Boston University
Reviews

Some Better Than Others

The gym at BU is AWESOME. Only 6 years old, the state of the art building offers all types of fitness equipment and instructional classes from zumba to scuba. There is a large competition pool and a recreation pool, a 25 foot climbing wall, a 3 court gym and a 4 court gym for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and floor hockey. There are raquetball and squash courts and also a cafe. There is a new student center opening in the Fall, which should be awesome as well. However, the Mugar Memorial library desperately needs rennovation, as do most classrooms in the college of arts and sciences.

Interesting Mix

Coming from California I am used to a ridiculous amount of diversity, from interracial mixes to diverse friend groups. However, coming to the east coast I noticed a lot more students more closely bound to their heritage. A lot of ethnic groups interact with other ethnicities but seem intent on finding and marrying someone from their own racial category. There is an abundance of international students which causes a diversity even within the international category. Some students are easy going and socialize with the natives so to speak while others stick to the people from their own country, at times even speaking a different language through an entire class. I know BU tries to counter racial cliques by housing assignments but also strives to make people comfortable while expanding students' social views.

Really Depends on Which Social Circle.

As BU is notorious for, 60% of the student body is female, and half of the other 40% of males is gay so if you're a straight female then you're kind of screwed, though straight males fair generally better. However you meet a lot of people due to the 16,000 enrolled and you can usually find someone you can be friends with or perhaps be romantically involved with. A lot of the girls are stereotypically North Face jacket, Uggs boots, leggings wearers, though the hipster look is quickly catching on with both genders. Unlike, say, UMass Amherst, most guys and girls typically place importance on studies over partying and don't usually drink to excess or be consistently slutty, so it's not quite as annoying. There are always outliers. The different colleges do have their own stereotypes though.

Crazy

Boston weather is crazy. Within two days, it could be hailing, and then the next day sunny and 65.

It's Been a Nightmare

It's been horrible. Just because was denied my noncustodial waiver I was automatically given no aid. And I really needed it!

Large School, Small Families

Bu is large but you really get to know the people in your college. Especially in the smaller ones like CFA, SHA, Sargaent... There are only 18 people in my year in my major and get more than enough one on one time with our professors. Also, BU is really great about branching out of your major. If your credits allow, you can take classes in areas not required by your major. I, for example, have taken a ton of COM classes even though my major is in CFA. BU study abroad beats all other univeristies in the U.S HANDS down the greatest thing about BU is their incredible abroad programs. Truly world class. You will travel like a rock star for less than you pay for a semester in Boston. Bu housing is also great. There are so many different options. From old brownstones on bay state to big dorms, to beacon st studios, to StuVi which is like living in the ritz. PRIME real estate. BU is really international. There are so many kids from outside of America, it's so nice. We have great traditions like marathon monday and senior week. Greek life is active if youre interested but you wont feel left out if youre not. Yes, its true there are more girls than guys. But hey, not caring if you go to class on friday mornings in your sweat pants is awesome. People are generally very active and healthy. Great bars and cuktural events in Boston---duh. AND fenway is literally on campus. BU kids in general are smart, fun-loving, creative people who are as talented at academics as they are at having fun.

Nightlife

So many different bars and clubs all over. Transportation everywhere.

The Gym Is Probably Pulling up This Grade.

I'm not huge on athletics but I have to say I was vastly impressed at how great the athletic center on campus was. Free to students and offers a very large variety of athletic things to do in a very innovative building. As for the rest of the school, it looks like a very dated building holding some kind of historical prestige. The Mugar Library is pretty well organized as well.

Not Bad

Not many relationships freshman year but many people go to parties. Many of the guys are frat guys or taken or pretentious. Other guys aren't very good looking. Also lots of gay guys. Girls are beautiful and dress nice, very thin, however they see, fake, especially if they are in sororities. Social life at parties because everyone talks and everyone gets along, even if you've never seen that person in your life. But cops have become mroe strict with the record number of students getting hospitalized for intoxication last year.

Laid Back but Accessible

Unless you are really aiming for a typical college campus with a quad and lots of grass, BU has a great atmosphere. It's located in Kenmore Square, which is far enough outside of downtown Boston to have a slower pace, but also close enough to access all of the city's resources. Boston is a small, very walk-able city and BU is located near Fenway Park and plenty of bars and interesting restaurants. Boston is a college town - people know that students make up a significant part of the population and I don't feel that I was treated any differently (or poorly) as a student.

What Parking?

As an urban campus, having a car on campus (especially as a freshman) is pointless and a bad idea. Everything you could ever need is walkable, or you can take the T train or T buses if you're feeling lazy (or if it's freezing).

