Be your best self –at BUA.
If you’re genuinely kind, intensely curious, and confidently yourself, you can achieve almost anything. If your high school is in a world-class city (like Boston) on a resource-rich university campus (like BU) and filled with friends and teachers who support your every endeavor (like BUA), nothing can stop you. So come join our dynamic and welcoming community and make high school a life-changing opportunity to pursue your passions as far as you can take them.
Be known
Imagine yourself in a close-knit group of about 230 bright, inquisitive students, all eager to learn and grow. Imagine engaging in lively class discussions that often continue outside the classroom, into the hallways and beyond. Imagine feeling completely at home in a high school where you can be yourself, where you’re recognized, respected, understood, and appreciated.
Welcome to Boston University Academy, where your classes are small and your opportunities are boundless.
Learn Without Limits
You can pursue almost any academic interest at BUA. The school’s dedicated master teachers will closely guide you every step of the way. And your Boston University professors will help you even further. Whether you develop an interest in data science, French poetry, medical anthropology, economic sociology, or all of the above, at BUA, you’ll be able to indulge your curiosity to your heart’s content. Since our founding in 1993, we’ve remained an academically rigorous school; that won’t ever change. But we’re also committed to your growth as a person, to your health and wellness, and to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for you to flourish in.
To the extent that any workplace can be home, BUA is mine. I feel supported here. I feel happy here. And because I feel those things, I can extend my best, most passionate and invested self to my students and colleagues. BUA is a place where you can live your life and be yourself, and, in so doing, become a better version of yourself. BUA is small in size, but mighty in community. BUA truly values everyone, and that’s why I can throw myself into my work here. It’s promoting a future for a world I believe in and want to be a part of.”
ARIANA KELLY
English Teacher and Director of Teaching & Learning
Be challenged ACADEMICS
Boston University Academy classes are all honors-level. Every student gains a solid foundation in the humanities—English, history, and language. Ninth and tenth graders also study biology and chemistry, a visual or performing art, and the level of mathematics they’re ready for in our integrated, problem-based curriculum. BUA’s core curriculum prepares you for anything you want to study in depth.
No desks here! In BUA classrooms, students and teachers sit together around a seminar table, which facilitates studentled discussion and the free exchange of ideas.
High School, meet Higher Ed.
At BUA, you can savor the full menu of high school experiences, and get a serious taste of college, too. You and your BUA friends will have the opportunity to take the Boston University courses that intrigue you most, with the support and guidance of advisors and college counselors. You’ll get to stretch and strengthen your academic abilities—and earn college credit while you’re at it. Choose from more than 2,000 BU courses that cover topics ranging from cognitive psychology to nanotechnology, from writing fiction to writing code, from Amharic to American Sign Language.
Your senior thesis is the culmination of four years of learning and the capstone to your BUA education. This yearlong independent research project allows you to study with a University professor, enhancing your ability to read closely, research thoroughly, think analytically, and write coherently in a scholarly fashion. Recent senior thesis topics have included: “Testing the Linearity of Quantum Mechanics,” “Molecular Gastronomy in the Everyday Kitchen,” “Playing Out: Harmonic Freedom in Jazz Fusion Improvisation,” “Modeling Rhizobacterial Colonization of Roots in COMETS,” and “A Philosophical Approach to International Relations.” What subject would you explore?
In eleventh and twelfth grade, BUA students regularly complete up to 12 courses (equivalent to approximately 48 college credits) from Boston University’s undergraduate curriculum. For students who matriculate at BU, course credits earned during their time at BUA may be transferable toward their undergraduate degree and potentially reduce college tuition costs. Those attending college elsewhere may be able to apply university course credits earned during their time at BUA to fulfill college course requirements, at their institution’s discretion.
