Is MIT harder to get into than BU?

Yes, MIT is harder to get into than Boston University by a clear margin. Both are selective schools, but MIT sits in a much more extreme category because it enrolls a very small class, attracts an exceptionally self-selecting applicant pool, and is especially demanding in how it evaluates academic preparation in math and science.

One big difference is the type of applicant each school draws. MIT tends to attract students with top-level achievement in advanced STEM coursework, research, competitions, and highly rigorous quantitative work, so even very strong applicants are competing against a pool packed with unusually accomplished students. BU also gets many strong applicants, but its pool is broader across programs and usually less concentrated at that level of specialized STEM distinction.

Another factor is institutional size and admissions structure. MIT is much smaller at the undergraduate level, which means fewer spots overall. BU is a larger university with more total room across many schools and majors, so while admission is still competitive, the scale is different in a way that makes MIT substantially tougher.

The academic bar also looks different in practice. MIT is not just looking for excellent grades and testing when submitted, but for evidence that a student can thrive in an intensely rigorous, fast-moving environment, especially in math-heavy and technical settings. BU absolutely values strong academics too, but MIT’s threshold for standing out is notably higher.

For college list planning, it makes sense to treat MIT as a far reach for essentially everyone, including outstanding applicants. BU is still selective enough that it should not be treated casually, but it belongs in a less extreme category than MIT.