College Highlight

Boston College

From the fiske guide to colleges

Many students clamoring for a spot at Boston College are surprised to learn that it is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Set on a quiet hilltop at the end of a T (subway) line, BC's location is solid gold. A close second to Notre Dame in the pecking order among true-blue Catholics. About 70 percent of the students are Catholic, compared to Georgetown's 50 percent and Notre Dame's 80 percent.

Boston College is a study in contrasts. The academics and the athletic teams are both well respected. The environment is safely suburban, yet barely 20 minutes from Boston, the hub of the Eastern seaboard's college scene. The Jesuit influence on the college, one of the largest Roman Catholic schools in the country, provides a guiding spirit for campus life, but the social opportunities still seem endless. Despite the paradoxes (or perhaps because of them), students at BC enjoy a rich college experience.

Don't let the modest name fool you. Boston College is actually a research university with nine schools and colleges. It has three campuses: the main campus at Chestnut Hill, the Brighton campus across the street, and the Newton campus a mile and a half away. The dominant architecture of the main campus (known as "the Heights") is Gothic Revival, with modern additions over the past few years. There's lots of grass and trees, not to mention a large, peaceful reservoir (perfect to jog around) right in the front yard. The university is nearing the end of a multiyear master plan intended to double the size of the main campus. A new dorm, a field house, and a variety of athletic fields are the latest facilities to open.
 
The college's mission is to "educate skilled, knowledgeable, and responsible leaders within each new generation." To accomplish this goal, the Core Curriculum requires courses not only in literature, natural science, history, philosophy, social science, and theology, but also in writing, mathematics, the arts, and cultural diversity, in addition to specific requirements set by each undergraduate school. "Core Curriculum forces you to take classes you might not want to take but end up enjoying," says a senior. Students in arts and sciences must also show proficiency in a modern foreign language or classical language before graduation. Freshmen are required to take a writing workshop in which each student develops a portfolio of personal and academic writing and reads a wide range of texts. About a quarter of seniors participate in the Capstone Program, choosing one of several seminars that aim to give a "big picture" perspective to the college experience and students' personal development.
 
Students searching for out-of-the-ordinary offerings will be happy at BC. The PULSE program provides participants with the opportunity to fulfill their philosophy and theology requirements while engaging in social-service fieldwork at any of about 35 Boston organizations. The program reinforces the Jesuit emphasis on community service and sometimes inspires students to major in those areas. A Freshman-Year Experience program offers seminars and services to help students adjust to college life and take advantage of the school and the city. Each undergraduate school offers its own honors program, allowing students to work at a more intensive pace and undertake a senior thesis. Fifty-eight percent of Boston College undergraduates engage in an international volunteer or academic experience by the time they graduate. BC offers nearly 60 academic programs in 30 countries around the world, as well as three-week summer study abroad programs. Under the Undergraduate Faculty Research Fellows Program, participating students spend an average of 100 hours per semester assisting faculty with serious research, for which they receive financial aid.
 
Eighty-two percent of BC students live on campus. When students are admitted, they are notified whether they will get on-campus housing for three or four years; most juniors with three-year guarantees live off campus or study abroad, then return to campus for their final year.
 
Division I athletic events, especially football games, become social events too, with frequent tailgate and victory parties. The annual football contest with Notre Dame is jokingly referred to as the "Holy War" and makes for a popular road trip. BC meets fierce competition from Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Duke, Miami, Virginia Tech, and others. Women's ice hockey is a recent conference champion, and other solid teams include men's ice hockey and men's and women's soccer, fencing, cross-country, golf, and basketball. Intramural sports are huge here. Roughly 45 percent of undergrads participate in more than 40 intramural, recreational, and club sports, from basketball and volleyball to skiing and rugby. Students even get the day off from classes to line the edge of campus and cheer Boston Marathon runners up "Heartbreak Hill."