About Ever to Excel

Ever to Excel invites rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors from around the world to spend a week at Boston College learning about how to create a more meaningful life through the lens of Jesuit spirituality.

Participants will discover new interests, deepen their faith, make friends from all over the world—all while experiencing Boston College: a premier Jesuit, Catholic university. 

We will be offering two Sessions for the summer of 2024. Students may apply to one or both Sessions but will only be accepted to one.

Session I: Sunday, July 21 – Friday, July 26, 2024

Session II: Sunday, July 28 – Friday, August 2, 2024

 

How to Apply

The application for the 2024 Ever to Excel program is now open. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.


Housing & Meals

Housing:

Ever to Excel participants will be housed in a residence hall on Boston College's lower campus. Women and men will stay on seperate floors of the residence hall.

The staff of the residence hall will include 30-35 Boston College undergraduate Mentors who will be housed in Mentor-only suites on participant floors. Ever to Excel lead staff members will also be on site in the residence hall.

Rooms are furnished with a bed, linens, desk, chair, and closet/storage area (one per person, as you will likely be rooming in doubles, although singles and triples are occasionally assigned). Room requests are accepted but not guaranteed.

We are not able to accept any personal mail for Ever to Excel participants during the program.

 

Meals:

Participants will be provided up to three meals per day beginning with dinner on Sunday night and ending with lunch on Friday afternoon. Small snacks will be provided in the residence hall common areas.

 

 

Mentors & Staff

The Ever to Excel participants will be guided throughout the week by 30-35 Boston College undergraduate Mentors. Each undergraduate student went through an application process, in-person interview, and background check before being selected to work at Ever to Excel. The Mentors will facilitate small group conversations and activities, as well as being available for students throughout their stay at Ever to Excel.

 

Location & Travel

Travel Information:

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from campus for the program. 

  • Check in for Session I will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 21st at Boston College. Check in for Session II will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 28th.
  • Check out for Session I will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26th. Check out for Session II will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd.

Please plan your flights and other transportation accordingly. We are not able to honor any special scheduling requests. Students are agreeing to attend the full duration of the program and will not be permitted to leave campus for non-program related reasons.

 

Complimentary Shuttle Bus from BC to Logan Airport:

The Ever to Excel program will be providing a complimentary bus to shuttle participants FROM Boston College to Logan International Airport at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26th for Session I and Friday, August 2nd for Session II. Participants will be asked to reserve a seat on the bus after acceptance to the program.

 

Location:

The Boston College main campus is located at 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. 


You can find helpful information about travel to and from Boston College at www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/admission/visit/hotels-directions-parking.html

 

If you drive to campus:

From points north and south: Take Interstate 95 (Route 128) to Exit 24. Proceed east on Route 30, also known as Commonwealth Avenue, and follow for about five miles to Boston College.

From points west: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 127. At the first set of lights after the exit ramp, take a right onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street to the fourth set of lights, and turn left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Follow Commonwealth Avenue 1.5 miles to Boston College.

From downtown Boston: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 127. Take a left over the bridge after passing the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Take the first right onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street to the fourth set of lights, and turn left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Follow Commonwealth Avenue 1.5 miles to Boston College.

 

If you take public transportation to campus:

The Massachusetts Bay Transit System (MBTA), called the T, is a trolley system that travels above and below ground. The different lines of the T are color-coded. Boston College is located at the end of the "B" line branch of the T's Green Line. One-way fares are $2.75 and travel time from downtown Boston outbound to Boston College is approximately 45 minutes. Once you exit the T at Boston College, cross to the other side of the street (Commonwealth Avenue) and walk towards the Boston College sign with Saint Ignatius Church on your right. Stayer Hall is the building behind the Boston College sign. Look for an outdoor tent and our welcoming group of Ever to Excel staff and Mentors.

From Logan Airport: Take the SL1 (silver line bus) to South Station. Take the Red Line of the T towards Alewife to Park Street. Take the "B" Boston College Line of the Green Line outbound to Boston College. Boston College will be the last stop on this line. Estimated travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

From South Station: Take the Red Line of the T towards Alewife inbound to Park Street. Take the "B" Boston College Line of the Green Line outbound to Boston College. Boston College will be the last stop on this line. Estimated travel time: 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Sample Schedule

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

6:30 a.m.

Optional Walk/Run Around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast

9:00 a.m.

Morning Prayer & Introduction to the Daily Theme from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

9:15 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

10:00 a.m.

Small Group Discussion

11:00 a.m.

Activity

12:00 p.m.

 Lunch

1:15 p.m.

Keynote Speaker

2:00 p.m.

Small Group Discussion 

3:15 p.m.

Activity

4:15 p.m.

Free Time

6:00 p.m.

Dinner

7:15 p.m.

Activity

8:30 p.m.

Candlelight Mass

9:30 p.m.

Optional Adoration or Return to Residence Hall

10:30 p.m.

Nightly Check-In with Your Small Group

11:00 p.m.

Lights Out