Boston College Top Questions

BC men's football, hockey, and basketball are by far the most popular sports teams. BC student football tickets sell out every year, and a lottery is held for men's hockey and basketball to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to get tickets. UGBC is the undergraduate student government organization at BC. Elections are always crazy and the campaigning is really intense. UGBC's job is to work with the administration to improve the quality of student life. I'm a member of the BC Sharps, the only all-female a cappella group on campus. We sometimes joke that we're as close to a sorority as BC will ever get because we get together socially as well as sing together. Outside of class and schoolwork, the Sharps are the most important part of my college experience. We are all very close friends. During my freshman year, I was usually up socializing with people from my dorm at 2am on a typical Tuesday night. I was more than willing to replace sleep with opportunities to get to know new people. But now as a sophomore living in a suite with friends, I am up at 2am on a Tuesday night only when I have work due the next morning. I usually go to bed around 12:30 or 1am on weekdays.

Service, Service, Service. Although also sports - most students workout and many play a sport even if just intramural. But not sports are not intimidating - I hated gym class in HS but feel totally comfortable here. The arts are growing on campus - there are a lot of dance groups and the theater program is outstanding. Most weekends there seems to be a least a small performance by theater, certainly multiple arts performances every week. Dating is not a great scene, although I feel like this is true of many colleges. There are a fair number of serious relationships especially by senior year. And awkward serial hook-ups but "we're not a couple" kinda situations are very common. So are random hook-ups - though let's clarify here that hook-up for most people I know does not mean sex. People definitely go out on the weekends, and seniors go out a lot during the week too. There is always something going on. We have no Greek life - the Jesuits are not a fan. I think this allows for a very open social scene which is easy to migrate between groups and show up at a party and at least know a couple of people. While there are a lot of parties and a fair amount of drinking, it is acceptable to not drink. People who don't drink still go out to parties and no one judges, at least no one I know. There is always non-drinking stuff going on on campus too and hello the city of Boston provides endless entertainment. Also, quick note on drugs - it's there if you want it but not very popular and one could easily go through four years and never see any of it.

The social life at BC is go go go! Partying is certainly prevalent, but I wouldn't say it's totally out of control, due to a lack of Greek life on campus. But, there are certain spots that are definitely more party centralized than others. Students certainly have the option to party or to do other fun, perhaps less liver-damaging social events, and the school is really good about putting on various shows and forms of entertainment on the weekends to suit everyone's liking. Athletic events are HUGE, so those generally take up a decent amount of weekend time. Off campus, Boston is brimming with activity. From concerts on Lansdowne Street to bars near Fenway and shopping on Newbury street, one will never be bored in the city!

I think the spring break service trip, Appalachia, is one of the most popular organizations. It's one of the largest Habitat for Humanity trips in America. I went on that trip my sophomore year, and it is one of my favorite memories from BC. The dance groups at BC are also a huge draw, with the theater packed for all of the shows. THe plays and music shows aren't as big of a draw for the rest of BC. Athletic events are very popular, with the emphasis on Football. Students are also partial to the big basketball and hockey games, but there are definitely fans who won't go see smaller contests. I met my closes friends through mutual friends that I had made freshman year. If I'm awake on a Tuesday, I'm either studying for a test, or on my way back from Mary Anns, and hanging out with all my friends. Some of the traditions that are held each year are: The Middle March costume ball, homecoming, the senior week events, pep rally before the Notre Dame football game, etc. The party scene depends on your year. Freshman and sophomore year it's normal to go out on Friday and Saturday nights, and by junior year you go out on Thursday too. By senior year people go out Tuesday through Saturday, with specific bars each night. We don't have fraternities or sororities, something I consider one of BC's best aspects.