Student Life
We do far more than just homework at BUA! With 54 clubs and 15 interscholastic and recreational sports (that’s a LOT for a school of just over 200 students), you are sure to find an out-of-the-classroom activity that makes you tick. Whether it’s BUA’s award-winning robotics and Model UN teams, the Performing Arts Outing Club, Social Justice Alliance, or Jazz Band, there’s a student club calling your name!
View the list of student clubs and activities at BUA
- A Capella (3 groups)
- Admission Ambassadors
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Aspiring Medical Students Association
- Badminton Club
- Biology Club
- Boys Basketball
- Boys Fencing
- Boys Soccer
- BUAMUN
- Bullet Journal Club
- Chemistry Club
- Chess Team
- Chinese Culture Club
- Community Service Club
- Crew
- Cross Country
- Cubing Club
- Dance Club
- Debate Club
- Drama Club
- Fashion Club
- Film Club
- Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
- Girls Basketball
- Girls Fencing
- Girls Soccer
- Green Club
- Jazz Band
- Jewish Student Association
- Kindness Club
- Knitting Club
- Latin American Student Association
- LitMag
- Math Team
- Mock Trial
- Model United Nations
- Music Fusion Club
- Nerdy Games and Hobbies
- Pastry Club
- Peer Advisors
- Peer Tutors
- Performance Arts Outing Club
- Philosophy Club
- Photography Club
- Politics Club
- Robotics
- Sailing
- Scarlet Letter (online newspaper)
- Science Team
- Senior-Directed Play
- Shakespeare Club
- Social Gaming Club
- Social Justice Alliance (SJA)
- Society of Women Engineers
- South Asian Students Association
- Stock Market Club
- Student Council
- Student Life Improvement Club (SLIC)
- Student Council
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Women’s Empowerment Group
- Yearbook
- YouTube Tech Reviewers Club
Commuting to BUA
Over 90% of students report using public transportation either to or from school. Of those students who take the MBTA, many use more than one mode to get to BUA. T-passes are available to students for $30 per month.
Watch a recording of our fall 2020 commuting webinar here.
View the list of cities and towns represented by current BUA students
- Acton
- Andover
- Arlington
- Bedford
- Belmont
- Beverly
- Boston
- Brookline
- Burlington
- Cambridge
- Canton
- Chestnut Hill
- Cohasset
- Dover
- Everett
- Framingham
- Hanover
- Hingham
- Hopkinton
- Lancaster
- Lawrence
- Lexington
- Lincoln
- Littleton
- Los Altos Hills
- Lynn
- Marblehead
- Medford
- Melrose
- Milton
- Nahant
- Needham Heights
- Newton
- North Easton
- Norwood
- Quincy
- Randolph
- Revere
- Salem
- Saugus
- Scituate
- Sharon
- Sherborn
- Singapore
- Somerville
- Southborough
- Stoneham
- Swampscott
- Tewksbury
- Walpole
- Waltham
- Watertown
- Wayland
- Wellesley
- Wenham
- Weston
- Weymouth
- Winchester
- Woburn
Admitted students cities and towns (not represented by current BUA students)
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- Atlanta, GA
- Concord
- East Walpole
- Ithaca, NY
- Natick
- Needham
- North Andover
- Panama
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Sudbury
- West Dulwich, London, UK
- Westborough
- Westwood
- Worcester
- Zionsville, IN
Modern Language Program
Boston University Academy has two options to allow for modern language study as part of its ninth and tenth grade curriculum.
Option #1: Online Modern Language Courses for ninth and tenth graders
Ninth and tenth grade students are able to study an online modern language course through Middlebury Interactive Learning as a sixth course of study in addition to their five core BUA courses.
- Students must apply to participate in this program by submitting an application with their course registration forms due in May that notes their interest in taking a modern language and addresses their maturity in being able to handle the responsibilities of an increased course of study.
- BUA will coordinate the online language program. BUA staff will oversee the course completion and will monitor course pacing and student work through weekly meetings.
- These courses will appear on BUA transcripts as part of a student’s course of study.
- There is no additional cost associated with the online modern language courses.
Additional information about this program will be shared with enrolled families.
Option #2: Advanced Modern Language Course at BU for tenth graders
New and returning tenth grade students have an opportunity to take Advanced Modern Language (third semester or above) at Boston University instead of the required second year of classical language at BUA.
- Students must apply for this pilot program by taking a BU language placement test and submitting an application in spring of their ninth grade year. The application highlights their interest and experience in the language and addresses their maturity in being able to handle the responsibilities of a University course. A committee will review the applications for appropriate placement levels, good academic standing in BUA coursework, and maturity in the BUA program.
