Boston College was founded in 1865 by a Jesuit priest. It's been undergoing an identity crisis ever since.

Is BC a school for city youth, is it a football school, is it a school for the elite, is it a major research university, is it a Jesuit college, Ivy League wannabe? The administration wants it all. But my opinion follows....

The Setting - You won't find a prettier campus than at Boston College. The school straddles the City of Boston and the Town of Newton. It is a short subway ride to the city but it really is a suburban setting. Well kept grounds, open spaces and a reservoir adorn the main campus. There is a second campus a few miles away - further into Newton - which contains the Law School and some Freshman Housing.

Academics - BC consistently ranks in the top 40 in the annual US News and World Reports ranking. BC has top-notch professors and generally new and well-equipped facilities. The university is constantly upgrading and/or replacing buildings and labs.

The Students - BC is expensive. Tuition and room/board amount to about $32,000.00 per year. This cost insures that the children of the elite predominate here. On the other hand, BC works hard to attract poorer students with scholarships.

So, you have wealthy students - who travel south during spring break to work on their tans - and poor students who simply work during spring break. There are not too many students in between these two socio-economic classes.

Football - BC is the only school in New England with Division 1 Football. BC plays in the Big East conference. BC was blessed in the early 80s with Doug Flutie and in the early 90s with Coach Tom Coughlin. BC wants to be a competitive, top 20, Bowl achieving Football entity.

The Jesuits - The Jesuits are a teaching order of Catholic priests. The university president is a Jesuit as are a diminishing number of the faculty. Their influence is what the student wants it to be. One can adhere to their philosophies on abortion, birth control, sacrifice, Catholicism, etc. or one can choose not to. Nothing is forced down the student's throat.

Summary - PROS - BC possesses a beautiful campus, top 40 education, decent football, a positive but slight religious influence.

Summary - CONS - The student body is mostly of two extremes, the weathly and the not; BC is expensive.

BC's identity crisis is good for the school because it works hard to be the best in all areas and succeeds in some.

Thank you for reading!







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