Boston vs Chicago: Which Major Is Harder to Get Into?
Boston and Chicago both fill fast, but they ration places in very different ways.
Boston: qualify, then survive the cutoff
Boston has no lottery for time qualifiers. You meet a strict age-graded standard, apply, and then a cutoff trims the field if too many qualifiers apply. In recent years that cutoff has ranged from none to nearly 7 minutes under the standard. It rewards speed above all.
Chicago: qualify or take your chances
Chicago offers a guaranteed entry for runners who meet a time standard, which is more generous than Boston's, plus charity and other guaranteed routes. Everyone else enters a lottery. So Chicago is easier for a fast runner to lock in, and a gamble for everyone else.
The bottom line
For a strong runner, Boston is harder because the bar keeps moving with the cutoff. Check whether your time clears Boston's likely bar with the predictor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boston harder to get into than Chicago?
For fast runners, usually yes, because Boston's cutoff can reject qualifiers, while Chicago offers guaranteed time entry at a more generous standard.
Does Chicago have a cutoff like Boston?
No. Chicago uses a guaranteed time standard plus a lottery, rather than a cutoff that trims qualified applicants.