Category: Zoe R

By Zoe Rahaim

Picking a college is huge. For most people, it’s not just about majors and classes, but where you’re going to call home for four years. As someone from a small state, Delaware, and an even smaller high school class, 72 kids total, I was fairly scared of moving somewhere new. I knew I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, but a huge change like college looming over me made it extra stressful. 

I weighed my options on what aspect of college life was most important to me beyond academics, and I knew a city that was easy to get around in was my ideal place. If you’re looking at a big-city campus like Boston University, you should see it as an opportunity to live in a real city, not just a college green. My number one pro of going to BU is the opportunity to walk five minutes, hop on any transit heading inbound, and make a day out of exploring somewhere new. Some say BU lacks a campus, but our campus happens to be Boston. Your in-between class and weekend plans can be right in the city, and on a more serious note, it makes those internships a T ride away. When I had the opportunity to visit Boston before making my college decisions, getting to know the city really cemented my decision that a city school like BU was my ideal setting. 

However, city school life comes with some cons. Boston is expensive, and you’ll find that as an incoming freshman, even with a meal plan or dining points, daily expenses can add up fast if you don’t budget yourself a little. That doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to pop into CityCo once in a while for a pick-me-up treat, but going from a sales tax-free state to Massachusetts was an eye-opener! Another major adjustment is the lack of a traditional campus feel. While the BU community is still tight-knit and you’ll find yourself running into people more often than not, BU is large and spread out along Comm Ave. So when it comes to getting around parts of campus, you may spend more time navigating the T. 

When it came down to my decision for BU, being a student also felt like independence. Boston was my opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, but it’s pushed me to pursue faster-paced environments and approach these, sometimes, scary decisions with confidence.

Being a college student in Boston means having so many fun places to check out when you finally get some free time between classes and assignments. Whenever I have the chance to plan a day trip in the city I have 2 go-to places to visit in Boston.

The North End
Being close to the Green Line makes the North End easy to get to since you can take it all the way to Haymarket Station and discover everything the neighborhood has to offer. It has some cool historic sites like the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House. There are plenty of Italian restaurants, cafés, and bakeries to choose from in the North End as well! I always recommend people try a cannoli from Modern Pastry and Mike’s Pastry if they want to weigh in on the debate about which bakery is better (my money will always be on Modern Pastry). You can also find pizza shops that sell pizza slice by massive slice if you’re ever looking for a quick bite to eat—Ernesto’s Pizza is my favorite.

Museum of Fine Arts
The MFA is a straight shot through the Back Bay Fens area south of BU campus and free for students! It’s a great place to spend an entire afternoon wandering around their collection of art dating from the Byzantine era to contemporary pieces. You won’t find yourself getting bored in this museum if you love art as every room and floor has something to offer. And don’t forget to spend time in their gift shops where you can collect postcards of your favorite pieces, buy pins, books, and even art-themed playing cards. If you ever have a friend visiting from out of town don’t be afraid to show off MFA Boston and take advantage of having a student discount.

Upon being admitted to Boston University you are guaranteed two things—your acceptance letter and never ending comments on the daunting Boston winters.

When I was looking around colleges I rarely factored weather into my searching, mainly because I’m from Delaware where you get all four seasons. I knew the basics, winter was cold and gross wherever you went. Yet these unrelenting comments on needing to “gear up for those Boston winters” left me worried Boston would tear me a new one.

Thankfully, my first experience with a Boston winter as a freshman was not a big leap from winters at home. However, those from warmer climates might not be able to relate. A friend of mine, Bella Jones, has her own set of tips as a Floridian dealing with the cold.

You’ll need your basics: a good coat (Canada Goose is not necessary, it’s Boston not an arctic expedition), a pair of gloves, and a nice hat. However, one thing no one wants to warn you about with Boston winters is the wind. It can make any average winter day frigid in minutes and your walk to class unbearable when wind speeds are whipping around you.

If you want to feel extra prepared for the winter the best you can do is get a scarf.  Make sure it’s on the larger side and you can wrap it around your neck. Having a scarf to hide in while walking around BU’s windy campus is the best way to deal with winter weather.

Bella’s two biggest takeaways for Boston winters were layering and choosing the right socks.

Layering clothes—for example, an extra long sleeve under your sweater—can make a frigid day in Boston leagues better. For best possible results, thin layers are the best way to go according to Bella. Additionally, wearing thick socks can go a long way—while you might not need snow boots everyday in a Boston winter you can comfortably wear any shoe of your choice so long as you have good socks to keep your feet warm.

Long story short, it’s more than manageable as long as you have the right clothes and don’t underestimate the Boston wind.