Hi
I got into BC and I love it! I also had the opportunity to visit I campus and I’m very interested in going there. But I have some hesitations.
From what I’ve read online and also witnessed on campus, the student body is mostly made of rather wealthy, New England, preppy kind of kids. I’ve also heard that they’re not really there to be challenged academically.
Here’s where I’m at: I’m from a very average suburb of Chicago and I go to a public high school that has a lower ACT average and is made of middle to working class families. My dad is a pension/insurance rep for a labor union and my mom works part time as a librarian. They’ve been saving for decades to send my brother and I to college. We have a good and very fortunate life, but not a lot of luxuries. We’re frugal with our money. Just for an example of the difference in culture between me and New England, I only recently found out what vineyard vines was when I finally asked a friend why they all had whales on their shirts. I’ve had to work hard in high school to achieve the success that I’ve had.
I see the people on campus that are wearing all these beautiful nice clothes and I’ve noticed in the Facebook group that they tend to come from fantastic upper class schools.
My question is: will I feel left out or looked down on? How important is economic status in forming friend groups and the vibe on campus? Are the students stuck up and going to BC because of the prestige and connections and not the academics and values of the school?
I’d really appreciate candid answers as well as a little about where you come from and your experience at BC if that’s cool with you. Thanks so much!!
At BC, 49% of frosh applied for financial aid, and 85% of them got it, so about 42% receive financial aid. That means that 58% come from families who can afford to spend about $65,000 per year on their college.
Vineyard Vines is an east coast brand, started in CT, so perhaps that’s why you not as familiar with them!
BC is a big enough school that you are going to find kids from a variety of backgrounds. Those who choose it in part because of the Jesuit connection will likely value service and compassion no matter what their income level is.
@ubcalumnus Thanks for the information. Do you think the prevalence of affluent kids affects their perception on someone from a more middle class background and would it exclude me from making strong friendships with those kids?
The effect of wealth may be more subtle. Someone with lots of money may suggest social activities that are expensive, not realizing that some people may not want to spend that much money. But that can result in social exclusion. Whether or not that is an issue at BC is something you need to find out from those more familiar with the social environment at the school.
Don’t worry about fitting into the “vineyard vines” whale shirt crowd.
Wear a Cubs hat (or a White Sox tee, if that’s your thing.)
You may get some ribbing, but don’t shrink back. Smile and adjust your cap proudly.
Or, if you prefer not to stand out, wear nondescript comfortable clothes.
BC wanted you, so give them what they want.
Just be yourself.
I don’t know if having wealth or lack there of would exclude you from being close with another student. It may be your own mental hang ups. My husband best friend in college (as well as current) is a very wealthy. His family has money and has had money for years. He alone has a net worth in the low double millions. But he is a nice guy, sweet snd we had no idea he had money until we all had graduated.
Vineyard vines is more of a regional thing. I’m from New England and people of all social classes had their clothing. But I had never heard or seen a Lilly Pulitzer dress until I was in my mid 20s. It’s not something the preppy kids wore where I am from.
New England is diverse in all ways. The kids I know who went to BC loved it, are proud of their time there, and they came from all kinds of families, with wealth or without. I never heard this idea it’s so overwhelmingly preppy (more about their pride in their teams, sure.) Check out clubs and activities, the courses/strengths in your major, make sure you can afford the costs, and make a happy decision.
My answer is no, you will not looked down upon. I’m from Toronto (which isn’t all too different from every northeastern city ever) and as prep school kid myself, I can verify that some part of the stereotype is true while most of it is not. That being said, there will definitely be snobs but for the most part, we’re just like everyone else and most of us have a lot of friends who are lower-middle class as well. However, most preppy kids are not familiar with “alternative” personalities, I don’t know how to explain it but just do not talk about wealth or money because it is considered trashy. Essentially, just be yourself and be nice and you will absolutely no problem whatsoever fitting in. Good luck!
@ApPoetx You’re going to meet unpleasant judgemental people in lots of places, and in all walks of life. I think if you’re comfortable in your own skin and know who you are, you’ll be fine! Everyone has to play with the cards they’ve been dealt and it sounds like you & your family has been making the most of it.
Have a great experience at BC and in Boston! Congrats!
Any time you venture away from things you are accustomed to, there will be some rocky periods. There’s a reason your familiar place is called a “comfort zone…”. Just be prepared for some culture shock…you will hear people talk, & see them dress and act in ways that are different. It’s not. a BC thing…you would encounter it at any East Coast school. You would even feel it at Notre Dame or Northwestern due to the significant % of students from the coasts. I was a Midwesterer who ended up on a coastal campus. And I know others who did th he same. You will probably come out of the experience happy to be a Midwesterner.
Here’s a Midwesterner who went to grad school at BC. Note the comments in the “formative years” section
We thought the same thing and tried to prepare our daughter for all the ultra rich kids she would meet. Turns out that didn’t happen. All the kids she hangs out with come from regular families with parents who work their butts off and each kid is on a reasonable budget. A night away from the dining hall is usually Panera. The biggest splurge tends to be Uber instead of taking the T. But even there they all share the expense.
My daughter is a freshman and wears sweatpants or flannel pajamas most days. Even when she dresses up, it’s more “hipster” than anything. Certainly not preppy. I would not worry about wealth or dress. There are 9,000 kids there – all kinds of people…
yes, BC tends toward preppy dress. But plenty of kids schlep to class in gym shorts and sweat pants.
But on the topic of wealth, you will find that the majority of student bodies at private colleges qualify as full pay, and in this regard, BC is no different. At some colleges, its 2/3rds that are full pay.
HYP students used to be a majority full pay too, until they raised the need-based income threshold to $180k.
Just don’t wear a Yankees cap, unless you want some attention!
I live in Southern California and am currently looking at colleges in the Northeast for my daughter, who is a Junior. Here’s two stories we have heard about Boston College: a friend’s daughter, Jewish, raised in a very intellectual environment (parents are college professors) went to BC and had a very hard time. Just felt like she did not fit in. Another family, Chinese American, 3rd generation, sent their son to BC. He had attended excellent private schools - including a high end prep school here - and the family was very financially comfortable. he just transferred out of BC after his second year - just was not happy there. Again, felt like he did not fit. These are both kids who fit in very well at their high schools. Makes us wonder if not being Catholic, white, from the Northeast makes it hard to fit in at BC. We crossed it off our list - even though, ironically, we are Catholic, white and have lots of relatives in the Northeast. We are just looking for a more inclusive, diverse environment.
Direct from the horse’s mouth: BC parent here: not white, not from the East Coast originally, not Catholic. Our family has had wonderful experiences with BC. The inclusiveness is a big plus for us, and the diverse environment part is quite frankly getting old. It is healthier to look at diversity instead in an intellectual light: the Jesuits are known for their pursuit of and appreciation for knowledge, especially various philosophies and exchanging of ideas as long as these viewpoints can be substantiated. There are so many opportunities for students to get involved in all kinds of different things: clubs, start-ups, research. and so on. Our personal experiences have been enriched, and my kids have taken advantage of so much of what BC can offer them. If a door won’t open easily, then one should keep trying, or just use the key under the mat (but you have to look for it). Thankfully there are plenty of helping hands!
Yet there are students who want to transfer out (for whatever reasons). That is perfectly understandable, too. I read somewhere that one-third of all college students nationwide transfer universities, I wish I could remember where I read that so I could link it.
