Hey all,
I’m a current freshman at this great institution, and I can answer pretty much any question you have about academics/social life and basically anything else. Feel free to ask away and congrats on your acceptances!
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Hi and thanks for doing this. My S is not particularly religious and probably wouldn’t even say he is catholic (although his parents are). IDo you see that being an issue at BC?
Hey lagunatic, I just saw this thread and thought I’d put my two cents in; I got in to BC as an outspoken atheist whose parents are as well, and reported so on my common application. However, on my supplementary essay about “doing more,” I cited how a Jesuit philosophy like the one BC holds means more than just religion. It means the idea of giving and helping others. In my experience with applying to BC, this is what I found to have a greater impact on the decision.
nolives, how would you say your overall experience has been this year? Are you in the CSOM?
Hello and thanks for doing this! How is the social scene for students who don’t drink? Is this group outcasted or are there plenty of social opportunities for these people as well on the weekends?
Lagunatic, I was basically in the same position. I am not in any way religious, and I’d say BC can be as religious as you want it to be. There are a lot of people that identify as catholic, and mass is certainly popular, but I’ve never felt different being non-catholic. Aside from some religious imagery on campus (there are crucifixes in every class room), it’s not very noticeable.
With that being said, some of BC’s policy reflect some conservative aspects of Catholicism. For example, the official student newspaper of Boston college is highly discouraged from mentioning abortion in articles, and BC in the past had refused to allow pro-gay marriage speakers speak on campus (while last year they had an anti-gay marriage speaker)
Cthompson3088, I am in CSOM, and this year has been a fantastic experience. The beginning was certainly an adjustment, since I’m from California and didn’t know anyone, but it’s been wonderful. Getting involved in clubs really helped out with the adjustment, and I’ve made a lot of great friends. Academically, CSOM is fantastic, and almost all of the professors have been amazing.
Matusa96, non-drinkers are certainly not outcasted, but a lot of nightlife involves drinking. It’s not too hard to find people who don’t drink, but things to do on the weekends can get kind of limited (especially when it’s bitterly cold outside). With that being said, a lot of freshman nightlife (especially for guys) involves hanging out in the dorms and just kind of chilling. Not drinking shouldn’t be a problem.
Dear nolives : As a current freshman in the 2014/2015 calendar year, your perspective regarding Boston College’s positions on controversial speakers might be time limited. Immediately, I thought back to the May 2013 graduation keynote speaker, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.
At the time, Kenny was pushing legislation to legalize abortion in pro-life Ireland which clearly runs counter to classic Catholic teachings. Sean Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, announced his decision not to attend the BC Commencement, breaking the long-held tradition of the Boston Archbishop giving the final benediction to the new graduates. Isolated groups staged protests at various campus entrances on that graduation Monday.
Certainly, this was a keynote speaker selection that drew ire from some. However, Boston College did not shrink under scrutiny. This certainly demonstrates the Jesuit principles of education where one explores positions and draws conclusions. Where one stands on the Kenny positions is unimportant; what remains critical is that Boston College does encourage diversity of thought, right down to the traditions of Catholic education.
I was happy to read that you have made the cross-country transition successfully into the Boston College community this year. Continue your hard work with CSOM and continue to explore all of the options that BC can provide. Thanks for the chance to contribute to your thread.
I am potentially going to BC in the fall, but I’ve heard its not very fun. I’ve been partying since sophomore year of high school and I would like to be able to party in college. I’ve heard from students that freshman and sophomores don’t really party because there is no greek life. Has this been your experience? Is there anything I can do to make sure I can party freshman and sophomore year?
Dear thometzmj : So, you did your research, applied to Boston College, were accepted, and have no idea whether the campus has Greek Life? As a Jesuit institution focused on men-and-women for others, do you believe that segregated Greek Life fits with that educational philosophy? Short answer : no, there is no Greek Life at Boston College however you will find a plethora of opportunities to work in the Boston College community and beyond. You need to do that research.
