fwiw: if you want to really save money, you can go the digital version. But personally, I’m old school and just need a hardback. (As did my kids.)
http://www.mypearsonstore.com/bookstore/chemistry-a-molecular-approach-0134112830
@bluebayou just looking at the link for the book scares me! I’m not a science girl lol! So your daughter is at BC? Love all these people who have knowledge!!
My daughter will def prefer the paper version vs digital.
Thanks for all the insight…
Keep it coming! This is my first (and only) so college is ‘new’ lol!!
@bluebayou @tiva_mcabby5 my daughter is Bio and as of now PreMed track. Who knows, it could change. Personally, I had hoped she’d consider the nursing school!!
So another random question (gee, have I just hijacked this entire thread??) Did I read (maybe here?) that there is an app for the shuttle bus so you know when it is coming/where it is?? We looked online and found a 'live’bus link but would be great if there was an app!
The online page (transloc) shows there is a law school express. Are the freshmen allowed to take this??
Yes, the bus app is called Transloc Rider.
Yes, undergrads can take the law school express, but they will never need to. It is only useful for Law students.
The app won’t be of much use until after she moves in. The only bus showing up right now is the Law express because it’s the summer and the other buses don’t run right now.
The Newton bus will take her from Newton to main campus from 7am until 2am. Timing and stops vary depending on the time of day and if it’s a weekend or weekday.
http://www.bc.edu/offices/transportation/bus/newton.html
The Comm Ave route shuttle will take her from main campus to the Reservoir MBTA stop and Cleveland Circle, as well as the neighborhood with most off-campus junior houses. This also runs from 7am-2am and stops and timing changes depending on the time of day or day of the week.
http://www.bc.edu/offices/transportation/bus/boston.html
Figuring out the shuttles and the app will take some getting used to. Your daughter shouldn’t hesitate to ask another student or a bus driver to make sure she’s on the right bus. They are labeled across the front so she shouldn’t have to worry too much!
Nah, she graduated a couple of years ago, and is now in grad school. I just hang around to pay if forward.
'Grats. BC is an awesome educational experience. I miss the sojourns back to BeanTown (from SoCal).
Hello, I have a few questions. : )
- Do the rooms (especially in Newton/Duchesne) have decent heating in the winter or do you need down quilts?
- Do you happen to know how many inches deep BC’s mattress typically are? I would like to get a zippered mattress cover/protector.
- I plan to elevate my bed. Any suggestions on size or type of plastic drawers to get?
- I know that foam mattress toppers/pads/etc are banned. Do you know if anyone runs into issues with foam pillows? Not big ones, but standard sized ones meant for sleeping.
- Are the rooms carpeted (Newton)?
Thank you for this incredibly helpful thread and all of your answers!
@Individual7 Hi there!
- I cannot speak on Newton specifically, but in my experience, my freshman dorm (Medeiros) had the most excessive heating ever. My room was so warm in the winter I often slept in shorts! We sometimes had to open the windows during the winter.
Of course, Medeiros is one of the older dorms and Newton dorms might have better heating. My dorm did not have its own thermostat but Newton dorms might.
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Uh…6 inches? I have a zippered cover and it easily fits my mattress AND a feather mattress topper.
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RE elevating bed: Do you mean just raising it up as far as possible? I wouldn’t buy bed risers.
For storage, if people buy drawers, they’re usually about 3 high (ex: https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-29308001-Drawer-Drawers-Casters/dp/B000MPQ2S2/ref=sr_1_4?s=storageorganization&ie=UTF8&qid=1502145256&sr=1-4&keywords=plastic+drawers). I’m not sure what the actual height is.
I prefer different sized bins, however, instead of drawers, because I think they survive move-in better, are more durable, and you can arrange them however you want. (ex: https://www.amazon.com/IRIS-Quart-Underbed-Buckle-Clear/dp/B004I8Q6RQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=storageorganization&ie=UTF8&qid=1502145309&sr=1-6&keywords=plastic+storage+containers)
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I’m not sure about the foam pillows. It probably breaks the same fire code violation as a foam mattress topper. But I doubt that they would find out. They usually check for mattress toppers but I don’t think they check your pillow.
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Yes. Not a very thick carpet, however. Many people split a small area rug with their roommate.
I can confirm that Duchesne is also hot in the winter. If you’re looking for drawers for under the bed, there’s a Container Store near campus and they have stackable plastic bins with drawers that hold up very well.
@Individual7 My daughter will be a freshman in Keyes North. We bought two of the 3 drawer plastic units as @tiva_mcabby5 pictured above (at Target) because while I agree the bins give more options to arrange, my daughter wants easy access to drawers.
