Transfer Students
Welcome to Your Next Step
As a transfer student, your diverse experiences and achievements add vibrancy to the BC Law community.
We look at your unique learning history to find ways to help you transition. We’re ready to answer your questions about financial aid, our law reviews, advocacy programs, and more. We also assist with finding housing and getting around Boston.
To get a feel for our campus, you’ll benefit from attending orientation. We’ll also invite you to a special luncheon for transfer students held with faculty, staff, and current students.
Transfer Student Resources
Financial Aid
Transfer students can be awarded up to $20,500 in the federal Unsubsidized Loan Program. Additionally, transfer students are eligible to apply for the federal Grad PLUS loans to supplement the unsubsidized loan and help pay for living expenses. The FAFSA must be submitted in order to be eligible for federal aid.
Upon acceptance, an initial review of your processed FAFSA data will take place, and the Financial Aid Office will determine your eligibility for federal unsubsidized and Grad Plus loans. Award notifications are accessed via Boston College's intranet system, known as the Agora Portal. You will receive credentials for accessing Agora shortly after admission.
Transfer applicants are not eligible for merit scholarships awarded through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, but we encourage you to explore external scholarships and additional funding opportunities in the AccessLex law school scholarship databank.
Housing
- Visit our Housing page for information on listings, events, local neighborhoods, student groups, maps, testimonials, roommate searches, rental agents, and more.
- Find resources, housing openings, and calls for roommates on Facebook. Search for a closed group for your graduation year: “Boston College Law School [class year]”
- Contact the Office of Graduate Student Life or our liaison for transfer students on the New Student Committee of BC’s Law Student Association for more help.
Law Reviews & Advocacy Programs
- Law reviews: The Editorial board holds an annual transfer student writing competition, with winners receiving offers on an as-available basis.
- Advocacy programs: Second-year transfer students are eligible to participate in the Wendell F. Grimes Intramural Moot Court competition. Students who participate in the Grimes Competition are eligible to try out for a position on one of our national moot court teams of third-year law students competing at regional, national, and international competitions. Second-year transfer students may also compete in our internal mock trial competition and try out for a position on our National Mock Trial Team, which is composed of second and third-year students. The team competes against other law schools throughout the country.
Mentoring
In addition to faculty and administration mentors, the BC Law Students Association New Student Committee coordinates a peer-mentoring program for first-year students and transfer students. In the summer you’ll receive a survey to match you with a peer mentor. Contact the transfer liaison on the New Student Committee for more information.
FAQ
Are scholarships available for transfer students?
Unfortunately, we don’t offer any scholarships to transfer students.
How will I be ranked in my 2L year?
We don’t rank students. After each semester, we issue an approximate grade distribution, which includes your BC Law grade point average. We don’t factor grades from your original law school into our average.
Does my LSAT score matter?
Academic performance in your 1L year is the top consideration, but we review all information.
How many transfer applications do you receive? How many students enroll?
The numbers vary every year. Typically, we receive approximately 100 transfer applications and enroll 10–20 transfer students each year.
Do you accept transfer students who were enrolled part-time at their previous schools?
Yes. However, we accept a maximum of 32 transfer credits from another ABA-approved law school.
What if my law school is unable to submit my materials by the August 1 deadline?
We’ll accept documents from your law school after the August 1 deadline. We cannot, however, review your application until it is complete.
Is there anything that I can do during my first year to enhance my transfer application?
Your academic success—demonstrated by your law school transcript and letters of recommendation from professors—matters most when transferring.
Are dual degree programs feasible for transfer students?
Under limited circumstances, transfer students can earn dual degrees from Boston College. Contact Academic Services for more information: 617-552-2527.
Meet Our Transfers
Below are just a select few of our recent transfer students.
BC Law: Impact Blog
November 18, 2024
May 16, 2022
April 11, 2022