Boston College

What does Boston College offer in terms of athletics?

Boston College competes in NCAA Division I varsity athletics and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Varsity offerings include football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and other sports; men's and women's ice hockey are prominent parts of its athletic schedule. The specific conference for a sport can differ from the university's primary conference affiliation.

Students who are not varsity athletes can pursue club sports, intramural competitions, and recreational fitness through campus recreation. Activities listed across those participation levels include sports such as rowing, rugby, sailing, volleyball, and racquet sports, but a listed activity should not be mistaken for an NCAA team. Club schedules, skill expectations, and participation fees may differ, while intramurals generally offer a shorter-term way to play with classmates.

What student groups and Associations are available at Boston College?

Boston College has student organizations spanning governance, cultural interests, service, performing arts, and academic pursuits. The Undergraduate Government of Boston College, or UGBC, and school-based student representatives provide ways for undergraduates to participate in campus decisions.

Representative organizations and initiatives include Asian Caucus, 4Boston, Appalachia Volunteers, and student-led Dance Marathon activities. Students can also find outlets in campus media, theater, choral groups, and other performing arts. Organization rosters and activity levels change, so the current student-organization directory is the appropriate place to confirm that a particular group is active and open to new members. Joining a recognized organization is different from receiving a university service or attending an informal gathering.

Who studies at Boston College?

Boston College reported 15,432 students enrolled across undergraduate and graduate study. Its entering first-time class numbered 2,501 students, while the reported incoming transfer group numbered 235. The institution draws heavily from outside Massachusetts.

In the reported geographic distribution, 23% of students were Massachusetts residents, 69% came from other U.S. states, and 8% came from other countries. Those figures describe where students came from, not their citizenship or the composition of every class. The entering first-time group was close to evenly divided between the reported categories of women and men.

Reported race and ethnicity counts include 5,458 White students, 1,201 Hispanic or Latino students, 1,126 Asian students, 552 students identifying with two or more races, and 454 Black or African American students. Counts are more informative when considered with the population and reporting categories used to produce them; they should not be used to infer an individual student's background or experience.

How does student life look like at Boston College?

Daily life at Boston College combines a residential university setting with access to Boston-area activities. Students can meet peers through orientation, classes, campus programming, service, recreation, and events in student gathering spaces. The experience can differ for students living on campus, commuting, or traveling between the main campus and a professional school.

University Health Services and counseling resources are available for students seeking medical or mental-health support, subject to each service's eligibility and appointment procedures. Campus Ministry offers religious and reflective programming, while other offices support students across different identities and needs. New students may find it useful to plan around the campus's geography: a class, job, or event elsewhere in the Boston area can require considerably more travel than one held on the Chestnut Hill campus.

What libraries are available to students at Boston College?

The Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Library is Boston College's main library and a central place for research and study. The university also maintains specialized library spaces and collections, including the John J. Burns Library's rare books, manuscripts, and archives and the Bapst Art Library.

Students can use research guides, librarian assistance, online journals and databases, and borrowing services to find materials beyond what is on an open shelf. Library services include reservable study rooms and extended-hour study areas; hours can change around examinations, holidays, and breaks. Students in specialized fields should check whether a subject library or collection is at a different campus location. Remote access to licensed electronic materials generally requires university credentials, and borrowing materials from other libraries may be possible through interlibrary loan.