Is Boston College considered more prestigious than BC, or are they the same school name?

Question

I keep hearing both names used, and I’m confused about whether Boston College and BC are just two ways of saying the same thing. I’m trying to understand how people usually refer to it in college conversations and applications.

I want to make sure I’m using the right name and not missing anything important when people talk about the school.

I want to make sure I’m using the right name and not missing anything important when people talk about the school.

Accepted Answer

The main practical distinction here is that there actually is no distinction: Boston College and BC are the same school. “BC” is simply the standard abbreviation people use in conversation, online, and even in school-branded materials, while the official full name is Boston College.

So no, one is not more prestigious than the other. If someone says they go to BC, they mean Boston College, the private Jesuit university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. In admissions discussions, sports, and campus life, people switch between the full name and “BC” very casually.

On applications or formal writing, it is safest to use “Boston College” first. After that, using “BC” is completely normal, especially in notes, forums, or informal conversation. You are not missing a second institution or a more elite version of the school.

One small point of confusion is that “BC” can sometimes mean other things in totally different contexts, but in college admissions conversations, it almost always refers to Boston College when that school is the topic. So if you are talking about this university, both names are correct, with “Boston College” being the formal name and “BC” being the everyday shorthand.

Is Boston College considered more prestigious than BC, or are they the same school name?

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