Frequently Asked Questions

We have asked our famous Eye Eagle Information Session panelists to answer some of the most popular questions they receive during a standard info session! Please enjoy a selection of their responses.

What are the different options for Freshmen Housing?

• As a Freshman, you live either on Upper Campus which is on Main Campus, or you live on Newton Campus, which is about 1.5 away from Main Campus. I personally live on Newton Campus and I actually requested Newton because of all the positive feedback I got from other older students. Living on Newton is like living in a close community. Everyone who lives on Newton is a Freshman too. You really get to know other people because you are constantly meeting new people on the bus everyday. Some people may be scared away from Newton at the thought of having to ride the bus, but it really is not that bad. The longest I had to wait for a bus was 10 minutes, and that was on a Sunday. Another great thing about Newton is I've also been told that Stuart, Newton's dining hall is the best dining hall on campus. And one final thing is that on Newton the are NO forced triples. -Peter C, 2012

How has being at a Jesuit school influenced your experience?

• Coming from a Catholic High School, it was very important for me to attend a college where my faith would be given a chance to grow. I feel the Jesuits do an excellent job of creating an environment where everyone, not just Catholics, has the opportunity to develop his or her faith. The Jesuits also highly value education and work hard making sure BC is filled with teachers who truly care about educating the students. I have been very fortunate to have had the chance to work with many brilliant teachers who are always willing to devote extra time to helping their students. I do not attribute this to a "good class scheduling" time, but rather the effort put in by the Jesuits, as well other administrators adhereing to the Jesuit values, in obtaining educated, caring, compassionate teachers. -Lauren M, 2010
• As a theology major, BC's Jesuit tradition creates an excellent climate for theological study, exploration and conversation. The quality and quantity of theology classes have led me to an interest in medieval theology, a field I never even knew existed! Beyond my theology major, the Jesuit tradition is present in every day life in and out of the classroom in dialogue, debate, and even casual discussion between students and professors. My professors are constantly challenging me by asking "why" and "what": why am I a French and Theology major? Why am I Catholic? What am I going to do after graduation? Why BC? These questions help me discover my purpose at BC, and someday they will help me discover my career and purpose in the wider world. No matter what religious affiliation one has (if any), this questioning and discussion is, I believe, a necessary and fantastic component to a Boston College education. -Courtney K, 2010

How does the Meal Plan work? More importantly, how is the food?

• Unlike other institutions, we do not have a set number of meal plans. Rather we are given a sum of money and buy individual items. I think this is very useful becasue it gives you the option of sitting down and having a meal with some friends, but also allows you grab food to go. The food is actually really good! There is a great variety of places to eat, each of which provides diff erent types of food. My favorite places to eat are Hillside Cafe and Eagles Nest, but the other dining halls are pretty great too! -Amanda H, 2011
• BC's meal plan is given to everyone who does not have a "full kitchen" in their dorm room. All freshman, most sophomores, and even some juniors are required to have the meal plan. The way the meal plan works is 2,100 dollars specifically for food, which is included in your room and board charge, is put on your BC ID card. When you go into most eateries on campus, the total of you're meal is deduced from your food balance. At the end of the fall semester, any extra money you have will rollover to the spring semester, but you lose the remaining balance at the end of the spring semester. On a different note, BC offers a lot of different options for food. My favorite option is the omlette station in McElroy and Lower. You can pick what you want inside the omlette, and then can choose between eggs or egg whites. BC food definitely isn't the home cooked meal you're used to, but it's much better than standard cafeteria food. -Elizabeth V, 2012

Do students get 4 years of housing? What happens if you don't?

• Not all students get 4 years of housing. Some students get 4 years if they are in the honors program, nursing program, or have special needs. If you don't have 4 years of housing, it's not a problem! Off-campus housing is really fun and is a once in a lifetime experience! You get to find an apartment for your Junior year and live with your friends, cook your own food, and make your own rules. If this really isn't something that you would want to do, you are able to appeal for a 4th year of housing and live on campus. -Jennifer F, 2011
• Some students get 4 years of housing but not everyone. Like me, most people get 3 years of housing. So I have it guaranteed for my freshmen, sophomore, and senior years but not my junior year. Since housing is not available junior year students will rent a house off campus with their friends. Sometimes students will only live off campus for one semester because most students go abroad for at least one semester during their junior year so that helps with not having housing. What these kids do so that they don't have to pay rent the semester they aren't there is sublet. Which means someone will go abroad fall semester and someone else will live in the house. Then in the spring semester the abroad student is back so they live in the house while the other kid goes abroad. -Serafina Z, 2012

What are your relationships like with your professors?

