At many highly selective universities, applications were at near-record levels this year, trailing only last year’s tallies. Yet at Boston College, applications to the Class of 2026 soared to a record level. In all, between Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision, 40,484 students applied to BC’s Class of 2026, eclipsing last year’s then-record tally of 39,877. And what a difference a couple of years makes. For the Class of 2024, BC received less than 30,000 applications. In just two years, applications to BC have soared by a margin of 36%.

But what we love most about BC’s press release about their record application tally is that the school included the percentage of students who submitted test scores to the test-optional university. May more highly selective universities soon follow BC’s lead. As BC’s admissions office writes under the banner, “Undergrad applications set new BC record,” “Although BC, along with many other colleges and universities, was test-optional for the 2021-2022 admission cycle, 45 percent of applicants submitted test scores. The average SAT score among applicants is 1452, 33 for ACT. Public high school students account for 62 percent of Class of 2026 applicants, while private and independent school applicants are 23 percent of the total, and students from Jesuit or Catholic high schools represent 15 percent.”

Congratulations to the BC admissions office on their banner year, for setting another benchmark after last year’s record tally. And, even more importantly, we extend a salute to the admissions office for their candor. When so many other elite college admissions offices fail to disclose the percentage of students who applied without test scores, BC shared the data. The admissions office is to be commended. Splendor sine occasu.