College Town = Lots of Parties

Boston is a college town. We live amongst Harvard, MIT, Emerson, Northeastern, Berklee, Boston College, and whole bunch of community colleges. There is always a party whether Fraternity/Sorority or something more formally organized, it's going on. The bar/club scene is strictly 21+ and the streets of Boston tend to be asleep very early, however that doesn't mean there are no clubs lurking on the corner. Most clubs are 21+ but there are open mics, salsa dancing, and other clubs that are 18+, just takes som research. Tranportation around Boston is the T, our subway system. But it shuts down after 12:30am so you're stuck taking an overpriced cab (hope you're with other people to divide the price).

21 or Frats

If you're not 21, you better be/ know someone in a frat or have a friend off campus that enjoys throwing house parties. Though Boston is an incredible city, you have to be of age to enjoy it. After 21, there is a plethora of bars and clubs with every type of music and atmosphere you can imagine. It isn't the city that never sleeps though, and you'll gave a really hard time finding anywhere open past 2.

Watch Where You Tread

Unless you wanna take a risk with a fake ID you should avoid clubbing in the Boston area as it isn't friendly to those under 21. You can attempt to find a party somewhere on Ashford street but most of the parties will get a bit more exclusive after the first few weeks of the semester. Cops tend to swarm the area around 1 AM so I would tread carefully. You can always ask around and you may be able to find out about an MIT or even a Harvard party. After hours the BU shuttle does not run on a schedule and you may be able to catch it if you get close to campus but always keep a charlie card with you so you can hop on the T if you don't think you can make it. I would also advise you to keep the number of a cab company handy just in case.

Economic Background

In regards to most of the students on campus, you can tell the vast majority of students are very well off. It's occasionally hard to "fit in" if you're not super rich.

Guys and Girls

There are not many guys, and about half are gay. The girls are generally more attractive than the guys.

Everything Imaginable... It's Boston.

Partying in the dorms can be very easy or very difficult to get away with depending on where you live. BU has a very, very strict policy regarding alcohol and underage drinking, and they infamously send folks away in ambulances if they're caught being just a little bit drunk "to be on the safe side". It gets a bit carried away. BU Central is the "on campus nightlife destination", meaning that they hold free concerts, events, and parties for all students every weekend night (sans alcohol). The greek scene contributes; BU frats have parties, but the campus police crack down on them early and often. (BU frats are far off campus.) Aside from that, kids party at nearby Northeastern and MIT frats, and some BU girls like to go to Harvard final clubs. Allston is full of BU kids living off campus, and there's always something going on down there. The music scene is also pretty big-- lots of interesting basement shows in Allston, again, and of course there's plenty of great venues around the city: The Paradise, The Orpheum, House of Blues, BU's own arena, and in Cambridge (easy to get to) there's The Middle East and All Asia, where BU kids sometimes have their own bands play. I'm leaving lots of places out. There are also plenty of nightclubs in the area for different tastes. The bar scene is a big thing and lots of kids do have fake IDs, but there's also plenty to do on campus if you don't drink, really. The options are unlimited. You might get exhausted, but you'll never be bored.

Girls Are Beautiful

There are alot of girls. If you are at West side of campus, girls are ususally beautiful. There a lot of gays. Guys are okay. Most people go workout during the weekdays.

Pretty Good, but Somewhat Expensive

If you have alot of money, there are lots of places to eat off-campus. Subway, starbucks, T Anthony Pizza, Scoozi, Fins...

Girls and Guys

The girls are are definitely above average. You see all different types. Laidback girls in sweats, and others dressed up in heels every day. The guys are average/below average. You'll see a lot of typical good-looking ones on west campus.

Just Like High School

I thought I came to BU to attend college. Not redo the last four years of my life.

Helpful and Nice!

BU is pretty good at meeting needs! I got a pretty good financial aid package and even though the financial aid process can be a pain, the people in the financial aid office are extremely helpful and soooo nice! BU asks for a lot during the process, so that's annoying, but if you're in need, they will help!

FUN FUN FUN

There's always something to watch! The biggest sport here is hockey hockey hockey!!!! The only thing is, it's always a hit or miss with each coming year. One year they can be undefeated and amazing, the next year, they would be losing and struggling. However, always a fun time especially going against their rival, BC! Lots of school spirit with here. Men's basketball is also up and coming. They've been improving and always offers a great time!

Professors

At Boston University, you can easily connect with your professors, for they are always willing to help out in any way possible.

BU Bitches

Girls at our school are well known for being beautiful and mostly being bitches. A lot of the very attractive girls tend to go to Harvard to try and find their future husbands, while a good amount like to stay back and join the festivities at our school. You'll find that although greek life is not prominent it is still a big thing on campus with a majority of incoming freshmen girls joining sororities.