Boston College Top Questions

It's easier to make an imperfect school for you work in a perfect city for you than the other way around. Be sure to understand where you'll be living.

Find a place that has many opportunities for you to do self-exploration and discover what you love and what you are passionate about. During the next four years you will grow and change and mature in ways that you can't possibly think of when you're a senior in high school, so leave some wiggle room for yourself. If you're choosing between your dream school that's a lot of money and a mediocre school with a full scholarship, go to the dream school. You will never regret waking up every day to a place that you love. You have your whole life to worry about money and responsibility, use your college career to experiment and try new things. Once you're in college, don't ever stop questioning things. Don't settle for a B, but don't spend 36 hours hyped on caffeine. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. If you never try, you'll never learn. You'll never regret making a mistake and learning from it, but you will regret living with the "what if". Spend college finding out who you are, and never stop believing in yourself. Be excellent.

It is very important to speek with someone who already attends the school and try to spend a day or two on campus, staying in a student dorm to get a better idea of what campus life is like.

You need balance in everything. While a top school may be great, you really need to find the right one. Being driven in high school doesn't always translate perfectly in college, there are countless distractions and adjustments. Spend time on campus, make sure you think you will enjoy the culture and the community, because that is what will help you acheive what you want. Stats about the school are good, but the people and teachers matter more. Big schools also may seem intimidating but they quickly will being a tight community that would make it seem much smaller. You ave to go to campus, meet people, and make sure you can work hard and play hard there, a good balance.

a lot of small achools can be a repeat of high school - clicky and lots of gossip. it is also easier to avoid a social scene that is completely alcohol based if the school is near a city, or has public transportation so that there are things to do off campus. At the same time, if you want the "college" atmosphere, then it is important to find a school that is not in the middle of the city. BC, in the suburbs, is perfect in this regard.

Let the student choose where he/she wants to go... they are the ones that will be going to class, living on campus and experience college, not the parents. If money is the issues, find ways to finance college.

Don't stay at home. Try something different and see what the country (and world) have to offer. There's a lot out there and you won't get to experience it if you stick to your roots.

Where to begin? Well, if you're like me and happen to be the first of your family (parents included) fumbling their way through the college process (applications, finances, etc), you have a lot of work to do. But you must do what you can to keep college from becoming a chore. Delegate the responsibility of your education with those closest to you. Keep your parents as involved as possible. Don't be put off by the sticker price of an education. The average private school is going to cost you $25k+ a year--but there are a million different scholarship and grant opportunities out there to alleviate the stress of paying for college (and the subsequent student loans). Have fun, make friends, and don't compromise your beliefs to fit in or placate others (there will be plenty of opportunities to do so). Your niche is there; you just have to look. Embrace your school's colors--real and imaginary. Learn HOW to study. Think about that last statement, then ask upperclassmen to clarify it for you. Don't drink every weekend. Lastly, know how lucky you are to be in school and make it count.

The most important thing for choosing the right college is thinking about the first impression that the school makes upon you. If the atmosphere feels right and is something that really intrigues you, chances are that the next 4 years at that particular school are going to be the best of your life thus far. It's also important while making sure that th eacademics are going to challenge you, but not too much, that you take into consideration things happening around campus all the time. Do you want to be involved in volunteer programs but also be an avid sports fan? There are so many things to do on a college campus that you really can't go wrong with whatever choice you make. If you can see yourself there, as part of that community and involved in the very things that you see going on during a tour, chances are that it is the right place for you and will be a great fit.

Pay attention to colleges that aren't your first pick. Each campus offers its own, unique environment. Jesuit colleges often have great faculties who care about its students - and they don't force religion onto their students