Boston College has posted its 2026-27 writing supplement: applicants answer one of the first four prompts in up to 400 words, and applicants to the Human-Centered Engineering major answer the fifth prompt instead. Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, with decisions released by December 15. For Irvine 12th graders, this is a long supplemental essay that needs early planning.
Who Is Affected by the Boston College Writing Supplement
Twelfth graders applying to Boston College through the Common App. Dates for each round are as follows:
| Round | Application deadline | Decisions by | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | December 15 | Yes |
| Early Decision II | January 4, 2027 | February 15 | Yes |
| Regular Decision | January 4, 2027 | April 1 | No |
Students admitted Early Decision must immediately withdraw other applications and submit an Enrollment Confirmation Fee within 10 days; they may also apply to non-restrictive Early Action programs elsewhere but not to other Early Decision programs. Early Decision outcomes are admit, defer, or deny.
What to Do Now About the Boston College Writing Supplement
Choose one prompt. The first four prompts address a meaningful tradition in the applicant’s family or community, the questions explored with the applicant’s most meaningful conversation partner, a time someone defined the applicant by a “single story,” and a fourth value to add to the Jesuit “three Be’s.” The prompts are paraphrased here; the full text is on the admission page. Boston College requires that the content be the student’s own and allows generative AI only as a guide. Topic selection and revision are covered by the EDUBUS College Essay Bootcamp.
Choose an academic division. Applicants select one of four undergraduate divisions and are considered only for that division; apart from Engineering and Nursing, they do not need to declare a major.
Decide whether to submit scores. Boston College is test optional but encourages students who have taken the SAT or ACT to submit, and it superscores both. About two-thirds of enrolled members of the Class of 2030 submitted scores; the middle two quartiles were 1440 to 1510 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. Recommendations come from two teachers plus the counselor. Application planning is covered by University Admissions Planning.
Sources
- Boston College Undergraduate Admission: Apply (accessed October 14, 2026)
- Boston College: Compare Early Decision and Regular Decision (accessed October 14, 2026)
- Boston College: Test-Optional Policy (accessed October 14, 2026)
- Emory's Two Short Answers, ED I Due Nov 1Emory keeps last cycle's two short-answer questions; Early Decision I closes November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15. Word counts, dates, and testing policy.
- Georgia Tech Early Action 2 Due Nov 2Georgia Tech Early Action 2 for out-of-state students closes November 2, 2026, with decisions in late January; an SAT or ACT is required. Dates and scholarship rules.
- UVA Early Decision and Early Action Due Nov 1UVA Early Decision and Early Action both close November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15 and February 15. Dates, testing, recommendations, and change deadlines.
- California AB 302 Bars Social Media MandatesCalifornia AB 302, now law, bars public schools from excluding students from clubs and teams for not using social media, starting in 2027-28. What it covers.
