<p>Hello all, I signed up for the 4th orientation session but I am terrified because I will be going alone and I am from a a relatively small city in Louisiana, meaning this is very overwhelming.</p>
<p>Could someone tell me everything I need to know about orientation such as
<p>Thanks much in advance!!</p>
<p>Love life & live the dream…</p>
<p>Boston is a fun young city, relax and let it come to you don’t push it upon youself. Get ready to be a "B’s hockey fan. </p>
<p>I’m a Yankee fan; however, your in some really great company with Red Sox fans. </p>
<p>Enjoy your 4 years but most of all I’ll say it again. Let the City of Boston come to you, do not push it upon yourself. Great people, great food, great times, great college.</p>
<p>Relax, breath it’s all good!!</p>
<p>Have you been to BU before?</p>
<p>The main method of transportation is the T (subway). I would google it to find a map, so you can see how to get from the airport to the school. And actually, contacting someone at the school might help, as they can tell you exactly where you’ll need to be for check-in. Definitely do Common Grounds, as that will give you a better feel for the city of Boston.</p>
<p>I believe you’ll be housed in West, and I would just bring whatever you might bring on a regular trip–clothes, toiletries, money, camera, etc.</p>
<p>Hockey and the Red Sox are huge here.</p>
<p>Boston is a great walking-around city, which makes it great for college students. Also, there are lots of other colleges around, so it’s a great city for young people.</p>
<p>I can let you know more about orientation after my D goes (6/26-28).</p>
<p>If you look at the BU Website under Freshmen Orientation, it will answer many of your questions in the section called Frequently Asked Questions and well as in the Student Schedule. As a previous post indicated, the public transportation in Boston is the “T”. From the airport, you will take the Blue Line to Government Center and Change to Green Line (Boston College line). Get off at the BU West Campus stop. However, if you are nervous about taking public transportation in a new city, I would encourage taking a taxi to BU. However, this will be more expensive. The BU Orientation Committee is very helpful. Don’t hesitate to give them a call regarding any of your concerns.</p>
<p>Definitely take advantage of Common Ground and evening excursions into the city. Although Boston is a big city, it is very “walkable” and manageable. You’ll learn the city very well over your Orientation Period. My son and I are attending the first session starting today. I will let you know how it went and maybe we can give you some additional pointers.</p>
<p>Welcome to Boston!</p>
<p>I can’t really answer your question since I haven’t been to orientation yet, but I just wanted to say don’t worry! I’m going through the same thing and I’m also from a small town in Louisiana. Just take everything as it comes, I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun!</p>
<p>My son and I just returned from attending the first BU Orientation. BU did a wonderful job of mixing fun with information. Parents and kids have their own separate programs and both my son and I can enthusiastically say that BU goes out of its way to make sure everyone is comfortable. You will not feel alone by coming to orientation by yourself. My son met and became friendly with 3 boys who came by themselves from all over the US. If you are nervous about travelling and arriving by yourself, you should call the Dean of Students Office and or the Office for Orientation. I will guarantee that they will make you feel comfortable, calm your fears and let you know the best way to get to BU. Their goal is to make everyone feel welcome, meet and connect with other people so that you will feel prepared to start the school year.</p>
<p>Good luck to you and I hope you have as great a time as my son did.</p>
<p>I’m glad to hear your son had a good time, and so did the kids who came alone. My very independent D didn’t want me to go to orientation…until I told her I wasn’t going! Her dad and I are both fairly familiar with Boston–we even have Red Sox season tickets, and we have 3 other kids, so figured she’d be just fine. Which, she will be. Her father will take the day off from work to take her in, and then the last day is her birthday, so all of us will go pick her up, go to the Children’s Museum, and take her out to dinner. I should mention, she’s an elem. ed. major, so having her 7yo brother with her is a great excuse to hit the children’s museum.</p>
<p>I figure, by the time she comes home for Thanksgiving, she’ll be managing the T like an old pro. And so will you, OP, I promise!</p>
<p>Wear comfortable shoes (lots of walking), remember that everyone is new and people are very friendly, remember that the orientation staff is chosen carefully for their friendly and helpful nature. If you are nervous bout getting to campus, take a taxi. Remember that there are two schools…Boston University and Boston College. You are going to Boston University, which is in Boston. Boston College is smaller, completely , separate, and in the suburbs.</p>
<p>This is different; however, I just dropped my son off at the Naval Academy for the Summer Seminar. It’s not Boston; however, the foundation of something new for any kid can be at times difficult. </p>
<p>If it helps, he walked into check-in the most confident I have ever seen him. Too add there is an instant seperation from us the parents and him. From the time he got out of the car to the time he checked in was less that 5 min. As soon as we walked in the door they said to him. “Drop your bags, say goodbye to your parents, and go up these stairs.” That was it, we will not see him until Thursday.</p>
<p>I guess what I’m trying to say is, relax and just let it come to you. Be confident in who you are because clearly you are a sharp person. If you got into BU your maturity will take you a long way in Boston. As a guy that was born and raised in NYC, I can’t say it enough, let the city come to you don’t try to take it on yourself or it will eat you up!!</p>
<p>The naval academy is not BU</p>
<p>To answer your questions (kind of) - orientation is awesome, so definitely don’t be afraid. Not many people know each other, and you’ll meet lots of great people. </p>
<p>-To get to BU from the airport via the MBTA (note the MBTA stops running around 12:30PM)
<p>-I didn’t do Common Ground since I’ve lived in Boston for around 12 years, but I’ve heard it’s pretty great.</p>
<p>-They have a list of what to bring on their website, but in addition to what they say, bring:
…A phone charger (unless you don’t have a phone, but…you probably do)
…Soap. They have soap, but bring your own. It’s less disgusting.
…Earplugs. The Thursday night event at the GSU played the music loud enough to easily sustain hearing damage. Also useful if your roommate snores or insists on turning on the fan at night.
…If you want, a notebook. It’s useful to jot down some useful tips that the student advisors and the presenters tell you. </p>
<p>-Everyone at Orientation stays at Rich Hall (i.e. not the greatest), and you’ll be assigned a roommate. </p>
<p>Orientation was tons of fun though, and you’ll definitely have a blast, though it’s pretty tiring too.</p>
<p>Great advice so far. I will second the idea of grabbing a cab to get you to BU. You will learn how to navigate the T during your stay, and will probably be able to take the T back to the airport for your return trip, but to ease your fears right when you come into Boston, just grab a taxi.</p>
<p>My son will be at your orientation, too. He did a BU program last summer and loved the whole BU experience, but one thing for sure - make sure you fit a small fan into your luggage! The rooms are hot! So even a small fan that you can direct onto your face will help you sleep.</p>
<p>Welcome to Boston! You will have a wonderful time.</p>
<p>Eh i think its good to be able to learn how to use the T and my parents and I have yet to take a taxi… Financial aid kid problems I guess :P. I would actually suggest getting a bigger tower fan while you are there instead of a small one.</p>
<p>My daughter got back yesterday. She had a great time, and thinks she can handle the T like a pro–not bad for a kid from a small town! (CAN she handle the T like a pro? Not so much, but she’s doing noticeably better at navigating, and has tons of confidence).</p>
<p>She had fans and a microfridge in her room, but there’s construction just outside Rich, so headphones would be a good idea. It woke her up at 6am–she was so tired, she put salt in her coffee instead of sugar, poor kid.</p>
<p>They break you into groups of ~12 kids–she registered for classes, they toured campus, toured Boston, and she got her room assignment for the fall. She’s SED, and she got to meet other students, both freshen and upperclassmen, from her school.</p>