Category: James M.

Is Boston really a college campus?

That’s probably a question many students ask before applying to Boston-based schools. It’s a question that students at places like BU may still be asking themselves. And unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer. Some students go to small college towns and feel like they’ve found their home away from home, while others may feel stifled there. Others end up in massive cities like Chicago, New York, and LA, foregoing marching bands and tailgating in exchange for public transportation, fine dining, and the true city life in between.

 

So where does Boston fit in? After three years here, my answer is that it falls somewhere right down the middle. I’m not saying that Boston is a small college town—it clearly isn’t. But parts of Boston absolutely feel that way. Take Allston, which bears the lovable nickname “Rat City,” as a great example. Full of houses packed with college students, Allston is often the place to be on weekends. On the other hand, Brookline is home to families, a pleasant Main Street, and plenty of BU students as well.

 

But those are part of the Greater Boston area, not “Boston Boston.” The Town. Beantown. Boston may not be a metropolis like New York or Chicago, but it can certainly stand on its own as a city. As a sports hub, the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, and Bruins have all had plenty of success over the past two decades. The North End boasts a beloved section of Italian eateries, and the city is known for its seafood. Artists like Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan, and Gracie Abrams have all mentioned Boston in recent albums. I could point to countless other things that make the city cool, but the best evidence is in the experience itself.

 

Like all places, this city is what you make of it. Don’t ask yourself if a college campus is a good fit for you, but instead whether you are a good fit for that college campus!!

Hey BU Nation! Today I wanted to talk about why I think finding classes that interest you is so important in college life! 

Hopefully, most of us choose a major that is one that excites us. However (and totally fair), some of us focus on majors for a variety of reasons that may not come from an interest in that subject. Because of BU’s form of studying, ALL students have the ability and likely will come across classes that are unconnected to their main course of study. 

This opens up a gateway to hundreds upon hundreds of courses that students have the ability to take. With that in mind, I implore you all to not always look for the “easiest” class to dismiss over the course of a semester. Instead, I say take a leap of faith. How often will you have the ability to have an astounding Professor from Arkansas tell you about the history of Greece? What’s the price of studying a little more in order to fully understand all forms of natural disasters? 

I will also add that in cases where some students aren’t afforded the chance to have as much flexibility with what classes to take, reach out to professors! If something sparks your attention in a field, the chance that someone at BU doesn’t have a higher level of knowledge and love for that subject is very rare. The worst thing that could happen is your email fails to get a response, take that chance. 

BU and colleges in general are the highest levels of learning centers available to us. Having the internet and AI is exciting and can be used to help boost learning in so many ways, but nothing beats a class with good professors. You will always be able to use Wikipedia, watch a YouTube documentary, or ask Chapt GPT something. For most of us, four years is all we have in college. Use those years!!