Majors

During their junior year, students seeking to participate in the 3+3 Program apply to Boston College Law School. If accepted for admission, they begin law school immediately following completion of their junior year. Upon successful completion of the first year of law school with grades of “C” or better, students earn a bachelor’s degree from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Upon successful completion of the remaining two years of law school, students earn a J.D. from Boston College Law School.

The 3+3 Program is limited to undergraduates in the Morrissey College who have completed at least four full-time semesters in residence in the College.

Admission to the Program

Juniors applying for admission to this program must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The Law School evaluates carefully the quality of your academic record, faculty recommendations, and your LSAT score.

Admissions interviews are required for all applicants to the 3+3 program.

For all applicants, other qualifications are considered, including extracurricular activities, involvement in cultural or civic affairs, and work experience. The Law School welcomes applications from qualified students belonging to groups under-represented in the legal profession.

Eligibility Requirements

Before entering the Law School (in other words, by the end of the junior year), Morrissey College accelerated-admission students must complete:

1. all requirements of one undergraduate Arts and Sciences academic major;
2. the University’s Core Curriculum;
3. the Arts and Sciences language requirement; and,
4. have earned at least 90 credits towards the bachelor’s degree in Arts and Sciences courses.

Students in the Morrissey College Honors Program must complete requirements for that program before entering the Law School.

Completion of the Undergraduate Degree

Upon successful completion of two full semesters of law school, a maximum of 32 Law School credit hours will be applied as elective credit towards the undergraduate degree.

If needed in order for the student to attain the 96 credits in Morrissey College courses normally required within the 120 total credits needed for completion of the undergraduate degree, six credits from specifically designated first year law school courses can be applied as Morrissey College credits towards the undergraduate degree.

When to Apply

Students applying for accelerated admission should complete the application process by early January of their junior year. It is preferable for applicants to have taken the LSAT by February of their junior year. Contact the pre-law adviser early in the fall semester of junior year to discuss the admission process. At the time of application, students should have completed at least 75 Morrissey College credit hours toward the bachelor’s degree.

Preparation for Accelerated Admission

Plan ahead. If you are interested in accelerated admission to the Law School, you must plan carefully to meet the program’s requirements and deadlines. It is especially important in your early undergraduate years to plan your schedule so that you will complete all major, core and language requirements on time.

You should discuss your interest in the program with the pre-law adviser during your freshman year. You should also inform your primary academic adviser of your interest so that you may plan your schedule accordingly.

Upon entering the Law School (in other words, after completing their junior year of study), accelerated-admission students will be Boston College Law School students and therefore will no longer be eligible for undergraduate housing and financial aid. Students will be eligible for Law School financial aid.