Making friends at Boston College

Boston College is a Jesuit campus on a hill in Chestnut Hill. It has a strong community, a beautiful campus, and a social life that is more campus-centered than some of the other Boston schools. The campus is not right downtown, so students tend to build friendships around the dorms, athletics, and campus traditions.

The first-year housing experience at BC is designed to build community. Your floor, your hall, and your orientation group are the easiest places to find friends. Go to the events, leave your door open, and eat in the dining hall with different people. The first month sets the tone for the whole year.

BC has strong traditions around athletics, especially football and hockey. The games are social events that bring the whole campus together. Campus ministry, service trips, and retreats are also major friendship builders. These are not just for religious students; they are community experiences that happen to be rooted in Jesuit values.

BC is a Division I school, but club sports and intramurals are where most students participate. The intramural program is huge, and the club sports teams are tight-knit. Even if you were not a high school athlete, there is a level for you.

The campus is in Chestnut Hill, with the B and C trains nearby. The students who keep the best balance have a few weekly routines in Boston, whether that is a study café in Brookline, a trivia night in Allston, or a weekend trip to the city. But most of your social life will be on campus, especially at first.

• Week 1: Meet everyone on your floor and remember names. Go to the orientation events.
• Week 2: Attend a campus tradition event, a sports game, or a service activity.
• Week 3: Join one club, intramural team, or campus ministry group.
• Week 4: Invite a small group to explore Boston or Brookline together.

• Is BC a party school? It has a social scene, but it is also community-oriented and low-key. There are many ways to have a social life.
• What if I am not Catholic? Most students are not involved in campus ministry, and the school is welcoming across backgrounds.
• What is the best way to meet people in classes? Study groups, especially in the core curriculum classes, are natural friendship groups.
• Do I need to join Greek life? BC does not have Greek life. Social life happens through dorms, clubs, sports, and campus events.
• What if I am a transfer student? Transfer students are welcomed, especially through transfer orientation and the close-knit campus culture.