• Your relationship with your professor really depends on the size of the class. For example, my Writing teacher and I, along with all of his other students are on a first name basis, because the class is relatively small. However, I am 1 of 180 in my Biology lecture so I would not expect my professor to know my name. In addition, your relationship with your professor will depend on your own actions. If you make the effort to get to know your professor by going to office hours or just talking to them before/after class, you find that they are very welcoming and personable. Another great thing is that for most of your classes you have TA's so that every student has someone they personally know and can interact with in the case that the professor is unable to handle 150 different people's questions. -Elizabeth V, 2012
• I have had great relationships with all of my professors, Naturally, I had closer relationships with some over others. But always they were more than willing to help me in any way possible. They work very hard to get to know the students and ensure them that they really are there to help. I have also been extremely impressed and inspired by my professors. Struggling to decide on a major, I received great advice from a number of professors, some of whom taught a completely unrelated subject. In fact, it was actually my sociology proessor who helped me decide on becoming a history major. -Rob L, 2011

What do you do for fun outside of class?

• Outside of class I really like spending time with my friends doing all sorts of things for fun. We really like going out into the city for shopping, dinner, and just to hang out really. Some other things we do are go to concerts, take part in the activities on campus, and go to the plex. There are always things to do on campus like football, hockey, and basketball games, events held by the O'Connel house, events held by the school and by clubs. The plex is also an awesome place to go because not only do they have a ton of equipment but all of their fitness programs are a lot of fun. Everyone can find something they enjoy doing to get a good work out in at the plex. -Serafina Z, 2012
• You can find almost anything to do for fun. There are so many clubs and activities to choose from, from club and intramural sports, to cultural organizations, there is something for everyone at BC. And if you're looking for something outside of campus, at BC you are just a few T stops away from the city, where once again there's something for everyone. Boston is a great city to go to school near, and there's so much to do there. And sometimes it's fun jsut to hang out with your friends and take a break from school work. -Peter C, 2012

How is the weather?

• The weather seems to be a major concern for most prospective students, especially those who hail from the more milder climates. We have typical New England weather with the four distinct seasons. The really cold weather (freezing) will come just before exams (mid-December) and can last through February. It really isn't that bad, especially since we miss a large chunk of New England winter during winter break. The spring is arguably everybody's favorite season since its a reward for enduring the winter. -Rob L, 2011
• The weather is up in the air. No pun intended! Boston College is part of New England, and New England weather varies unexpectedly. Sometimes it is really nice all the way through the end of first semester, whereas other times it starts snowing in October! If you are wondering what to pack, be prepared for anything! -Jennifer F, 2011

What is it like to go to school with 9,000 people? Is it too big? Is it too small?

• I grew up in a very small town where I knew the names of every person in my grade and more than half of the underclassmen when I was a senior. So making the transition to a school as big as BC was definitely a huge one but at the same time, I hardly ever realize just how many people actually go here. I know that I'm always meeting new people but I wouldn't say BC is too big for me. It's perfect. I see people I know everyday when I'm on my way to class and being able to see a friendly face that often really helps to make the school seem smaller than it actually is. -Serafina Z, 2012
• The feeling of going to school with 9,000 people can, at first, be a little bit of a culture shock. I came from a high school of about 500 people, so there is a dramatic difference in the way the community functions. But the great thing about BC is that BC makes adjusting to working in a bigger community an extremely smooth transition. I realized that because of BC's "medium" size, it's abounding with the opportunity of a larger school, but still develops the personal relationships characteristic of a smaller school. BC's campus makes it feel smaller than it is because everyone is on campus everyday for class. BC is big enough not to be suffocating but still small enough to not be overwhelming. -Elizabeth V, 2012

What has been your best academic experience at Boston College?

