Boston College Top Questions

The size of BC is just right. Its small enough that you see who you want to see, and big enough to avoid those akward run-ins with people who arent so high up on your social priority list. And even though 2500 or so people in one grade sounds terrifying, BC's orientation program does a wonderful job of getting newcomers adjusted to the size. The biggest recent controversy on campus occured because of a girl abusing the listserve. The ordeal was more of a comedic relief during midterms week than a controversy. The location of Boston College is ideal for college. Suburb day life; city night life.

Best Thing: Academics, although you have to find the most passionate teachers. Once you do, keep in touch, they are great mentors Possible Changes: Tuition, student culture Size: Small Reaction to BC: Somewhat impressed, but I can't really fathom why. Time Mostly Spent: Working to pay tuition, studying, hanging out with people that are not huge tools College Town: Not really BC administration: Detached, students have little influence. You just sort of accept it after a while, unless you really want to "fight the man" Note: doing the latter often means less time concentrating on school work and may produce sub par grades. Not worth it in the end. Controversy: Not exactly welcoming to GLBT students, Racial Divides evident (unless your an athlete), issues with treatment of women School Pride: For the most part yes, I don't really now why Unusual things about BC: Everything, from housing to registration, seems to be based on luck. One experience I'll remember: Meghan Sweeney's Personal and Social Responsibility Class, Kim Garcia's Creative Writing course, Drawing Foundations with John Steckzinski, Father Jack's guidance Frequent Complaints: Food is overpriced, housing based on luck, very little to do near campus, party scene gets really old after a while

The best thing about BC is the campus, followed by the class discussion. The campus is absolutely beautiful and it has basically everything a college student needs. There are intelligent people around as well - makes class a little more bearable. There isn't a lot of school pride, but that's mostly because the athletics department cares more about making money than promulgating a good image for the school.

BC is awesome! Spending the last four years here as been the best time of my life. I have met my best friends that I know I will be friends with forever. I have crazy stories about partying, school work, professors, and everyday life at BC that I will take with me forever. The average BC student, or at least the ones I hang around with, loves to party, but also works really hard and prides themselves on getting good grades. We have a lot of school spirit and live for football weekends and tailgating. We love Maryann's, our senior bar. The only thing I would change about BC is the housing lottery process because it causes so much unneeded drama every March. The size of the school is just right. When you walk around campus, you are bound to see someone you know, but most of the people you see you do not know. The best part is that you often see people from your classes when you are out, which makes class a little more enjoyable because you have friends. People have a lot of respect for BC. I am a nursing student and we are greatly appreciated when we go to the hospitals for clinical because nurses know if you go to BC you are bound to be smart and well-educated. Boston is one of the best college towns around. Anywhere you go you will be surrounded by young people whether they are BC, BU, Northeastern, etc. students. It is a great city to go out in and there is always so much to do. Unusual things about BC...we don't have Greek life, we only have BC-run cafeterias, every BC student wants to live in the mods even though they are pieces of shit, only nursing and education students can have cars on campus.

I love BC. People are usually very impressed that I go to BC. I spend most of my time on campus, but I love going into the city when I have a chance. I would say that BC isn't really a college town, but Boston is definitely a college city. There are some issues with BC's administration, but there are things wrong with many universities. There is a ton of school pride and that's something that I love about BC.

The people are really what makes BC great, and the admissions dept and other administrative offices do a great job of facilitating interaction between complementary people. The classes and professors are also really top notch. I really think that it's a nice size, both in population and physical area. The major caveat is that the separate Newton campus is a bit of a pain, though many (myself included) enjoy living there during freshman year as a way to go "home" at the end of the day. There is a fair amount of school pride, but in the realm of sports, we cannot compare with some of the larger schools in athletic conferences like the Big 10 and SEC, to name a couple.

The best thing about BC is how it has become so many things to so many types of people. It's a top-30 university with excellent sports programs (voted the 6th best two-sport school by ESPN last year), has an evident but not overwhelming religious culture (many students are fortunate enough to study under Jesuit priests), and still is a respected 'party' school. A lot of friends who are in fraternities or sororities at other schools say they can't imagine going to a school with no Greek system. I, for one, love BC's policy--there's no pressure associated with pledging, etc., and it serves to minimize cliques based on attributes alone (sure, cliques still exist, but they're often with a very diverse group of people who you normally would have never befriended). I love BC's location, as it is distant enough from Boston to avoid being considered a city school, but close enough to avoid being considered a suburban school. There's very easy access to downtown via the 'T,' but people (particularly underage) simply prefer to stay on campus or near campus. For the most part, BC is a very aesthetically pleasing, Gothic-oriented school. There are a few distinctly retro buildings, but a massive (and beautiful) overhaul of the outdated parts is set to occur in the next decade or so. There are a number of very avid sports fans at BC, and as such, school spirit is typically very high. Unfortunately, there are many fair-weather fans who would rather watch a football game on TV or pound a few more beers than get to the stadium (which is about a 10-minute walk from anywhere on campus, with the exception of the supplemental freshman campus) on time. In a down year for BC basketball, the lack of fans in the student section has been maddening at times.

