Boston College for undecided college-bound teen

chestnut hill campus boston college

If your college-bound teen is undecided and seeking a solid medium size college with 5,000 to 10,000 students, Boston College may be worth a look. Boston College pursues its mission through rigorous intellectual development, an advanced global research, and integration of religious dialogue and community life. The Core Curriculum at Boston College requires students to take classes in these areas:

  • the artsjesuit catholic university
  • cultural diversity
  • history
  • literature
  • mathematics
  • philosophy
  • science
  • social science
  • theology
  • writing

The name Boston “College” is a misnomer because it’s actually a research university with 9 schools and colleges. (Boston “University” is already taken) By taking classes across varied areas of study and having access to specialized programs, students have a great opportunity to find the major that interests them.

Campus visit tip:  Boston College is a Catholic institution and during your visit, make sure you’re comfortable with this aspect of their mission.

Additional quick facts about Boston College:

Acceptance:  29%

Freshmen retention:  95%top athletic teams boston college

Freshmen from out of state:  75%

4-year Graduation rate:  89%

Most popular majors:  finance, economics, communications

Housing: The majority of Boston College students live on campus. Housing guarantees are either 3 or 4 years. Students with a 3-year housing guarantee study abroad or live off-campus during junior year. Boston College is in a suburban location and only 20 minutes from Boston so the off-campus options are pretty good with varied public transportation options.  Dorms are known to be comfortable and spacious.

Social life:  As at other Jesuit universities, Boston College does not have Greek life. There are still lots of social activities like sporting events, movies, festivals, concerts, and plays, and “volunteer work is huge,” says one student.

Similar colleges to consider to develop list: University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, Villanova, Columbia University

Financial aid: Boston College offers both need-based and merit aid, with 100% of need met. The cost of attendance is $65,000 and the average financial aid package is $35K, with 66% of students receiving aid.

What do you think about Boston College? Would the Core Curriculum be a good fit? Please post your comments below.

College of the Week: Syracuse University

What is Syracuse University?

Syracuse is a big campus, with numerous majors in the classroom and big spirit among its Division 1 athletic teams. Choices abound at Syracuse for the student seeking a diverse educational experience. Students have a range of options for majors, residential life, internships, and study abroad programs. There are even 6 fitness centers on campus!

Graduation rate: 82.3%

Enrollment: 14,700 undergrads; 6,100 grads

Academics: Syracuse is a major research university defined by its interdisciplinary theme of Scholarship in Action. Students can major in any one of nine undergraduate colleges. The most popular majors are commercial/advertising art, business administration/marketing, radio/television. At Syracuse, 87% of faculty hold a PhD or highest degree in their field.

Syracuse University Academic Calendar

Social: There are over 300 clubs/organizations on campus and 25% of students participate in Greek life.

Financial: Tuition and fees are $55,600 with about 75% of students receiving scholarships.

Check out these campus photos of our visit to Syracuse:

 

For more application tips and fun facts about this college of the week, please join us on Facebook. What do you think about this college? Please post your comments below.