Define “party”. You can go to any campus and seek out drugs and alcohol - but exactly why are you spending $50,000 per year and more to make that the criteria for selecting your college? Per your question : “Is there anything I can do to make sure I can party freshman and sophomore year?” … Yes, stay local and go to your community college, grow up a bit, and decide what it truly important from a college education.
Perhaps I am falling for a “trap post” here by swinging at a pitch in the dirt, but I would STRONGLY urge you to rethink why Boston College would be the right choice for you. Good luck.
@thometzmj:
Two things:
Listen to scottj’s words carefully. Especially the last sentence in the middle paragraph.
Save the wording in your post. When you reread it in a few years, you won’t believe how immature your thinking once was.
^^don’t feed the t r o l l.
Hey, just another question. How is the career center at BC. I know those who graduate from CSOM have wonderful job opportunities, but how is it for CAS students (thats where I was accepted). Are both the alumni network and career center excellent for helping physics/science-in-general majors get jobs post-grad (because it can be quite difficult for people of these majors to get jobs in general with a bachelors)? Also, are there/ how are coop programs and internships? Do most people do one or two?
I was probably going to word it a little differently, but I was definitely really interested in hearing the answer to the question from @thometzmj. I think that she has a point that taking into consideration your life outside of class and working is something very important to consider, and partying is one way that college kids are able to come together. She never mentioned that she needed the drugs to do so- she just wants to know if she’ll get your typical college experience out of the institution, a question that largely has gone unanswered. Also, she mentioned that they did not have greek life there, so she clearly has done her research and had to be smart and intelligent enough if she got accepted. I think we need to lighten up the comments of being as dramatic as suggesting she “goes to community college” and “grows up a little”.
@emw4124:
Do you remember back in elementary school being concerned that there would be no recess when you hit middle school? Did you push to know if you were going to have fun in middle school?
That’s how these questions come across. And @thometzmj’s post came across as the epitome of the naive BMOC.
Like any school, BC offers any social life you’re seeking. And like any school, it will take time and effort on your part to find and embrace it.
Dear emw4124 : Thank you for your views. I would agree that class time (15 hours per week) plus study time occupies somewhere around 50 total hours from a 144 per week hour allotment. Add in eight hours of sleep per night (maybe), maybe two hours per day for meals, laundry, and such, and you are left with about 24 hours per week for all things social.
The term “partying” whether one uses a colloquial or “Urban Dictionary” definition typically does involve the use of illegal substances, but that STILL was not the point of my response to this newbie poster. Here we have a first time away from home freshman who is simply asking the wrong questions as to how to allocate those 24 hours per week that are leftover after just taking care of everyday business.
Also, the original poster’s essay notes that s/he “heard from students that freshman and sophomores don’t really party”. Perhaps it is perspective, but that is not the type of rigorous research that points to on-going success at Boston College.
Having walked the Boston College road - twice - and now teaching at a major Northeast university gives one perspective on what it means to be at a Top 30 institution. While you might find my comments harsh, I would instead suggest that I am sharing real experiences that might fly in the face of romantic notions of college life. Your choice as to the value added and lessons to be taken.
Dear jpm50 : Agree with your perspective here. Here is a story that might also resonate with readers.
Back during my interviewing days when I would screen college applicants for positions in my firm, I would ask many technical questions : data structures, operating systems, and compiler design for computer scientists, algebras and calculus for mathematics majors, and organic chemistry details for those so inclined.
At the end of every interview, the candidate was asked to offer their thoughts on the questions - and typically, I was asked, “why is that particular question import to the role and to the interviewing process”? I thought that always provoked great conversation.
One student came across my office one day, slightly rumpled; certainly not crisp for an interview considering the salary level. His question for me : “What time is lunch on a typical day?”
The point here is that there is nothing inherently wrong with the question, but when you get one chance to make a first impression, that was probably NOT the one piece of information that was needed to make a decision about joining the company.
So too it is with the original poster in this discussion. Was partying really the decision point?
On a different topic than partying, how are sports at BC? I know hockey is a big thing, but I’m talking more about track and field. Do you know how hard it is to get into the program or how good the program is(specifically hurdles)?