School Camaraderie. Better recreation facility. Just right, always meeting new people but always seeing people you know. "Wow, good for you!" or "You must love it!" or "Lucky!". I don't have one spot, it varies between dorms, plex, food, walks, stadiums, and meetings. What college town. Very good administration, some of the best professors I could imagine (also has some decent ones that could be better). Listserv mania. LOTS of school pride, and thus one of the reasons I chose BC...superfan shirts, spirit with colors, school representation, etc. Kairos is (a retreat hosted by BC)one experience I'll always remember. Housing is a big complaint because there's not much of it.

the best thing about bc are the excellent faculty. ive had some professors who truly care about educating their students to the best of their ability (susan michalczyk, david martin, ed sciore, kevin newmark) i think the student body is a good size. people don't know much about bc, they just know its in boston, so they just act surprised that i went to school far away. i spend most of my time in my room. college town? i dont understand the question. i think bc's administration does a good job, i dont really know how to judge what they do. genevieve was a decent controversy. not a lot of school pride, maybe at sporting events when we're good. nothing unusual about bc. i'll remember our notre dame trip last semester. amazing. poor dining hall food, air conditioning in dorms (even those with ac dont get it turned on until a week before school ends)

The best thing about BC is the small, comfortable feeling. We have a real campus and the ethnic communities here at BC are close-knit. I would say the size is just right. While there is plenty of space, it's not too much space. I can say that I know a good amount of people here. When I tell people I go to BC, they're usually really impressed. In fact, people are trying to say that BC is on an ivy-league status. Most of my time on campus is spent in my room- it's spacious and very comfortable. Although it's called Boston College, we are in the outskirts of Boston. However, it doesn't take long to get to other schools which are nearby. BC administration is pretty flexible for the most part. However, BC Police Officers aren't too friendly. The biggest controversy on campus is the history core and the racial tension. There is a lot of pride, go to any athletic game and you'll definitely see our pride! One unusual thing about BC is that one hall, Fulton Hall, is modeled after the Wizard of Oz (supposedly). I have a lot of inside experiences but I love being here at BC! Let's go Eagles!!!

BC is amazing. We recently beat Virgina Tech during the regular season and everyone rushed out of their dorms and had a huge rally. I will honestly remember it for the rest of my life. The teachers are good, better than most judging from the horror stories I've heard from friends back home. BC also has a reputation for a great school and with applications pouring in at an alarming rate, it is getting more and more competetive. Needless to say "Eagles on the warpath" (the BEST cheer you'll ever learn) is my motto. BC basically works hard and parties harder. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a great education and to meet awesome people - both professionally and socially.

BC has an excellent academic reputation and overall my time here has been extremely fun. The career recruiting system resources are lacking. Many students feel that there is too big of a gap between what the students want and what the administration wants. The size is perfect. It would be nice if the city of Boston and BC students themselves took more pride in BC Sports.

The best thing about BC is the culture of service. So many students volunteer and there are so many opportunities to do so. Everyone seems to be involved in at least one extra curricular. If I could change one thing, I would change that no one dates at BC. The rumor that BC is either a marriage or a hook up school definitely seems to be true- there's very little dating, but many BC grads marry other Eagles following graduation. BC is the perfect size for me- its large enough that you don't know everyone by senior year but its small enough that when you walk around campus you can recognize familiar faces. I wish there was a lower student to faculty ratio, though. Classes, especially introductory classes that you take as a freshman, are very large and tend to not be personal. I spend the most time on campus in the apartment style living of upper classmen, because most seniors live on campus, despite moving off campus during junior year. I think its great because BC doesn't have enough housing to provide for all of its students, but by allowing seniors back on campus, BC creates a haven for seniors to regroup for their final year. I also spend a lot of time in our science building, Higgins, which has some awesome labs for students to work in, and in Bapst, our gorgeous, old library. It makes you feel like you've stepped into Hogwarts! BC is a Catholic school but it doesn't consistently hold to its roots, and this is the biggest source of controversy on campus. For example, no contraception is allowed to be sold or distributed on campus, the admissions statement does not include a clause about sexual preference, and several events being run by the gay and lesbian organization have been canceled. However, the university still maintains investments in war torn areas and allow companies involved in weapons development to come to our career fair. This is a highly protested area involving the administration. There is also undeniably still a racial divide at BC. While it is improving, and there are numerous cultural organizations that are heavily supported, groups still tend to form along racial lines. This is one complaint I have about my time at Boston College, but it is one that seems to be getting better as time goes on. I will always remember the football games at BC, which are huge. Our teams are good, but the entire experience of tailgating is what makes the difference. The school grounds are covered by alums and their picnic tables laden down with food. Before one game, my service trip group went around to ask for donations and the alumni gladly opened their wallets without even asking where we were going. I think the alumni connection is going to be very valuable to me when I graduate in May.

