; you apply to one of four undergraduate colleges. Here is what you need to know, based on the University’s website, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Biology, neuroscience, management, education and nursing are not covered here.

1. Degrees and areas

• Chemistry major (B.S.): the department says it offers a flexible curriculum for acquiring a knowledge of chemistry within a liberal arts college. The degree named on the major page is the Bachelor of Science; the pages read do not list a B.A. in chemistry. The major requires ten one-semester courses (37 credits) plus five co-requisite courses (22 credits). The department’s learning outcomes say seniors should have comprehensive knowledge across organic, inorganic, physical, biochemistry and analytical chemistry and proficiency in basic laboratory techniques and modern instrumentation.
• The ten chemistry courses (major page): CHEM 1109–1110 General Chemistry I–II with CHEM 1111–1112 laboratory, or the honors alternative CHEM 1117–1118 Honors Modern Chemistry I–II with CHEM 1119–1120 laboratory; CHEM 2231–2232 Organic Chemistry I–II with CHEM 2233–2234 laboratory, or honors CHEM 2241–2242 with CHEM 2243 and CHEM 2234; CHEM 3322 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 3324 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM 3351 Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory, CHEM 4461 Biochemistry I (the overview page lists CHEM 4465 Introduction to Biochemistry, so the two pages give different course numbers), CHEM 4475–4476 Physical Chemistry I–II and CHEM 5552 Advanced Methods in Chemistry I with Laboratory.
• Co-requisites: MATH 1102–1103 Calculus for Math/Science Majors I–II, MATH 2202 or 2203 Multivariable Calculus, PHYS 2100–2101 or PHYS 2200–2201 Introductory Physics I–II, and PHYS 2050–2051 Introductory Physics Laboratory I–II.
• ACS certification: the page says the above fulfils Boston College’s requirements for a B.S. in Chemistry; for the degree to be also certified by the American Chemical Society, one additional 3-credit CHEM course at the 3000 level or higher is required, and a semester of research for credit is acceptable if the student prepares a comprehensive, well-documented written research report.
• Research and thesis: the department urges students to do a research project under a faculty member, particularly those planning graduate school. Courses for credit include CHEM 3397/3398/3399 Research Modules for sophomores of exceptional ability, CHEM 4491–4492 Introduction to Undergraduate Research for juniors, CHEM 5591–5592 Undergraduate Chemical Research for senior chemistry majors, CHEM 5593–5594 for senior biochemistry majors, and CHEM 6601–6602 Senior Thesis Research with an advisor’s permission; students writing a Scholar of the College thesis register for CHEM 5595–5596. Research courses require a faculty advisor’s permission and a signed research course contract; paid research, such as work-study or summer stipends, cannot be used for credit, and the NSF REU programme is mentioned for summer research at other universities.
• Biochemistry major: the department page says biochemistry is an interdisciplinary major administered jointly by the Biology and Chemistry departments; the biology department page says the same. The requirements are in a checklist on the biology department site that was not read; please check the website.
• Chemistry minor: the admissions majors page lists a chemistry minor; its requirements were not read.

2. How admission works: choose a college, then a major after entry

• At application: the University says applicants must apply to one of four undergraduate divisions (Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences, Carroll School of Management, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Connell School of Nursing) and are considered only for the division they apply to. Except for nursing and engineering you do not have to declare a specific major on the application; the FAQ says that, with the exception of nursing and engineering, you do not have to choose a major until the end of sophomore year, and that selecting “undecided” has no bearing on admission.
• Changing colleges after admission: the FAQ says admitted students may not change divisions, but may apply for an internal transfer after one semester for Morrissey or Lynch, and after two semesters for Nursing or Management; enrollment is limited in the professional schools, so internal transfer may not be possible in a given year.
• Declaring the major: the pages read say the major is chosen by the end of sophomore year. Whether chemistry has a grade requirement or cap on places is not stated in the pages read; please ask the chemistry department.
• Moving into chemistry: the FAQ says internal transfer into Morrissey is possible after one semester; separate conditions for moving into the chemistry major are not published, so please ask the department.