• My best academic experience at Boston College was my sociology class freshmen year. I took the class becasue I was looking to fill the core. I almost dropped it without even going becasue I saw that the class was mostly seniors. I did not give in to my fears, however, and ended up learning more than I could have imagined. Not only was my professor one of the most impressive professors, not to mention person, I have ever encountered but it greatly helped me decide on my major. Also, I worked on a group project with mostly seniors, and it greatly helped build my confidence on my ability to work with older students. -Lauren M, 2010
• I loved my business law class. Our professor is a practicing lawyer so he offered a lot of insight into the field. Also, our class was a really close group. Discussion was required and frequent, and everyone felt comfortable with eachother. The class was also really interesting, and the cases that we studied were pertinent in our lives and also ineresting. I really feel like I came out of that class with a really good understanding of the basic principles of business law. -Amanda H, 2011
• I simply can't pick one, so here are two. The first was my Medieval Theology class with Professor Boyd Taylor Coolman. I took this class during my second semester in my junior year, and the class only had 5 people! We were given readings by influential theological figures such as Anselm, Abelard, and Hadewijch, and asked to write a 2-page analytic paper on the readings in which we had to develop a compelling and original thesis about one interesting theme or idea in the reading. Although these papers were difficult to master, they were challenging and helped me developed excellent critical reading skills and concise writing techniques. Moreover, the class discussions were always very interesting, as each student in the class often picked a different theme or idea for his or her analytic thesis. The second was my study abroad experience in Paris, France. As a student at the Universite de Paris, Sorbonne, I took four courses completely in French. Medieval history and 9th century French literature are tough enough, but since I had to read and write everything in French, I was certainly challenged more than ever before! The academic experience of living in another country and speaking the native language on a daily basis is completely invaluable; the absolute best way to learn a language is to not be able to cop out and speak English as I could have done in a French course back in the States. I highly encourage everyone, language majors especially, to study abroad--you will have the best time! -Courtney K, 2010

What is one of your favorite traditions at BC?

• Unlike other institutions, we do not have a set number of meal plans. Rather we are given a sum of money and buy individual items. I think this is very useful becasue it gives you the option of sitting down and having a meal with some friends, but also allows you grab food to go. The food is actually really good! There is a great variety of places to eat, each of which provides different types of food. My favorite places to eat are Hillside Cafe and Eagles Nest, but the other dining halls are pretty great too! -Amanda H, 2011
• My favorite tradition would be convocation. It is one of the only 2 times that you will ever be with your entire grade and you feel completely united the entire time. Convocation is when the entire grade gets together at the beginning of freshmen year, lined up by dorm, and you walk down to Conte Forum where you sit and listen to a speaker. It is such a great way to start of the year because you feel so connected with everyone else in your grade. Convocation symbolizes your start of college and knowing that the next time you make the walk to Conte Forum as a class will be for Commencement makes you so excited to start school. -Serafina Z, 2012

What is your favorite BC memory?

• My favorite BC memory is watching the Boston Marathon last year. It is a very exciting day on campus as the runners travel right by BC. Everyone came out for hours to cheer on the runners, who were completing the 21st mile out of the 26 mile race. It was especially exciting when a BC student ran by. -Jenna M, 2011
• My favorite BC memory was my 48 Hours experience from freshman year. We travelled to Ogunquit, ME in February 2008. I didn't know a single other person on the trip and was pretty timid and nervous for what was going to happen. It ended up being a great experience, and I met a couple of my best friends on that weekend. -Rob L, 2011

Why study abroad?

• There really is no better way to learn than to gain global experiences first hand, and in the words of Nelson Mandela: “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Studying abroad will give you the chance to build upon what you’ve already learned at Boston College, gaining global perspectives and new insights towards both topics of interest and topics previously unknown. Boston College’s Office of International Programs gives you the support and foundation to live in a foreign country, immerse yourself in a new culture, travel to surrounding areas, and come back with a whole new outlook on your education… and all on a college budget! Students who study abroad return with a greater sense of independence, an international education, and some of the best memories they’ll ever have. -Kerry K, 2010