<p>BC has been one of my son’s top choices (based primarily on academics and the Jesuit connection) and we finally got a chance to visit BC last week. Now my son has some concerns about whether or not he would fit in socially.</p>
<p>We talked to about a dozen students while we were there and every one of them was from NY, NJ, or New England. (We live in Arizona.) And while they certainly seemed friendly to us, there were several references – made by different people in different contexts – to “friends from my high school” and similar comments. My son got the impression that there are large groups of kids going to BC from feeder schools (mostly East Coast Catholic schools). Fairfield Prep and Don Bosco Prep were specifically mentioned. </p>
<p>He’s concerned that the student population might be too cliquey and he would have a hard time making friends if the groups have already been formed before he gets there. He’s also concerned about the majority of students leaving to go home when there are 3-day weekends, since they are within easy driving distance.</p>
<p>Can any current BC students from outside the Northeast give me some insight as to whether or not this was a problem for them?</p>
<p>I live in MA, but I had no friends at BC when I came here. It is pretty easy to meet other people if you make a little effort--I don't think your son will have any problems if he is the least bit outgoing. It is true that there are a lot of feeder schools that send students to BC but even those kids try and branch out. BC is somewhat cliquey but its not nearly as bad as high school.
Also, BC is NOT a suitcase school. I live in MA and have never gone home on the weekends, even if they were three-day weekends. Most people I know prefer to stay on campus.</p>
<p>I come from a public HS in jersey, 7 kids including me came to BC last year. So while a large amount of kids will come from ny/nj/ma, there are TONS from other areas. More midwest people than I've even met in my life, SO many from California. I think BC is very geographically diverse and your son wont feel out of it at all. One girl from my HS is my next door neighbor here and we talk every so often. I cheered with one of the other girls here for 7 years so we study together and get dinner every once in a while. Really I only hang out with one of the guys regularily from my HS and I think thats cause he is good firends with one of my good friends from home too and he happens to live n the building down the hill where most of my good friends here live.</p>
<p>You will come to recognize the names of those schools that "everyone" went to but remember that the freshman class is over 2200 people. As far as groups of friends go, maybe one or two people will stick together from HS and wind up in the same "group" of people from all over. The groups DEFINETLY will not be formed once you get here.. odds are that people from these schools arent all going to be living together and most of your friends first semester are the people who you live with.</p>
<p>In my 8-man for next year there is me from NJ, then girls from New Mexico, Florida, Rhode Island, NY, and 3 from MA. My roommate right now who I've become good friends with is from NY. and 4 of my other close friends are from MA, Ohio, Wisconson, and New Hampshire. So you see people are friends with people from all over!</p>
<p>So ya the majority of the people you meet will be from MA/NY/NJ but it really wont be a problem because freshman year everyone is looking to make new friends and meet new people from all over.</p>
<p>We are from VA, and while D (BC '07--still living, and working, in Boston with BC roommates!) did know some others from her school, she met people from all over the US and abroad. There are many from New England, but they have increased the geographic diversity by huge numbers in the last decade! We have 2 nephews there from the midwest, and D's roommates are all from 4 different states (none from New England!)</p>
<p>She loved it!!!!</p>
<p>D is a junior this year and we are MA residents. Of her group of about 10, only two others are from MA. The rest are from all over the country.<br>
Also, CG11 is correct. Our D never comes home for a weekend. We are lucky to get her for a dinner every once in a while. There is just so much to do on campus, she doesn't want to miss any of it. I don't think your son will have any trouble adjusting to the campus or the area. Now...the weather might be an issue :)</p>