Party Scene Question (Pre-freshman guy)

Hi,

Incoming freshman here. BC was not my top choice initially, but it is the best school (academically) that I’ve gotten into, so I’ve decided to go here. I was a relatively big party-er in high school, and was definitely looking for the whole college party experience (as I have experienced already at some universities that my friends go to). I understand that there are no frats, and while this worries me, im hoping someone can give me reassurance that the party scene isnt as bad as everyone says. I understand that academics are #1 priority, as I am a serious student, but I really enjoy to work hard / play hard. I am extroverted and already have some connections to current upperclassmen at BC, so could I have a thriving party life as a freshman guy who wants to go out 1-2 times per week?

Curious as to your intended major and other schools you are considering/accepted to.

Accepted RPI, Trinity college, waitlisted umich waitlisted cornell

Major: Comp sci (in MCAS) w/ finance minor

Not gonna lie… the party scene sucks really badly as a BC guy until junior year. Others might disagree, but I too was a fairly big party-er in high school and came to BC expecting it would be a whole heck of a lot better than high school partying. However, I was quickly shown otherwise. Your only source of hope is that you already know upperclassmen because if you go into BC without having connections to juniors and seniors, or without planning to join a bunch of clubs, you’re going to be mostly “partying” in your 100 sq. foot forced triple while being paranoid that the RA’s aren’t going to randomly knock on your door and bust your kickback that has five people there.

With all that being said, I think this kind of dynamic actually makes BC quite unique and interesting because you kind of look forward to each successive year since you know it’ll be better than the one before. As you move up the ranks and meet more people, you’ll tend to find the party scene also improve dramatically. I’m now a junior and while freshman and sophomore year weren’t nearly what you’d get if you went to a state school or umich, they still had their fun moments. And now, I have only three weeks left before I’m finally a senior and “run” the school. So I’d say if you do choose to attend BC (which I would recommend because of the overall experience, academics, and connections you’ll make), don’t be discouraged when freshman year feels like it sucks and you see all your friends at other schools looking like they’re having way more fun than you are.

You could go to trinity. It’s exactly as you described and a Nescac school.

@YoungMo
You just got the honest opinion of one student. If you think you’ll be happier at Trinity based on that reply, then do it.

But I encourage you to evaluate this much further. Consider these points:

  1. If you really want to attend a school with the “Animal House” party scene, then BC isn’t it. Go somewhere else.

  2. Are you truly seeking wild drinking parties, or are you seeking having fun? As of now, most of the fun you’re familiar with likely centers around drinking with friends. While that exists at BC and while many of the bigger parties usually involve upper classman, that doesn’t mean underclassman have no fun.

  3. I’m sure bclookaway123’s comments reflect the way he feels. Yet, I’ve learned to read comments like those critically. What’s really behind that comment. Sure as an underclassman guy, you’ll wish you could find your way into parties in the Mods or wherever. But every college has things that students wish were different.

  4. There are dozens of “BC party life” threads on this forum going back years. If this is so important to you, I encourage you to spend a few hours to read through them. Don’t do it to answer the question on if BC has a great party scene for underclassman or not. Do it to read between the lines to help you understand what you’re really after.

  5. Lastly, whether it’s here on the BC forum, or talking with graduates of BC, a common theme you’ll hear is BC was the best four years of their lives. There’s a reason for that. College is about expanding your horizons, learning about things you never knew existed, and thriving in that new world with all the new friends you’ve made. Make it happen and the dividends will be huge. And you’ll very likely look back laughing at yourself for being so worried about your current view of fun.

All the best.

@privatebanker Looking for more of a big school to be honest. Trinity is too small for me. I went to a very small prep high school and wouldn’t like to be a part of the cliquey and close-knit atmosphere that my high school had (as I’ve been told by current trinity students).

@bclookaway123 do people go into downtown boston on weekends and party with surrounding schools (NEU, MIT, Harvard)?

BU parties more usually. I don’t think anyone is knocking down the door to get into MIT parties

@YoungMo Not really. You’d only really be able to go to surrounding schools’ parties if you or a friend knows someone there. It’s not like you’re going to randomly decide you want to go to a BU party tonight, and just show up knocking on the frat houses’ doors… BC has something called the “BC Bubble” which means its notorious for “trapping” students in Newton. In my experience, I’ve been to a MIT frat party (which was surprisingly a ton of fun, but that might have been because it was during my freshman year so literally anywhere else seemed more fun) and a BU one too, but that’s all in 3 years.

Yeah I was joking about MIT. I have no idea. They could be great parties there. Lol

MIT is actually known as a big party school believe it or not.

I know they like to pull off high profile and creative pranks.

If you are looking for a party school, BC is not it. Freshman have to make their own fun inside the dorms. Sophomore year is usually the year for parties. Even though you might know upperclassman, I believe the senior mods require ID to get into. If this is what is important to you, I suggest possibly reconsidering your decision or hoping for a spot to open up at Michigan.

Not exactly looking for a “party school”. I have partied at yale, for example, which is not known as a “party school”, but they have great parties available when you have time off from studying and are looking to let off some steam (friday and saturday usually). Obviously at a school like Michigan there will be parties every night available all the time, but I’m not looking for that at all as I am a serious student. I am just trying to be able to go out 1-2 nights per week and have a good party scene going on to enjoy myself, and not feel like I’m trying too hard to have fun… know what I mean?

Between sports esp football hoops and men’s ice hockey. There’s plenty of fun parties and tailgates to attend. There’s zero to worry about. It’s a bunch of 18 to 22 year olds who all want the same thing

(I got waitlisted at BC) but I was in boston a few weeks ago to visit other schools, and friends at Berklee took me right in, and we all went to MIT, Harvard and BU frat parties. I think it is completely welcome that other people go to those schools to party, but you still need to know the right people to get you in (aka people in the frat)