Boston University

Date: Nov 29 2003
Major: Sociology (This Major's Salary over time)
I really love BU. A lot of people are afraid of a large, city university with virtually no campus and thousands of students. I know; a year ago today I was one of them. You could fit the entire student body of almost any other college I applied to in Warren Towers (occupancy: 1800!!). But nonetheless, due to BU's extremely generous financial aid office, here I am in Boston. And I could NOT be happier about it.

Is BU the perfect school? Far from it. Yes, I do have some large lectures. But some of my friends at small liberal arts colleges have larger ones. Are the dorms wonderful? Nope. But then again, I compare the size of my room to the size of my friends' rooms at surrounding colleges and it gives me a new appreciation for my humble home. And I've decided that little space + lots of stuff = the college experience. How's the food? Hey, it's college. Don't come in expecting gourmet. But it is pretty good; West and Myles being my two favorite places to eat (the white pizza in West- fantastic!). And Late Nite makes for a sinful indulgence and late night Ben & Jerry's runs are made far more than is good for my jeans (mmm mmm Cherry Garcia. Good stuff.). But then there's an advantage to a spread out campus… you walk it off all the time! And the BU beach is awesome when you're feeling the need for a little "college quad" type feel. Take homework, take the newspaper (many of which, both regular papers such as the Boston Globe and Herald, and student-run papers such as the Daily Free Press, are available free in many places around campus. Free newspapers—that's never going to happen again! Take 'em while you can!), take a book, take a discman. Just sit and look out to the Charles and watch the sailboats and crew teams from BU and Harvard and dozens of other schools. Or find a tree and take a nap or read. Relax. Just watch out for the frisbee maniacs who play both on the beach and Marsh Plaza, no matter the weather. Comm Ave is quieted and seems far away.

Truthfully, everything can start to feel far away sometimes. BU stretches oh, maybe 8 or so T stops, not to mention the C line going to South Campus. And those walks across the St. Mary's Bridge or through that horrible little alley thing by Photonics can be bone-chilling in the winter wind. But that's why you invest in a nice warm winter jacket along with a scarf and gloves, perhaps even a hat. And if you're still cold, silk undies fix that like nobody's business. Besides, enjoy the cold. Go ice skating on the Common- it's quintessential Boston.

Yes, BU is large. But your floor/house starts to feel like a family. Call me corny, I know you're dying to. But it's true. At least it has been in my case. I live with some awesome, incredibly intelligent people who always make life interesting. It's a little community in a big school.

Also, get involved on campus. I really believe that how much you get out of your college years is directly proportional to how much you put in. There's so many opportunities all over campus; it really is insane. Take advantage of a few.

Take advantage of what BU has to offer you and take the good of the university along with the bad. Because both exist at any and every college, regardless of what anyone tells you. I'm so glad I ended up here; it's a choice I'd make again in a heartbeat.