I’ve been accepted at Boston college and accepted as a spring admit to USC. I do not want to miss out on my first semester of college, so it looks like I’m going to BC. I would’ve preferred USC, since the academics (I am in business) are on par. The sports are better there, better parties, and more school spirit.
I was wondering if any current students could let me know if BC still parties without a Greek system. Also, what is the school spirit like there, since this year isn’t great for sports. Are there any “typical college parties” or is it all dorm room drinking. I also got into SMU, which definitely has sports and parties/ school spirit, but they are not good academically.
@stlstokes, don’t rush it. If USC really is where you want to go, don’t let go because of one measly semester. If it really matters that much I’m pretty sure you can just wait and enroll fall of 2017. That may be a good wait, but 4 years at a school you don’t really like is not worth it because you’re going to miss a few months. BC and USC are not really comparable in terms of experience because of the west coast vs. east coast thing. Plus, USC’s parties are known to be quite something if that’s what you’re looking for, while BC…not so much
Dear stlstokes : Based on your stated criteria of sports (how were the USC men’s and women’s hockey teams this year?) and parties, you might prefer USC despite the one semester lag. The question is whether you are comfortable making friends when friend circles were already established from the opening term. As for school spirit, the differences also stem from the size of the undergraduate classes. In closing, Boston College did set an ACC record(*) this year.
(* = first teams to go without a win in conference play in both Football and Men’s Basketball)
Assuming that you are interested in academics, and both USC and BC are stellar choices, questions about the social scene and school spirit are fair. If not, there are a ton of party schools that have less focus on academics that would be a better fit for you.
I have friends at both schools and the school spirit is very strong at USC and BC. Students are very proud to be associated with the schools independent of athletics but when the teams do well it is a little easier to get excited. USC always puts forth a strong football team. BC football has had less consistency but the students always have fun at the games. BC hockey is consistently good and has recently won national championships.
The social scene is vibrant at both schools although USC is dominated by fraternities and sororities which have their pros and cons. BC does not have a Greek system so it takes a little more effort to create social opportunities but it is a very open campus and easy to meet a lot of new people.
@bluebayou considering the acceptance rate at SC this year is 16.5%, I can comfortably say that I am a very academic student. I was also accepted to Emory and Georgetown, but both places do not have a big football team, which was one of my requirements. I have been focused on my academics in high school and plan on continuing in college. That being said, college is a time that you are supposed to learn more about yourself. How would I do that at BC if all I would do would stay in my room every weekend? Socializing is one of the biggest ways that you learn more about yourself. Both schools are great academically, which is the biggest requirement, so I can focus on other things when deciding between the two. I don’t want to look back on my college experience and regret just staying in my dorm every weekend.
Let’s keep it about the OP and not other responders. Also let’s find a way to either eliminate the snarky assumptions or find a way to make your point without demeaning a person you know nothing about.
My daughter goes to BC. Her main social activities revolve around sports and music. She goes to all the football games, most hockey games, and some basketball games. (Full disclosure, she’s in the band so some of this she does as part of band, but some just for fun). She occasionally goes into Boston with friends and goes to concerts on campus and in the city. She lives in substance free housing so she can’t drink, but that doesn’t stop her from going to parties. She and a couple of her friends just don’t drink at the parties. The parties get a little crazy and are very overstuffed with people, but she has a blast. She never sits alone in her dorm on Friday nights.
That said, however, our son went to a BIG college football school and I have to say that if that’s what you’re looking for, you may find BC a little flat. We have fun at the BC games, but it’s not “an event” like at the major football schools. Also, if you really are interested in frats, the closest BC comes to that are the nasty, but ever popular, mods.
Bottom line, BC has plenty of school spirit and pride, but it sounds like how it’s expressed may not be what you have in your head as the ideal for college…
Go to accepted students day in April. After all the formal sessions, circulate to various areas in the school and strike up conversations with current students - especially upperclassman. I suspect you’ll primarily hear how their time at BC was the best years of their life and they hope it never ends.
Spend a few hours reading through this BC section of CC. There are lots of postings from both students and parents of students talking about how much they loved BC.
I know a lot of students who went there because of the pretty campus, pretty girls/boys, sports, and happen to have a major they were interested in. Then a few years into it or when they graduate, they all say how thankful they were to have chosen BC.
It feels like you’re getting a narrow and inaccurate view of what BC truly is about.