Boston College freshmen live on one of two residential campuses. Upper Campus is adjacent to the Chestnut Hill Campus, the university's main academic campus, and is about a 10 minute walk to most classes. Newton Campus is located approximately 1.25 miles from the Chestnut Hill Campus, and is about a 10-minute bus ride to most classes. While travel time to main campus is similar from either "Newton" or "Upper," both offer unique freshman living experiences.
In your acceptance packet, you will find a residence hall questionnaire. Among the various questions, you are asked to designate your preferred freshman resident campus. Every effort will be made to honor your first choice, but if there is greater demand for a specific campus, the selection process will proceed through the use of a random computer program. In order to assist you in making your choice, we thought we would offer some thoughts on both campuses.
NEWTON CAMPUS
Prior to Boston College acquiring the land in the 1970's, Newton Campus was home to the Newton College of the Sacred Heart. Since it once served the needs of an entire college, undergraduate students find that Newton Campus offers a nearly complete undergraduate experience: six residence halls, a dining hall, library, chapel, workout facility, post office, and even the varsity soccer fields. The only thing missing? Undergraduate classes. The academic facilities on Newton Campus are utilized by the Boston College Law School, yet no Law students live there. It a residential campus for freshman only. Undergraduate students utilize the services of Boston College's shuttle bus, which runs from 7:00 am to 2:00 am each day of the academic year, to travel to the Chestnut Hill Campus for academic classes. Should students, for any reason, need transportation to or from campus after 2:00 am, the Boston College Police Department will gladly send an escort van.
Newton Campus is known for the strong sense of community felt among its residents. Many students will choose Newton campus because it provides a smooth transition from high school to college. With only 40% of the freshman class living on Newton Campus (approximately 800 students), many find it easier to meet new people on Newton Campus whether it be in Stuart Dining Hall or at the bus stop.
UPPER CAMPUS
Upper Campus offers a different freshman experience, as it is home to 60% of freshman students, as well as a portion of the sophomore class. With nearly twice as many students, Upper has the feeling of a larger institution. Students who choose Upper Campus, by and large, do so because of a perceived convenience factor. Residents of upper campus feel that being a short walk from the main campus allows them to more easily run back to their dorms in between classes.
THE DEBATE GOES ON
While the debate over which campus is better never ends, you will be hard pressed to find a student (or alum) who does not love where they lived freshman year. Both campuses offer unique experiences to our freshman students. Therefore, choose wisely, but if your first choice is not granted, don't fret. By the end of your freshman year, you will not have had it any other way!