Amanda

I remember searching for anything and everything I could find about BU during my college-application process, and one of the things I came across was the "stereotype." The stereotypical BU girls are rich and snobby, the guys are either gay or tools.

The truth is, especially since BU is such a large school, there exists a very large diversity of people. I find that once at BU, stereotypes are formed more by school (COM, ENG, CFA, etc) but even within schools there are such varieties of people, and I constantly meet people who disprove any stereotypes.

Before having visited BU, I was completely turned off by the thought of such a large university and an open campus. Being from New York, I had something very NYU-esque in mind - buildings scattered all over the place and not very unified. This is not the case at all with BU. While it is an open campus, it is very unified. Almost all of the buildings you'll find from about 500 to 1000 Commonwealth Avenue are BU owned.

While the size may be daunting, keep in mind that BU is a UNIVERSITY, meaning it is broken up into 18 different schools and colleges. I'm enrolled in the College of Engineering (ENG), which is sort of my home base at BU. There are about 1300 undergrads enrolled in ENG (less than ten percent of the undergrad student class), so we get all the benefits of a small college, while still being able to take advantage of a huge university.

I find myself never being bored at BU. There is always something going on, and if I DO want to get away from campus, there's always the heart of the city of Boston a hop, skip and jump away.

Boston is the ultimate college town. It's a college CITY. It feels almost like an extension of campus. It's not so big that it's overwhelming, and there's always a bunch of things going on. There are also quite a few other colleges in the Boston area, and you'll find yourself meeting and becoming friends with students from other schools. (Don't get me wrong, though - the city is still an escape from campus!)

BU is broken up into 18 different colleges and universities, so academics vary tremendously within each school and even within departments. Introductory science courses, for example, will take place in lecture halls seating 100+ students. However, individual discussions sections will be held with around 20 students, and professors are extremely approachable: they hold [multiple] weekly office hours, and are usually very correspondent to e-mails. Writing classes, on the other hand, are much more intimate and personal, with about 20 students per section.

I'm currently majoring in computer engineering and enrolled in the College of Engineering (ENG), so I'll focus on my experience so far here. The professors in ENG WANT us to do well. They are all distinguished in their respective fields, and genuinely just want to help produce good engineers. The classes, like with any engineering program, are exceedingly difficult, but so much fun. ENG students have access to labs and opportunities to do research right from freshman year. ENG offers free tutoring 6 nights a week, a brand new imagineering lab (for us to just mess around a build whatever we want), and other opportunities specifically for engineering students. Another great thing about ENG@BU is the collaboration with other engineering students in Boston.

BU consists of a large diversity of students, in ever meaning of the word: diverse ethnically, geographically, socioeconomically, and religiously. While predominantly white, most (if not all) races and ethnicities are represented. Sure, there are a lot of rich kids (BU IS an expensive private school) but also students like me who wouldn't be attending BU without the generous financial aid received. There are students from nearly every US state, and many international students. I think it's invaluable to interact with students from different places around the country and world.

From what I've come across, students at BU are very open and accepting to different backgrounds. I honestly don't even know the economic backgrounds of the people I've come across because no one is really obnoxious about it or flaunts it.

I don't think anyone would feel out of place at BU. Since there's such a large student body, there's a niche for everyone.

There's a student group for everyone on campus. And if there isn't, anyone could start one. I play bass in the All-Campus Orchestra (through the College of Fine Arts and open to all BU students) and am heavily involved with the Community Service Center (CSC). The CSC is a great place to meet people from all over campus while doing service. One of the CSC's most popular events is FYSOP - the First Year Student Outreach Program, which freshmen and transfers can participate in upon arriving at BU. It's a great opportunity to make friends and get involved with community service.

BU is a huge hockey school. Games on weekends are filled with students wearing scarlet and white.

Greek life at BU isn't a huge deal, nothing (I imagine) close to big southern schools. But it does exist for those interested, and a variety of events are hosted by greeks each year.

Partying is definitely an option at BU (as a freshman there are BU and MIT frat parties that are usually open, and more intimate apartment parties as you move up) and is there if you want it. If that's not your thing, there are countless other things going on both on and off campus. Comedy shows, concerts, plays and musicals (I recently played in the pit orchestra for BU On Broadway presents The Producers!) are always going on.

During the day on weekends I am usually doing some sort of community service activity through the Community Service Center, whether it be hanging out with my Little Sib via the Siblings program, or performing a play with Children's Theatre. Sundays are my homework days.

On the weekend nights I often find myself going to some sort of event - a comedy show (like by BU's premier sketch comedy group Slow Children at Play), a play, or a concert, and usually hanging with friends after, whether it be an apartment party of just hanging around at Sunset for nachos.

The Greek scene isn't a huge part of campus life, it's something that about 10% of students are involved with. There are no on-campus or official Greek houses, though Greeks will tend to live together on and off campus. If you're looking to get involved with Greek life, it's definitely there for you. I'm friends with several girls in sororities who aren't stereotypical "sorority girls." The girls I know are all down-to-earth, funny, friendly, are social outside of their sororities and are involved with community service. There's no pressure to join or not to join Greek organizations.

BU is a hard school and the professors are tough, but that doesn't mean they aren't very open to helping students and trying to help them be successful. They hold (usually multiple) office hours every week, are very communicative through e-mails and open to feedback. Professors WANT us to do well and to really learn the material.

Certain writing classes, which are taught by topic and required by almost every program at BU, get competitive. One of the classes is based off of The Colbert Report and I know it's hard to snag a spot in.

My favorite spots are the 3rd floor of Mugar library, the 9th floor of Shelton Hall (gorgeous panoramic view of the Boston skyline!), BU Central, and if you're an engineering student, Ingalls.