FAQs
We’ve done our best to address some of the more frequently asked questions that families have at this point, but please let us know if there’s something else on your mind. No question is too silly or insignificant — we promise!
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Many students take public transportation to school. BUA is accessible by the “B” train on the Green Line. Some take the Red Line to Park Street and then switch to the Green Line; others start their commute from the South Shore on the commuter rail lines into South Station or Back Bay, while students from the North Shore may take the commuter rail into North Station. T-passes are available to students for around $30 per month. Families also arrange for carpooling with others in their area. All BUA families have access to a directory of students prior to the start of school to facilitate these connections.
Watch a recording of Commuting Webinar here!
Please contact our Admission Office at academyadmission@bu.edu if you would like to speak directly with a family in your area about commuting options.
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Great question! BUA has revised its schedule to accommodate later start times on all school days. In the 2025-2026 academy year, classes will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 8:55 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
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Placement tests for math and Latin or ancient Greek will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025. All new students are asked to sit for a required math placement test to evaluate their skill in algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus. There is a separate placement test for students with Latin or ancient Greek experience who plan to continue with one of those courses.
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Incoming students will receive instructions about course selection and registration once the Admission Office receives their enrollment contract. The student support team will share more information with enrolled families in mid-May.
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BUA manages an online and physical bookstore through Boston University’s Barnes & Noble Booksellers at 910 Commonwealth Ave. Families may also choose to purchase books through a third-party vendor. Students will receive their course confirmation and booklist for the coming school year in June.
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Students entering 9th grade or returning as 10th graders are able to study an online modern language course as an additional sixth course of study. Students who choose to enroll in this pilot continue to study a classical language and the other grade-level requirements. This online modern language course is in addition to BUA’s usual course requirements.
Students need to apply to participate in this program by submitting an application with their registration forms that notes their interest in taking a modern language and addresses the student’s maturity in being able to handle the responsibilities of an increased course of study. A committee of the academic administrative team will review the applications for appropriate placement levels, good academic standing in prior coursework, and maturity. BUA coordinates the online language program, monitors course pacing and student work through weekly meetings, and oversees the course completion. These courses appear on BUA transcripts as part of a student’s course of study.
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Students have lunch in the George Sherman Union (GSU) next door to the main BUA building. The GSU offers more than a dozen dining options, ranging from burgers to fresh salads to sushi. Students may always bring lunch from home. Those who choose to purchase food may use cash or dining points stored on their Terrier ID Card. Ninth- and tenth-grade students must eat in the private “Academy Room,” which is reserved for the BUA community and monitored by faculty, in the BUA building, or in one of the approved outdoor spaces. As juniors and seniors, students may choose to eat in the Academy Room or dine at any of the cafés on campus during their free periods.
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The Admission and Student Success Teams work together to match all new students with a faculty advisor. Advisors meet regularly throughout the week with their advising groups (approximately 6-10 students) to monitor their advisees’ individual academic and social progress as well as to discuss current topics of interest at BUA. Students are notified of their advisor assignment before the start of school.
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Orientation is required for all incoming ninth graders, and will be held from August 25-27, 2025 at BUA.
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The Boston University Academy Parents Network (BUAPN) is a group comprised of all parents and guardians of current BUA students. There are no joining fees or annual dues associated with the BUAPN. The mission of the BUAPN is to facilitate connections between BUA families and enhance and enrich the BUA parent experience through gatherings, online forums, social events, and educational programs.
The BUAPN provides volunteer support to school events and student activities including admission open houses, Fall Festival, Be Together multicultural night, Valentine’s Cabaret, and Lock-In. There are many opportunities for families to be active members of the Boston University Academy community: attend BUAPN coffees and meetings, host a class potluck, or volunteer your time throughout the year.
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The Boston University Academy experience provides an invaluable perspective as students make decisions about life after high school. Seniors have reaped the benefits of an intimate academic setting. They have also successfully navigated an urban university campus and caught a glimpse of what it means to be a college student. BUA students work with the College Counseling team to reflect on their experiences and strengths and to identify colleges and universities that align with their personal values and intellectual goals.
BUA students have enrolled at an impressively broad array of institutions around the country, from small liberal arts colleges, to programs in music, art and design, to research universities. The most frequent college destinations from 2020-2024 after Boston University*: Northeastern University (12), New York University (8), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (6), Yale University (5), Cornell University (4), Tufts University (4), University of Chicago (4), University of Massachusetts-Amherst (4), Brown University (3), Harvard University (3).
* Boston University (36): BUA students are granted automatic admission to most of BU’s four-year undergraduate programs if they meet certain academic and disciplinary standards. Many of those who enroll at BU have earned competitive scholarships, research opportunities, or advanced standing in their academic program of choice.
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A secure link to a personalized enrollment contract was sent to the email addresses associated with your family’s Ravenna account. Your family must sign the contract and submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $1,000 through our Veracross Enroll account by April 10, 2025. The deposit will be credited towards your first tuition payment, which is due on July 1, 2025. More information about payment plans can be found in the contract that was sent to your family. Please contact the Admission Office if you need us to resend the link.
In the meantime, you can let the BUA Admission Office know of your plans by completing the online enrollment intent form.