- Students must place into the third semester of BU Modern Language (211-level or above) to qualify for the program. The student would have to have studied the equivalent of two years of high school modern language and show that level of competency on the BU modern language placement test.
- Students will be notified in early April of their ability to participate in this program. This timing ensures that students will receive priority registration for the BU courses for the fall semester.
FAQ
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!
How do students commute to Boston University Academy?
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 our fall 2020 Commuting Webinar here!
Please contact Nastaran Hakimi at 617-358-5452 or nrhakimi@bu.edu if you would like to speak directly with a family in your area about commuting options.
What time does the school day start?
Great question! BUA has revised its schedule to accommodate later start times on all school days. In the 2021-2022 academic year, classes will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 8:55 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays. A sample 9th grade schedule for the upcoming academic year is below:
When do students choose their courses for the coming year?
Incoming students will receive instructions about course selection and registration once the Admission Office receives their enrollment contract. All new students should plan to sit for the online placement test in math on Saturday, May 15 at 9:30 a.m. OR Monday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m. We will share more information about the math placement test in mid-April, along with information about taking a Latin placement test for students that have had Latin experience.
How are books ordered for the coming school year?
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.
Where do students eat lunch? Can students bring and buy lunch?
During COVID, students may either bring food from home or order food from the GSU via the GrubHub Campus Dining app using Convenience or Dining Points or a credit or debit card. Ninth and tenth graders eat lunch in the BUA building or in one of the approved outdoor spaces, but are not permitted to eat inside the GSU.
In a regular, non-COVID year, 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. 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.
How are faculty advisors assigned?
The Director of Admission works with the Student Success Team to match all new students with a faculty advisor. Advisors meet regularly throughout the week with their advising groups (approximately 5-8 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.
What kind of orientation does BUA offer to new students at the start of the school year?
BUA will host a required weeklong orientation program for all new students from August 23-27, 2021, as a way to ensure a smooth transition to the academic expectations of our program. In addition to honing math and study skills, the program also offers students the chance to become familiar with commuting to campus, and to get acclimated to BUA and the surrounding BU campus before the term begins. Students will also get to know some of their teachers and their new classmates before the start of school. More detailed information will be mailed to new families over the summer.
What are the important dates on next year’s academic calendar?
September 2: BUA and University Classes Begin
September 6: Labor Day (BUA and BU Closed)
October 11: Columbus Day (BUA and BU Closed)
November 11: Veterans Day (no BUA classes)
November 12: In-Service Day (no BUA classes)
November 24-28: Thanksgiving Break (BUA and BU closed)
December 17: Last Day of BUA Fall Semester
December 20-January 4: BUA Closed for Winter Break
January 5: BUA Classes Resume
January 17: MLK Day (BUA and BU Closed)
February 21: Presidents’ Day (BUA and BU Closed)
March 7-20: BUA Spring Break
April 15: In-Service Day (no BUA classes)
April 18: Patriots’ Day (BUA and BU Closed)
May 30: Memorial Day (BUA and BU Closed)
June 7: Last Day of BUA Spring Semester
Preliminary Calendar of Key Dates, 2021-2022
How can parents get involved in the BUA community?
All current parents are automatically members of the Boston University Academy Parents Network (BUAPN). Functioning as the volunteer arm of BUA, the primary goals of the BUAPN are to enhance student life and to strengthen the school community. BUAPN organizes activities that enrich the high school experience for students and coordinates parent volunteers for special community events.
There are many opportunities for families to be active members of our community: attend monthly BUAPN meetings, meet new parents at the Winter Social, or volunteer your time throughout the year.
Where do BUA students attend college?
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.
Most frequent college matriculations from 2015-2020, after Boston University:* Northeastern University (13), Brown University (12), Harvard University (12), Smith College (8), Tufts University (8), New York University (7), University of Chicago (7), Brandeis University (6), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (5), McGill University (5), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (5), University of Michigan (5), University of Rochester (5), Johns Hopkins University (4), Wellesley College (4), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (4), Yale University (4)
* 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. In a typical year, approximately 10% of the BUA’s graduating seniors enroll at Boston University in a full-time degree-granting program. Many of those students have earned competitive scholarships, research opportunities, or advanced standing in their academic program of choice.
College Matriculation List, 2015-2020
How does my family officially enroll?
Your family must sign an enrollment contract and submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit by April 10, 2021. In the meantime, you can let the BUA Admission Office know of your plans by completing the online enrollment intent form.
A secure link to a personalized enrollment contract was sent to the email address associated with your family’s Ravenna account. Please contact the Admission Office if you need us to the resend the link.