3. Prerequisites and course selection

• High school courses: the admissions pages say the most competitive applicants tend to have four years of each of the five main subjects (English, math, social science, natural science and foreign language) in the most challenging courses available; no specific high school chemistry or physics requirement is stated in the pages read, so please ask the admissions office.
• Math advice (chemistry department): chemistry majors normally take three math courses: MATH 1102, MATH 1103 and MATH 2202. The department says first-year students who took a year of calculus in high school frequently qualify to begin with MATH 1103 and in some cases MATH 2202; after multivariable calculus it suggests MATH 2210 Linear Algebra, and also lists MATH 4410 Differential Equations and MATH 4460 Complex Variables.
• Physics advice (chemistry department): PHYS 2100–2101 is intended for life science students (typically two sections of about 150); PHYS 2200–2201 is intended for physical science or math students (typically one section of 50–60) and covers the same topics with more mathematical rigour; students should consult their advisor. The department strongly recommends taking physics in the first, second or third year and analytical chemistry in the second or third year, and recommends additional advanced electives (CHEM 5500 or higher). Sample course sequences are given as PDFs on the page and were not read.
• AP and advanced placement units (admissions page): AP Chemistry 4 earns 6 units and satisfies 2 Natural Science Core courses; Calculus AB (or the AB subscore) 4 earns 3 units (MATH 1100 or 1102), Calculus BC 4 earns 6 units (MATH 1100, 1101, 1102 or 1103); AP Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C E+M and Physics C Mechanics 4 earn 3 units each and satisfy 1 Natural Science Core course. The page also says the units are generally used for placement only, not credit, so students still need the full 120 credits unless they have 30 units, in which case they may apply for Advanced Standing and a three-year degree.
• IB and A-Level: IB Higher Level Chemistry, Physics and Biology 6 or 7 earn 6 units each and satisfy 2 Natural Science Core courses; IB mathematics courses 6 or 7 earn 3 units and satisfy the Mathematics Core. A-Level Chemistry, Physics and Biology A or B earn 6 units (2 Natural Science Core courses) and C earns 3 units (1 course); Maths/Further Maths A or B satisfy the Mathematics Core or an elective and C satisfies the Mathematics Core.
• Whether AP replaces a required chemistry course: the placement page only states the Natural Science Core equivalence; neither it nor the chemistry pages read say whether the units exempt a student from CHEM 1109 or other required chemistry courses; not published, please ask the department.
• Honors and competitions: the department offers honors versions of general and organic chemistry (see section 1); the admissions pages do not say how chemistry competitions are viewed; not published.

4. Deadlines and application materials

• Deadlines (application requirements and early decision pages): Early Decision I (binding) 1 November, with notification by 15 December; Early Decision II 4 January, notification by 15 February; Regular Decision: the FAQ gives 4 January, with notification by 1 April and a reply by 1 May. The pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry. The early decision page says admitted ED students must submit an enrollment confirmation fee within 10 days of the offer, and 1 November is the priority deadline for the Presidential (Gabelli) scholarship.
• How to apply and fee: the Common Application (QuestBridge applications are also accepted); the application fee is $85, with a fee waiver request for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in financial hardship.
• Essays: the Common App personal statement plus the Boston College writing supplement (2026-27: answer one of four prompts in up to 400 words; a fifth prompt is for Human-Centered Engineering applicants only).
• Recommendations and transcripts: official school transcript, school report and counselor recommendation, and two teacher evaluations (the page recommends teachers from English, social studies, science, math or foreign language); a mid-year grade report for Regular Decision and deferred ED candidates.
• Interviews: the FAQ says Boston College does not have admission interviews and does not track demonstrated interest.
• Testing: the SAT and ACT are optional. Scores can be sent officially, self-reported on the application or uploaded to the applicant portal, with official scores required on enrolling, and the SAT and ACT are superscored. The University says about two-thirds of enrolled Class of 2030 students submitted scores; among submitters, SAT scores ranged from 1200 to 1600 and ACT from 28 to 36, and the page lists quartiles (the top quartile 1510–1600 on the SAT and 35–36 on the ACT; the bottom quartile 1200–1440 and 28–33).

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026-27, subject to change): tuition $75,070 (the international applicants page says $75,075, so the pages differ; check the latest), housing $11,270 (Newton and Upper campus), food $7,564 (the meal plan can be adjusted from $6,934 to $8,600), mandatory fees $1,354; first-year students also pay a one-time $670 orientation fee and $50 student ID fee. The international applicants page estimates books and incidentals at $3,250. Any extra laboratory fees are not stated in the pages read. The rates for fall 2027 entry are not stated in the pages read.
• Aid: the University says it is need-blind in admission and committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of every admitted student; the aid page gives a 2026-27 need-based aid budget of $197.7 million or more and an average need-based package of $65,000, and says first-year students are offered a $3,500 loan and work-study valued at $3,000. Aid documents are submitted through the College Board’s IDOC service; the aid page deadlines are ED I priority 1 November, ED II priority 4 January, Regular Decision 1 February and fall transfer 1 April.
• Scholarships: the aid page says the academic merit-based scholarship is the Presidential Scholarship, covering full tuition for 18 applicants each year, with no separate application; ED and Regular Decision candidates who submit by 1 November are considered. The early decision page warns that families who depend on a merit scholarship should not apply ED.
• In-state priority or guaranteed admission: not stated in the pages read.