A day in the life
Sample 9th-grade schedule
8:55–9:55 ALGEBRAIC THINKING AND COORDINATE GEOMETRY: INTEGRATED MATH I
10:05-11:05 BIOLOGY
11:10-11:45 LUNCH
11:50-12:10 ADVISORY
12:15-1:15 CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
1:25-2:25 POWER AND WISDOM IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
2:35-3:30 ACADEMIC BLOCK
3:45-5:00 CROSS-COUNTRY PRACTICE 5:00 CATCH THE T AND HEAD HOME
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Be hands-on
Though BUA students get plenty of opportunities to discuss intangible concepts, they also get to explore ideas empirically through lab work, demonstrations, and active involvement. You might learn about enzyme kinetics using molecular gastronomy techniques or create a dramatic, fast-growing tower by dehydrating sugar with sulfuric acid. At BUA, you predict, observe, explore, question, measure, and test theories yourself.
Ninth- and Tenth-Grade Seminars give you opportunities for fun, hands-on learning without the added pressures of grades or homework. These meet once a week and rotate through various topics of study: Health and Wellness; Public Speaking; Foundations in Language and
Logic; Introduction to Research; Python and Machine Learning; Entrepreneurship; and Engineering and Design Thinking at the Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC), BU’s 15,000-square-foot makerspace.
With our Boston location and access to a major research university, experiential learning opportunities abound. Interested in auditory neuroscience? You could write your senior thesis with a leading expert in the field of biomedical engineering. Fascinated by biochemistry? Consider spending your summer researching x-ray crystallography in the lab of a BU chemistry professor. Ardent about art?
Maybe you’d like to dive into the work of a historic painter you admire or collaborate with a contemporary studio artist. Whatever your passion, there’s a path to exploration.
THE ARTS
Be inspired
At BUA, you can express yourself in countless ways—on canvas and on stage, in two dimensions or three, through music and mixed media
You can pursue the arts in classes, ensembles, and clubs. Ninth and tenth graders enroll in either a visual or performing arts course, and you can augment and continue your study through extracurricular activities, advanced coursework, and/or independent studies. BUA students put on art shows, plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets. As with all things BUA, there are no limits to what you can do
Where creative minds thrive
Many BUA students are accomplished musicians. Regardless of your skill level, you have plenty of opportunities to learn and improve. Take a course like Jazz Band, Music Theory, Chamber Orchestra, or The Development of Operatic Style. Pursue an independent study in musical composition and learn from guest composers from the Boston area. As for visual arts, you can take foundational and intermediate classes in drawing, painting, or digital art, and an advanced art course as an upperclassman. Try your hand at digital illustration, graphic design, or photography. Dabble in oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphite, charcoal, or ink.
Get inspired by visiting artists and other students at both BUA and BU. From the vibrant paintings on the art studio’s windows to artworks on display in BUA’s hallways, creativity abounds everywhere you look.
My son has truly found a home at BUA. He is part of a caring community of students, faculty, and staff with an incredible diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and interests. He has commuted on the T with friends from different grades and towns, been inspired by an alumnus iRobot engineer at all-school meeting, volunteered at a Boston public school, rowed on the Charles River, and played soccer at Nickerson Field. I once worried that amidst the many opportunities provided by the BU environment, my son might miss out on high school traditions such as prom, yearbook, clubs, arts, and sports. However, he has enjoyed many of these and more, making his BUA experience the best of both worlds.”
Parent of Xavier Soong ’27
ERIKA SOONG
At BUA, my incredible teachers and coaches are constantly encouraging me to grow. Whether I’m in the classroom or on the water at crew, the people around me challenge me to question my beliefs, express my creativity, and extend past my limits. They don’t just expect more; they show me how to reach it.
What makes BUA special is how that challenge is balanced with personal support. My teachers break down complex ideas in ways that help me understand, and my coaches know just when to encourage and when to push. That mix of high standards and constant guidance has helped me grow more confident in both academics and athletics.”
Class of 2027
ZIYAN THAKKAR
Be active
After a long day of Sophocles and cosines, sometimes you need to blow off some steam.
At BUA, you can choose from more than 25 physical education electives and 15 interscholastic and recreational sports. We’ve got yoga, Pilates, cardio kickboxing, rock climbing, aerial dance, Zumba, and squash—and that’s not even half the list! At BU’s 270,000-square-foot Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec), you can use the weight rooms, multipurpose fitness studios, and aquatic facilities, as well as the squash, racquetball, and basketball courts. Learn to lunge and parry in a fencing match or ply the Charles River in a crew shell.