The best thing about BC is the feeling of community within such a large population of students and faculty. Every professor I have had so far at BC has been entirely accessible and willing to help every student. If I have a question or concern, I can communicate via e-mail with my professors or meet with them in person during their office hours. I like knowing that help is there when I need it. BC is a good-sized school. It's large enough that you can meet a lot of new, diverse people; but it's small enough that if you mention a classmate's name in a group or ten BC students, one of the ten will also know who your classmate is. The only major problem with the student population is that it seems to be somewhat segregated. White groups of friends, Asian groups of friends, Black groups of friends. I don't in any way want to disregard the great many BC students who have friends of all backgrounds, but I would still like to see a bit more integration among the student body. Often when I say that I go to BC, people are impressed or joke "oh, so you're smart". I feel proud to say that I am a BC student because it attests to the hard work I have done in my academic career. When I'm not in class, I split my time between Hillside cafe, my room, and the library. In the morning before class, I usually do work at Hillside, where I get my daily dose of caffeine. After class, I get lunch and go back to my room to relax and do work. If I have a lot to do or just don't want to run the risk of being distracted, I go to the library to study. There is a crazy amount of school pride at BC. We aren't called superfans for nothing. Being a Division I sports school in the ACC, BC has more than enough school spirit to go around. One of my professors once said that during football season, BC becomes more like a major stadium with an academic institution attached to it.

BC is a great size - not too big, not too small. as for the demographics and integration, i'd give it a lesser mark, knowing well that most of my friends are white and i am not often in a place where "branching out" would be an option. and i think i try without trying too hard, mostly because i am interested in many different people and love to be around them (though my occasional disinterest at parties would suggest otherwise). we've had a few incidents with race issues on campus, but mostly people here are addicted to facebook and will stop at nothing to have the most "official" friends, with crippling social awkwardness to match. if you have a good sense of humor and are inclined to laugh more at people than with people, BC may in fact be a good fit - there's a lot of fodder for material here, you just have to look for it!

BC is the perfect middle ground. It's not urban or rural. Boston is right there but you're not in the midst of a sprawling urban campus. At 9,000 undergrads it is a medium sized school. Not a large state university or a small Christian school in the mid-west. Academics are strong, but the library is empty on Fridays and Saturdays. People have lives. We are athletic and most students go to parties on the weekends. We're a Catholic school but not everyone is Catholic and there is no converting or pressure to be Christian. The Catholic spirit is seen in the ideals by which we approach our lives - caring for others, living a socially conscious life, etc. "Pray hard, Play hard." There is a ton of school spirit - football games and tailgating are some of my greatest memories. (Hockey and Basketball are pretty awesome too).

I think BC is a great sized school--it's spread out just enough to make the scenery on campus quite beautiful, and yet, after one gets adjusted, you feel like you know a good portion of the students--be it through classes, extracurriculars, or living arrangements, everyone certainly finds their niche. BC isn't plopped right in the heart of Boston, but since the city is so easily accessible I think the location is perfect--located in an upscale area, with only a short T ride into all the student hang-outs. As for school pride, the term "Screaming Eagles" doesn't say enough. BC has by far one of the biggest set of fans, from sports (football becomes a way of life in the fall) to academics to the social scene, we all know that we are truly blessed to be at such a great place.

I love the atmosphere at BC. WIth the sports, the academics, and the town of Boston itself, it's an awesome place to be. The 8,000/9,000 student undergrad population seems perfect to me--it's small enough that you recognize people all around campus and in classes, but not small enough that you know everyone in the first few months. I also love that my class sizes aren't very big, so one-on-one time with the professor is easy to come by. I spend most of my time in my room with my roommates, hanging out with my friends. I have gotten a very positive reaction from people when I tell them I go to BC. They're impressed with the academics, and want to know what it's like to go to the school. I think there's a ton of school pride. There's not a day that goes by that people aren't sporting some sort of BC gear. The amount of students that travelled to Notre Dame this year seems to me to be a great showing of that. I think one of the biggest complaints students have is a lack of communications between the student body and the administration.