6. International applicants

• Who counts as international: anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; with a few exceptions they submit the same credentials as other applicants. The page says students come from 81 countries and 8% of undergraduates are international.
• English requirements: TOEFL iBT (test centre or Home Edition), IELTS or Duolingo English Test results; English test results are not superscored and TOEFL MyBest scores are not considered. The recommended minimums are IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 and TOEFL iBT 100 (5.0 on the new scale), and admitted students typically average 5.5 on the new TOEFL scale. The requirement can be waived if English is your native language, if you attended a U.S. high school or one in another majority native-English-speaking country for at least three years without ESOL coursework, or if you scored 650 or above on the SAT EBRW or 29 or above on the ACT English section.
• InitialView interview: optional and not a substitute for the English requirement; the page says students attending a national school in China are encouraged to schedule one, with results due 15 November for ED I and 15 January for ED II and Regular Decision.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are optional for international applicants too.
• Aid: the international applicants page says Boston College cannot provide need-based financial aid to students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who should be prepared to finance the full cost. After admission, students complete the Certification of Finances form, and I-20s are not sent until they have verified that they can meet the costs. The early decision page, by contrast, says the University meets the full demonstrated need of every admitted student, so the pages differ; international applicants should rely on the international applicants page and ask the admissions office. The pages read do not say whether international applicants are eligible for the Presidential Scholarship.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: whether Gaokao results are considered or how they are used is not published on the pages read; please contact admission@bc.edu.
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: the transcript must be official and sent by the school, and the University says it will not accept academic credentials from students themselves; no China-specific requirements are published.
• InitialView: the page says students attending a national school in China are encouraged to schedule an InitialView video interview (optional; see section 6).
• International curricula: students taking AP, IB or A-Level can use the placement rules in section 3.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department scholarships and awards: the chemistry department’s page says the CRC Handbook Award goes to two outstanding freshman chemistry students in each incoming class, based on performance in General Chemistry and Honors Modern Chemistry. It also lists mostly national awards, such as the American Chemical Society Minority Scholars Program, the Goldwater Scholarship, the ACS Northeastern Section summer research scholarships and the UNCF Merck scholarship, senior prizes (Merck Index Book Award, Boston College Excellence in Chemistry Award) and graduate fellowships (for example Churchill, NSF, Marshall and Rhodes); see the page for the conditions, since many deadlines are given only as a month.
• Outcomes (the University’s own wording): the financial aid page says 97% of the Class of 2025 are employed, in graduate school, or engaged in a fellowship or meaningful volunteer experience (University-wide). The chemistry career page gives no figures for chemistry graduates; it describes employment for chemists in industry, government, healthcare and academia, and says graduate work in chemistry is almost always funded through teaching or research assistantships.

9. Transfer students

• How admission works: the Committee on Transfer Admission reviews each application individually, with primary emphasis on the college record and also considering the high school record, essays, recommendations, activities and work experience. Transfer applicants also choose one of the divisions (the Connell School of Nursing is currently not accepting transfer applications); except for nursing no major is required, but the University strongly encourages applying to your first-choice division because changing later can be difficult.
• Deadlines: fall enrollment 15 March, notification by 20 May; spring enrollment 1 November, notification by 15 December (no year is shown; the application entry on the page is labelled Spring 2027 Transfer Application). The page says first-semester freshmen are typically not allowed to apply for January transfer because official final college grades are not available by 1 November; sophomore and junior transfer candidates are eligible.
• Materials: the Common App transfer application; a personal statement of up to 650 words on your reasons for transferring and for choosing Boston College; the high school transcript (or GED) and official transcripts from every college; one instructor’s recommendation; an Academic and Disciplinary Report from each institution attended full time; a mid-term report (recommended, not required); the $85 application fee, which is waived automatically for Pell-eligible applicants. SAT/ACT are optional, international applicants also submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores, and there are no interviews.
• Credit transfer: courses must be equal in depth and breadth to Boston College courses with a grade of C- or better; at most 60 credits transfer; transfer students must enrol full-time and spend at least four semesters at Boston College. For Morrissey the University recommends taking only three or four courses in the intended major elsewhere, because most departments require most major courses to be taken at Boston College, and about 30 credits after one year or 60 after two years. Prerequisite sequences for transfer chemistry majors are not stated in the pages read; please ask the chemistry department and the transfer office (transfer@bc.edu).

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Choose Morrissey; ED I 1 November; ED II and Regular 4 January; $85 fee; Common App, 400-word supplement, two teacher evaluations and a counselor recommendation; testing optional
• Aid documents through IDOC: ED I priority 1 November, ED II 4 January, Regular 1 February

International applicants (including China):

• TOEFL iBT, IELTS or Duolingo results (recommended minimums: IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130, TOEFL iBT 100) unless waived; optional InitialView interview
• No need-based aid; the Certification of Finances must be completed before an I-20 is issued

After entry:

• Use advanced placement units and the department’s math and physics advice to choose CHEM 1109 or 1117 or a higher course with MATH 1102/1103 and PHYS 2100 or 2200; choose a major by the end of sophomore year; research and thesis options in senior year

Transfer students:

• Fall 15 March, spring 1 November; up to 60 credits, grade C- or better, at least four semesters at Boston College; the Connell School of Nursing is not accepting transfer applications

Sources: official website, Chemistry: undergraduate overview; Chemistry: major requirements; Chemistry: undergraduate research; Chemistry: scholarships and awards; Biology: majors (including biochemistry); Admission: application requirements; Admission: early and regular decision; Admission: FAQ; Admission: testing; Admission: international applicants; Admission: transfer applicants; Admission: choosing a division; Admission: advanced placement credit (AP/IB/A-Level); Admission: tuition and financial aid. The admissions pages show no year on their dates, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry and see the University’s website for the latest.