Boston College Experience
Chestnut Hill, United States
About Boston College Experience
Boston College Experience (BCE) is the summer pre-college program Boston College runs for high school students. Boston College Summer Session manages it from the university's campus in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. BCE says its goal is to let students live and learn like BC students, through coursework, activities and reflection shaped by the college's Jesuit, Catholic mission. BCE has two separate programs, and you can apply to only one of them. The Two-Week Non-Credit Program is for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors aged 15 to 18. Most courses run on campus, and you can either live in a residence hall or commute. A few courses are fully online. In 2026 the subjects included business and leadership, sports management, economics, forensics, psychology, design thinking and writing. These courses carry no credit. The Honors Six-Week Credit Program is for rising seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. It's fully online, and Honors students take Boston College's own summer undergraduate courses alongside current BC students. Completing them earns credit on an official Boston College transcript. Boston College says neither program affects admission to its undergraduate college. It doesn't offer financial aid or discounts for BCE either.
Teaching style
The two-week courses are intensive and fill most of the day. BCE's sample schedule had class from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. A mandatory workshop followed from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. In 2025 the workshops covered college admissions, careers, wellness, sports and leadership, and every student attended the BC Admissions Workshop. Each course also includes one mandatory weekend excursion linked to the subject, with an academic assignment attached. BCE says that in most cases you should expect no more than two hours of homework a night. To earn the certificate of completion, you need fewer than two absences, full participation, all or nearly all of your assignments handed in and a finished final project or presentation. Honors courses work differently. They're taught mostly asynchronously through the Canvas learning system, though some instructors use Zoom. There may not be live classes every day, but BCE says you may be expected to engage with the course daily through videos or discussion boards. An optional Faculty Advisor mentorship offers one-on-one meetings or workshops on research skills, time management and college preparation.
Reputation & Succeed take
Boston College says it was founded in 1863 as the first institution of higher education in the city of Boston. It reports a 12.7% undergraduate acceptance rate and a 36th-place U.S. News ranking among national universities. Those figures describe the university, not BCE. BCE's own pages feature short quotes from past participants who praised their teachers and the chance to learn about college life.
Our take
In Succeed's view, BCE is best seen as a supervised trial run of college life on a real university campus, not as a credential. The two-week residential option packs classes, workshops, an excursion and evening activities into a short stay, with resident staff living alongside students. That suits a student who wants to test living away from home. Price is the main hurdle. The 2026 residential fee was $5,800 for two weeks, and Boston College offers no aid. Boston College also says plainly that BCE doesn't influence admission to BC. The Honors program is a different choice. It gives a strong rising senior real college credit online, but no time on campus.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you're 15 to 18 and want to find out what living and studying on a university campus feels like before you apply to college. It also fits if you want a short, focused course in a subject such as business, psychology, forensics or creative writing, and you're comfortable with a structured day and firm house rules. Rising seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who want college credit, and who can manage self-paced online work, may prefer the Honors program. Boston College says other schools may accept that credit depending on their own transfer policies.
Who it may not suit
Who should skip it: families who need financial aid, because Boston College offers none for BCE. Students hoping for an edge in BC admissions should know that Boston College says taking part has no influence. The two-week courses also aren't right if you want academic credit or a grade on a transcript. If you want independence in the evenings, note the 10 p.m. building curfew and the strict no-guests rule. Honors students who want time on campus will be disappointed, because that program is online only.
Contact
Frequently asked questions
Programs by Boston College Experience
ProgramBCE Honors Six-Week Credit Program
Organized by Boston College Experience
Dates
29 Jun – 07 Aug 2026
Location
Online
Cost
From $5,600.96
Duration
6 weeks