Work hard, play hard
With BU’s state-of-the-art facilities as our home turf, we enjoy healthy competition against our peer schools in interscholastic play. BUA competes in the Massachusetts Bay Independent League (boys soccer, cross-country, boys basketball, tennis, and ultimate) and in the Girls’ Independent League (girls basketball, girls soccer, and volleyball), and has taken home league titles in varsity basketball, varsity soccer, fencing, and ultimate frisbee.
• Our home turf is BU’s Nickerson Field.
• Our home waters are the Charles River.
• Our PE classes take place at BU’s 270,000-square-foot Fitness and Recreation Center (FitRec).
Be engaged
Before, after, and between classes, students entertain themselves in so many ways. They work on crossword puzzles and play Dungeons and Dragons in the Student Commons, and challenge other advisory groups to volleyball matches in the gym during their free time. And on sunny days, they lounge or study on the lawn in front of the BUA building or on the famous “BU Beach.”
At BUA, food is our love language. Enjoy bake sale goodies to benefit Yearbook Club, samosa socials with the South Asian Student Association, spring rolls and dumplings provided by the East Asian Student Association in celebration of Lunar New Year, and sweet dates from the Middle Eastern and
North African Student Association to mark the start of Ramadan.
Ninth- and tenth-grade students can bring their lunch from home or choose from over a dozen food options in BU’s George Sherman Union (GSU) next door—not your average high school cafeteria. Choices include sushi, salads, vibrant street food, gourmet sandwiches, and much more. Ninth and tenth graders get to eat in their own lunchroom, while eleventh and twelfth graders can explore the dining establishments along Commonwealth Avenue.
After classes let out for the day, students head off to sports practice, club meetings, or BU’s Mugar Library. The commute home is a chance to get some reading done, socialize with friends...or just reflect and relax.
As a student, BUA allowed me to be a part of a diverse and tight-knit community, especially through the athletics department. Returning as the fencing coach has been a special way to stay connected and help build the same strong, supportive environment that meant so much to me as a student. Watching students get excited about their performances and proud of their progress reminds me of my own time at BUA. It’s been deeply rewarding to see students grow both on the strip and as individuals over the past few years.” – Easwer
“Coaching the BUA Model UN team has allowed me to give back to the community that shaped me. It’s been a joy to share my passion for Model UN with a fresh group of curious students. Watching them grow, learn, and even win Best Small Delegation at a conference reminds me why I wanted to give back to BUA by sharing something I love.” – Ajay
EASWER RAMAN AND AJAY RAMAN
Alumni, Class of 2020 and Class of 2023
Be a high schooler
Yes, BUA is academically demanding. But it’s also a lively, joyful place where students and teachers genuinely enjoy coming to school each day. Through clubs, trips, events, and outings, the school year is filled with all kinds of celebrations and traditions. From our ninth- and tenthgrade overnight retreat, to Fall Festival (bounce house included), to the homecoming dance, to the Classics Declamation Contest, to prom, there’s always time for fun.
With more than 50 student clubs and 15 interscholastic and recreational sports to choose from, there are more extracurricular opportunities than hours in a day. Some popular options are:
Affinity Groups
Aspiring Medical Students Association
Chess Club
Knitting & Fiber Arts Club
Literary Magazine (LitMag)
Model UN
Philosophy Club
Puzzle Club
Robotics
Student Council
Yearbook
If you can’t find the club you’re looking for, you can start your own!
ADVISING
Be nurtured
At BUA, we encourage students to ask for—and welcome—help. That’s why every student is paired with an experienced advisor. Whether you need advice on picking classes, are looking for study and time management tips, or want help navigating a sticky social situation, your advisor is always there for you
In the ninth and tenth grade, your advisor helps you adjust to the academic rigors of BUA and supports your social and emotional wellbeing. In eleventh and twelfth grade, you also work closely with BUA’s college counselors and our University liaison to navigate course selection and registration and communicate with your BU professors.
Advising is an ongoing source of connection and socialization—and sometimes even includes brownies for a birthday celebration or a fun lunch outing along Commonwealth Avenue!
