College of the Holy Cross
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Worcester is not the most college-friendly city. Unlike colleges in Boston, where the city is a real selling point for the school, Holy Cross is in a city with a less-stellar reputation. Worcester is spread out and tough to navigate without a car, and the locals are not always the friendliest toward Holy Cross students. The city hit its heyday in the 1920s and has been in steady decline since the Great Depression. Although there are nine or 10 other colleges in Worcester, few establishments cater to the entire college-age community, most likely due to Worcester’s sprawling geography. There is plenty to do in Worcester—it just has to be sought out. Unlike New York or Boston, where trendy bars, restaurants, and stores beckon from almost every corner, Worcester’s hotspots need to be carefully discovered, and this can only be done with a car. Unfortunately, Holy Cross students aren’t allowed to have cars until junior year, which makes appreciation of Worcester all the more dif?cult. If students make the effort to explore Worcester, there is plenty to find.

The city is improving: The downtown public library has been renovated, the long-abandoned Union Station was lovingly refurbished and reopened, and Main Street is undergoing a renaissance. The lack of a convenient and reliable form of public transportation, the fact that there is little to do within walking distance of campus, and Holy Cross’ refusal to allow underclassmen to have cars make it dif?cult for students to really appreciate the city.

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Local Atmosphere at College of the Holy Cross

speedokie92

Psychology '15

3.8

B+

City of Worcester

Most students go to the bars on Thursday and Friday nights, mostly Thursday though. Overtime is 18+ so most students go there but there are other bars around. Other than that there is Shrewsbury street where there is every restaurant (we rarely go there though other than the Shrewsbury shuffle) and when there is an event at the DCU Center students go there.

Dec 31, 2011

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Local Atmosphere at College of the Holy Cross

Hocro14

English '14

3.5

B

Boring Worcester Near Fun Boston

There is a bunch of stuff to do in Worcester and Holy Cross is really good at providing daily and weekly transportation to restaurants on Shrewsberry Street, shopping and restaurants at Blackstone Valley Shoppes (with a Target!), Walmart, and the Auburn Mall. the best part of Worcester's location is that Boston is only 40 minutes away that is accessible to students through a bus on Fridays and Saturdays.

Technically, Worcester is a college town, too, but there isn't much interaction.

Aug 16, 2011

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Local Atmosphere at College of the Holy Cross

consilience001

Chemistry '14

2.3

C

Nothing Around

There is almost nothing to do in Worcester. But with free shuttles to Boston, Natick, and Providence, you can go there if you want to shake things up

Jun 21, 2011

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