Boston College
S1 2014
I was lucky enough to spend the first semester of 2014 abroad at
Boston College. I study law and commerce, majoring in Marketing; I
studied only Marketing Papers at Boston College.
My exchange experience was definitely not what I had expected,
there are times when it is really hard and being out of your natural
environment can be overwhelming. I specifically thought going to an
American College would be a similar feeling to studying at Otago,
while this is in part true, the culture shock I experienced was more
than I anticipated even though you are all speaking the same
language. Typical American characteristics and social norms took
some getting used to. However, overall it was the most rewarding
and amazing experience. I met some amazing people, went to
incredible places and had such a great time, returning to New Zealand
with indelible memories.
Boston College
Accommodation:
Whilst in Boston, I lived off campus in an apartment with 3 other exchange students, two Australians
(a boy and a girl) and one Italian girl. Most international students live on campus and will either join
other exchange students or sublet apartments with other American students. I met my roommates
through the BC Housing page, which was helpful in sorting out accommodation. I was lucky enough
to get on really well with my flat-mates and we all shared common interests. Another girl from
Otago who came to Boston in Semester One flatted with some American students, which can mean
you initially meet more BC students. In my situation it meant that I met most BC students in my
classes, they are all really keen to get to know international students (kiwi accents are definitely a
pull factor) and they are all really welcoming. The only downside to my accommodation was the
apartment itself. We were located in Brighton Centre,
which is a 20-minute walk from the Boston College
bus line, this meant walking to college in winter
required determination and good snow boots! I would
recommend off-campus living on either South St,
Gerald St, Lake Street, Foster Street or Cleveland
Circle, these are the student streets equivalent of
Otago’s Castle/Leith St and are all very close to the BC
bus line.
Finances:
Boston is definitely not a cheap place. I was able to
save around $7,000 before my exchange, and received
weekly Study Link for rent. Renting prices are much
higher than Dunedin, especially if you have your own
Trip to NY in Feb
room. I would recommend having the minimum of
$10,000 saved, especially if you want to do a bit of
travel around the East Coast (which is definitely recommended!).
Academics/Course Load:
Boston College is a highly ranked school in the United States. Students are required to attend all
classes as often 30% of your grade is based on in class attendance
and contribution. Professors expect a lot from students in terms
of readings, homework and participation. I had classes on
Tuesday’s, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which meant I could go
away for long weekends, which was perfect. The Marketing
papers I took were great! It is really different to Marketing at
Otago, they use many interesting case studies and class
discussions to teach the content and I thought it was an easier
and more interesting way to learn. Guest speakers from
companies such as Starbucks and Harley Davidson would come to
our classes and reinforce the concepts our Professor had been
teaching. Finals all occur in one week, ‘finals week’ and a lot of
exams were take home or very short and accounted for less than
50% of your mark. I really enjoyed this type of exam period as it is
less stressful than Otago and you have already passed your
exams before going into your final test.
Transportation:
Football Game- May
Boston College is located almost directly on the T (this is the local
train and metro line which can transport you almost anywhere in
Boston). I often bought weekly or monthly passes, which saved money on fares. Taxis are reasonably
cheap and everyone uses Uber (App), which is a cheap, and efficient transport mode. The BC shuttles
operate from 7am- 2am almost every day to shuttle students for free around the residential areas
close to campus (including the “student streets” which is the desirable area to be living).
Weather:
It is very vey cold. I did have to invest in some Timberland
Boots and a few warm coats, not to mention wearing two
pairs of jeans on my first few weeks! Semester One in Boston
is subject to snow and cold, but unlike Dunedin
accommodation is always very warm and wherever you go
indoors it is always heated. It doesn’t take long to get used to
the climate. By spring it begins to warm up and is absolutely
beautiful.
Eating:
Americans eat some really bizarre
foods, chocolate covered bacon, “animal fries” just to name a few. Many
college students tend to eat out or purchase their meals from one of the many
cafeterias at Boston College using “Eagle Bucks” on their ID cards. I decided to
cook on my own, sometimes with my other flat mates and this worked really
well! This way you can eat much healthier and you end up saving more money.
Boston has some amazing restaurants and cafes including the infamous North
End, which has the most amazing Italian Restaurants and some amazing
pastries and treats. Georgetown Cupcakes,
Snappy Sushi, Sweet green and Met Back Bay were some of my
favourite eating spots on Newbury Street (One of the main shopping
streets in Boston). Quincy Market is also a must do eating experience!
Things to do/General Tips:
Boston is an amazing city rich in history. I really enjoyed taking the bus to Cambridge and visiting
Harvard Square and the University. I often spent too much time and money on Newbury Street as the
clothing stores were amazing and reasonable compared to shopping in New Zealand. If you can get
out of Boston to nearby towns such as Providence (Brown University), which is only a train, ride away
I highly suggest it! I also travelled to New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida, San Francisco
Springfield, Mexico, Quebec and Montreal, which were all unforgettable experiences. Definitely
make the most of buses and renting cars to go and visit as many places as you can!
Try and see a local Boston Red Sox game or Celtics Game the experience is truly unforgettable, it is a
World Cup vibe in these stadiums! Boston College Ice Hockey Games
Six-Flags Amusement Park
are a must do, they are insane and the college spirit is such a cool
experience to be a part of! I watched Boston College play Boston
University, which we won and it was unforgettable.
Boston College is an amazing college, I would 100% recommend BC to anyone who is considering
going on exchange. It is such a historic, beautiful city and close in proximity to other amazing cities
such as New York! BC will not disappoint!
NY High line
White House
Chicago