<p>To current students and possibly Scott j. : Do students who are offered 3 years of housing ever end up with four, due to transfers or kids just deciding to live off campus? Are they ever able to buddy up housing with a student going abroad the opposite semester, one lives in the on-campus housing one semester and then one coming back from semester away takes their on-campus housing space? Is there a process for students to indicate they would like four years of housing should it become available?
For those that do move off campus junior year – how does that work out? Do kids have vehicles? Is there a shuttle that goes around the areas where most kids live off campus? Do kids still stay on a partial meal plan?</p>
<p>My daughter is thrilled that she was accepted EA, but mom here is driving her nuts with all my “practical” concerns:). We do plan on attending accepted students day to, hopefully, have many of our questions answered. Thanks in advance for responses.</p>
<p>We were in your exact shoes with our daughter and now son (at BC). Looking back, they figure out all the “practical” concerns on their own - largely through their friends and upperclassman. It seems to be a well-beaten path where the learnings are passed on from year to year. Sure they’ll make mistakes, but they are great at resolving them.</p>
<p>Living off campus with a group of friends is a rewarding valuable experience. I would never want to deprive our kids from it - especially seeing how much they gained from it.</p>
<p>Based on what I’ve seen posted on cc, appeals for a 4th year are sometimes granted but not until Jr year, and usually when its too late to accept, i.e., students are already locked into other arrangements. No shuttle. Students walk or bus or take the subway (“t”), with a monthly pass. Some stay on meal plan and some cook in off campus places.</p>
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<p>Coming from 3,000 miles away and on financial aid (apartments require 12 months of rent), I disagree strongly.</p>
<p>Dear freecycle : Some facts about the three-year versus four-year housing guarantee and discussion. First, students accepted to the Honors Program will be offered four years of housing as a priority. Next, some students will be offered four years of on-campus housing as a reward for the attractiveness of their application and as an enticement to attend the school. Now, this does not mean that a three-year offer is the end of the world and this should not be your exclusive decision point on enrollment.</p>
<p>The missing year in the three year housing guarantee is the junior year. You will cross through the Newton versus Upper debates, meet many new people, form new groups of friends, and define what your housing personal housing experience should be like all before you reach that off-campus consideration come junior year. Often times, your now High School senior might decide to do an overseas assignment during the junior year (hundreds will pursue this option). If space is available as a result of the overseas action, you can apply to get an on-campus situation. (Residential housing will go through all of these forward looking programs with your family during orientation - please do not try and sort through the myriad of positive options available to you in the first week after the big package arrives as your head will explode!) </p>
<p>Many others opt for an off-campus apartment (which is usually right near the campus gates) during junior year and many report that the actual cost is lower than living on the main campus - however, the rent is 12 months as opposed to 30 weeks. (It can be an attractive option if one works in Boston as an intern for a summer period.) That said, more than 95% of students come back onto campus as seniors. Very few off-campus students will have cars as you will be literally right atop the campus even in an apartment. (The only students with cars are typically upperclassmen in education or nursing who might need to leave campus to actual work at student teaching or in a hospital setting.)</p>
<p>By the time you reach junior year, your child might be wanting a meal plan with just flexible dollars and actually do some cooking for him/herself. You would be surprised at the number of students who, once they have a kitchen, actually like to cook for friends as a first real adult entertaining experience.</p>
<p>I think this covered everything. If not, please feel free to ask more questions.</p>
<ol>
<li>there actually is a BC shuttle</li>
<li>most people would rather live off campus junior year, so 3 years of housing is fine</li>
<li>the food on campus is expensive and not that good, so most off campus students don’t buy a meal plan</li>
<li>you definitely want upper as a freshman, rather than newton</li>
</ol>
<p>I don’t think living off campus is a problem at all. From everyone upperclassman I’ve talked to (i’m a freshman here), most prefer to live off campus their junior year as it’s kind of a ritual at the school to live off campus and then come back for senior year. Plus, the houses and apartments off campus are really nice, and Comm Ave shuttle literally stops in just about every area that is out of walking distance of campus.</p>
<p>I only have 3 years of housing and I already can’t wait to live in an off-campus apartment with my friends.</p>
<p>This is a personal opinion, and many others feel differently. Each location – Newton or Upper – has advantages and disadvantages. Search the CC archives and you’ll find several threads debating this issue.</p>