As for mattresses, did you go to Orientation yet? The mattresses were about 6" so like @tiva_mcabby5 says, a regular mattress protector should fit along with a mattress topper (which, btw, we found the cheapest at Wayfair…a 3" one for about $45)
nearly ALL college dorm mattresses are XL Twin, as are BC’s, so beware.
My D’s dorm was too hot in the winter, so they kept the window cracked during most of the day.
My D also had 3-drawer units from Target.
@tiva_mcabby5 what are the most popular/best tasting food options on either campus? thanks!
@hayes20
The menu options do not differ that much between dining halls.
The exceptions are:
-Eagle’s Nest-- very popular lunch spot on the second floor of McElroy (Mac)
-Hillside-- bottom floor of Maloney hall, across from the Plex/Mod parking lot. Popular for lunch and dinner.
-The Rat-- bottom floor of Lyons. Open for breakfast and lunch. Mostly grab-and-go stuff but they make hot food like mac and cheese sometimes.
Note: Eagle’s and the Rat are on the regular meal plan (the one that’s got the $2300 or whatever) but Hillside is NOT. It falls under the $175 you get in dining bucks. So you still use your ID there but it comes from a more limited chunk of money. Both plans are included in your freshman meal plan, but the $175 is for Hillside, the Chocolate Bar, On the Fly mini marts, and concessions at games.
I have heard that Stuart, Newton’s dining hall, is better than Mac. Can’t confirm this though.
You will probably find the menus to be repetitive, but the food isn’t bad.
BC just posted this article that incoming freshman may find helpful!
Here are some things I’d like to correct/comment on, however.
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The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum isn’t free for students, I think. Unless BC just purchased a membership there like they have at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). Students can also get one free Museum of Science ticket per semester and one free New England Aquarium ticket per school year, while supplies last. MOS and Aquarium tickets need to be picked up at the Robsham box office, but for the MFA, you just go there and present your ID.
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the Student Involvement Fair is on Friday 9/1 this year, from 10-2, on the Stokes Lawn. (Not on Linden Lane, which goes by Bapst, as the article says, unless BC has changed it.)
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The B line. Avoid it if possible. However, the whole “T Storm” is a myth. People take whatever line is fastest to get to the Beanpot, and the B line is definitely the slowest.
ALSO, DON’T BUY THE MONTHLY STUDENT T PASS! It would only be worth it if you used it every single day of the month, which you won’t.
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Retreats and Service trips. I highly recommend doing the 48 hours retreat. I also highly recommend doing an alternative spring break trip – I did the Appalachia program the past three years and LOVED it.
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Again, you don’t BUY the MOS or Aquarium tickets from Robsham…they’re free.
DD is doing the last orientation… She has an early move-in on 8/19 - all session 7 does. Will there be anyone to help with move in? She doesn’t request her schedule until 8/22… Will she get her schedule that day? Was hoping to get her books before I leave on the 23rd. Also, which dining hall have the best gluten free options? Thanks for all your help!
Yes, Welcome Wagon should be there to help move in Sessiion 7 kids.
Re: schedule – Your daughter will build her own schedule and register for classes on Tuesday 8/22. She can order her books as soon as her schedule is set (after orientation is done). I posted earlier about bookstore vs Amazon. Your daughter would still have time to use Amazon if the books are shipped via Prime. Used Amazon books often have a “will be delivered by” window, so choose a book that will arrive as close to the start of classes as possible. Or, purchase her books in person or online through the bookstore.
Re: gluten free
The big dining halls (Mac, Stuart, Lower) all have the same Plain & Simple station which is always allergen/gluten-free. Smaller halls like the Rat will have pre-made sandwiches only (open for breakfast and lunch). Eagle’s Nest has salads (open for lunch only).
@tiva_mcabby5 Thanks!
@tiva_mcabby5 hey! Thanks for your time and information! I’m an incoming freshman, and looking at the course catalog, how do I know if a class is a 1 semester or 2 semester course? Also, do you have a recommendation as to which English class I should take? Thanks again!
@juwell
Hi! For 1 vs 2 semesters, it might say in the course description, if you hit “more info” or whatever the button says. I’m assuming you mean the online catalog?
Generally, most classes are 1 semester, with the exception of things like Perspectives, History core (ex: globalization), Gen Chem…
For English, do you mean which lit core or perhaps which first year writing seminar? I can’t really comment on either, as I didn’t take either due to those requirements being fulfilled by my honors class.
There are so many sections of each. Pick one that fits your schedule best!
@tiva_mcabby5 I got out of around 6-7 core class requirements from APs and have been thinking of doing a double major since I’ll have a lot more free space. Do you know if finance+philosophy is common at all for a double major? I’m in CSOM and philosophy is just something that interests me, so I was thinking about doing it since I’ll have to take a lot of extra classes anyways. Do you know any other combinations that are common for CSOM students that double major, or if they usually stick within their own school?