On a predominantly white campus, Black students in the Student Admission Program (SAP) must navigate sharing their authentic experience while representing Boston College to prospective students. 

“I’ve not had the most perfect or easy time at this institution,” said Ester Mohamed, MCAS ’26. “I don’t think anyone has, but being part of SAP requires you to represent the University in a positive way, so I had to find a way to balance my honesty with representation.”

SAP, one of BC’s largest student organizations, is housed under the Undergraduate Admission Office and features student-led tours, panels, and Instagram “Takeovers” that offer prospective students a glimpse into the BC experience. 

Only about 5 percent of BC undergraduates self-identify as Black, according to the University’s Fact Book. The small percentage is similarly reflected in SAP, Wami Osikanlu, MCAS ’27, attested. 

“I think it’s less than 1 percent of the panelists and tour guides on SAP are Black or students of color,” said Osikanlu.

“We’re Representing the University” 

Mohamed shared that during SAP training, administrators had subtly specified how panelists should discuss diversity and representation at BC. 

“They did kind of hint that we should be very careful with our wording when it came to topics like diversity, or anything that falls under the umbrella of diversity,” said Mohamed.

University Spokesman Jack Dunn declined to comment when asked whether SAP members receive any guidance from the University on how to discuss diversity. 

This hinting, Mohamed stated, led her to be more hesitant when sharing her less positive experiences as a Black woman at BC. 

“I took that as having to be a little more guarded with personal negative things that have happened to me on campus,” said Mohamed. 

She attributes this reservation to SAP’s role in marketing the University to prospective students.

“We’re representing the University to prospective students and their parents, who probably wouldn’t want to bring their child to the school if they’re a student of color and they hear about any microaggressions or any larger aggressions that happen on campus,” Mohamed said.

Mohamed mentioned, however, that if students approached her outside of SAP panels, the more personal setting made her feel comfortable sharing her experiences.

“If a student of color were to approach me after a panel or on a tour, it would be significantly easier for me to discuss my time and also my experience applying to schools or being at BC in general,” Mohamed said.

“A Bigger Push for More Students of Color” 

Osikanlu said that in order to provide prospective students with a more accurate view of the University’s student body, SAP needs wider representation. 

“I understand the qualms with SAP in terms of how they kind of support students of color and promote that there is a space for students of color at BC,” said Osikanlu. “But I think it’s also just—there needs to be a bigger push for more students of color, especially Black students, to join SAP.”

Osikanlu noted that this year’s SAP leadership has recognized the program’s lack of diversity and is trying to address the issue. 

“I think with past SAP councils, they haven’t really cared, to be honest,” said Osikanlu. “And I think this council specifically is trying for that.” 

Despite a desire to enhance student representation, SAP faces challenges recruiting representatives for its academic year cohort—especially within the already small proportion of Black students at BC.

“Other than, I guess, slapping it on your resume, other than that, unless you just love the school that much that you really want people to know about it, there’s no other real incentive,” said Chris Major, MCAS ’26. 

Major said that although SAP can be a good resume booster for students, the school-year programming doesn’t build community for students of color in the same way that other clubs on campus do.

“[Students of color] are joining the things that I guess they identify with,” said Major. “And I just feel like, [SAP is] like, low on the tier of things to do.”

“A Built-in Friend Group”

Students participating in Summer SAP, a distinct two-month program, however, reported their experiences as largely positive, noting the tight-knit community that the program fostered. 

“I had an incredible summer participating in SAP,” said Mohamed. “It was truly transformative for me, especially because it allowed me to connect with the people that I was working with, but also because I was able to connect with prospective students of color.”

The program, which runs from June to mid-August, consists of roughly 20 students living together on campus. They help run the admissions office, host panels, welcome prospective students, and lead tours. 

With such a small community, Major emphasized how close students in Summer SAP get. 

“You kind of get a built-in friend group, for like, an entire summer,” said Major. 

Toni Martin, CSOM ’27, who also participated in Summer SAP, shared an appreciation for the connections she formed with other students and administrators in the program.

“Part of the reason why I did enjoy the summer is because you have such a close relationship with the people on staff, and that includes, like, students—that includes the admissions counselors,” said Martin. 

Osikanlu, who emphasized her positive experience working as an orientation leader, mentioned that the pressure to market the University was not present during orientation, as opposed to during SAP experiences. 

“You’re trying to sell the school,” said Osikanlu. “To a certain extent, [orientation leaders are] not selling the school to you anymore. Once you’re at orientation, you already chose it.”

“It’s a BC-Wide Issue”

Osikanlu also reflected on the wider disconnect she finds among the student body at BC.

“I think generally at BC, being a Black student is extremely difficult,” Osikanlu said. “It can feel a little bit like there’s two groups, like, if you’re not hanging out with all of the Black people, then you’re hanging out with mostly the white people, or some other group.”

Major suggested that rather than feeling strong ties to their alma mater, BC’s POC alumni feel more connected to culture clubs—they’re more likely to come back to campus for a culture show than for a football game.

“They want to come back so that they can see their culture shows, or whatever club they were [in], their biggest event,” Major said. “That’s what they’re gonna come back for.”

Osikanlu emphasized that both SAP and BC must address these issues in order to represent and proliferate diversity on campus. 

“At the end of the day, it’s a BC-wide issue, rather than just a SAP issue,” said Osikanlu. “I think there’s a lot of institutional things that make it difficult, but like, at the end of the day, there aren’t a ton of Black students applying to BC, and that’s because they see what BC is like and what BC looks like, and it deters them.”