URBAN CAMPUS
Be in Boston
This uniquely vibrant city provides the ideal setting for high school. You and your friends can easily get to museums, libraries, public parks, restaurants, and more. Events and resources abound, from science to sports to social causes. Take a field trip to a research lab or gallery. Get inspired at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner
Museum, or the Institute of Contemporary Art – BUA students get in free with their BU ID!
This is your city. And beyond all the resources Boston offers, it gives you the opportunity to become an informed and engaged citizen. Through our Service Learning Fellowship Program and Community Service Club outings, you can contribute to your community and to local organizations that are meaningful to you.
Be independent
Thanks to BUA’s location and accessibility, many students get to and from school using public transportation. They commute by T, commuter rail, ferry, car, bike, and foot from locations as far away as Attleboro, Lawrence, and Bridgewater, and as close as the Back Bay, Brookline, and Cambridge.
Our students say that commuting is a core part of their BUA experience. It’s not just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about building autonomy and selfreliance and gaining the confidence to navigate the urban landscape.
Belong DIVERSITY
Fostering an inclusive and equitable community is a priority at BUA. We believe that school is a place where everybody should feel at ease and included while being fully themselves. We also believe that an excellent education requires a truly diverse climate—one in which varied backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, and socioeconomic statuses are represented.
Strength in difference
With nearly 55% of our student body identifying as students of color, BUA reflects the diverse world you’ll graduate into. The more our school reflects that world, the more likely we are to fill our classrooms with the most curious, capable, and kind students who will raise the level of engagement and challenge for all.
BUA students speak more than two dozen languages at home and come from nearly 50 cities and towns in and around Greater Boston. From biryani to bibimbap, spanakopita to Swedish meatballs, you don’t have to look further than the dozens of dishes students bring to our annual Be Together community performance and potluck to see the many rich cultural heritages represented at BUA.
Being part of a global research university also gives you a chance to experience the world without leaving campus. But if you do want to stretch
your wings, BUA’s Global Travel program offers opportunities for domestic and international placebased learning. Destinations are chosen for their relevance and ties to the BUA curriculum, with an emphasis on experiential education. Students may apply to a selection of travel experiences that align with their interests and ambitions. Recent trips include: Istanbul; Paris; Greece; Roatán, Honduras; Arizona; and New York City.
About 55% of BUA students identify as students of color. BUA students come from around 50 cities and towns in Greater Boston and speak more than two dozen languages at home.
COLLEGE AND CAREER
Beyond BUA
Take a look at our matriculation list, and you’ll see that BUA students go on to attend top colleges and universities throughout the country and around the world.
BUA alumni tell us that they feel more prepared for college than their peers. And after college,
our alums go on to lead impressive careers. Among our graduates are bestselling authors, university professors, cancer researchers, and even a US Air Force submarine commander and a Major League Baseball World Series Championship ring holder.
With a BUA education, there are truly no limits to what you can accomplish
BUA seniors in good academic and disciplinary standing are ensured admission at Boston University, with a financial aid package that meets 100% of their demonstrated need.
FINANCIAL AID
Be included
Economic diversity enriches our school and is one of the many reasons we’re such a multifaceted and dynamic community
We recognize that a BUA education is a major financial investment. BUA is committed to making a stellar education accessible to families of all socioeconomic backgrounds by offering a significant amount of needbased financial aid. Beyond enabling students to earn valuable college credits while in high school, we use our financial aid budget of over $3 million to provide nearly a third of our students with need-based financial aid. Our comprehensive financial aid program offsets the cost not just of tuition, but also of incidental costs including books, laptops, lunches, and school trips, making us a leader in experiential equity among our peer schools.
We’d love to get to know you and your family and share even more information about BUA, so you can see if we’re the right school for you
BUA’s admission process begins in September and applications are due by January 15 for entry the following school year. We welcome applications for grades 9, 10, and 11. However, families with students in grade 7 and younger can complete an online inquiry form to receive materials when they’re eligible to apply.
To take the next step and apply, just visit buacademy.org or connect in person by contacting us here:
BUA Admission Office One University Road Boston, MA 02215 617-358-2493 academyadmission@bu.edu
Follow us! @buacademy
At Boston University Academy, kind and curious students who love learning are challenged to read deeply and think critically, to explore adventurously at Boston University, and to engage meaningfully in our community and beyond.