Boston College C/O 2017 Applicants Thread (2013-2014) Forum

[Winter is Coming]

I applied to BC two cycles ago, was accepted late January and then literally the next day received a decent scholarship offer in a separate email.

Applied the same timeframe this cycle with better numbers + WE, was accepted the same time and have yet to hear about money. I applied for the Public Service Scholarship and I’m just hoping that the lack of scholarship offer so far has something to do with that.

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

[Otunga]

I applied to BC two cycles ago, was accepted late January and then literally the next day received a decent scholarship offer in a separate email.

Applied the same timeframe this cycle with better numbers + WE, was accepted the same time and have yet to hear about money. I applied for the Public Service Scholarship and I’m just hoping that the lack of scholarship offer so far has something to do with that.

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

As another point of reference, I didn't apply for the PI scholarship. But it's difficult to conclude anything about the process from that, obviously.

[philipthegreat]

I received an email today saying that scholarship offers start going out at the end of January and continue to do so on a rolling basis. So the sense that I get is, depending on when you got accepted it might be perfectly normal for the scholly info to not be in the welcome packet.

I was admitted right at the end of January. Hm.

It may not mean anything. Most of the schools that have offered me scholarships sent the scholarship offer after I had already received the acceptance letter. What we really need is feedback from someone who has already received a scholly from BC so we can get a sense for how they do business.

Wait, do we not have a single person on here who's gotten money from BC yet? We've got a month to decide where to put down deposits, come on BC!

[Creditisgood]

I confirm. Accepted a couple of weeks ago. No money yet. Started looking on Craigslist for rooms and it is expensive. $1000 a month for a room!

[CNUCaptain]

Was originally complete on 1/4, date updated to 2/25 but still Under Review. Going to Boston for the weekend so hopefully that's good luck and a decision comes quickly!

[Otunga]

I confirm. Accepted a couple of weeks ago. No money yet. Started looking on Craigslist for rooms and it is expensive. $1000 a month for a room!

My stepbro pays $700 excluding utilities, I believe, in that area and he's rooming with two other people.

[ayl]

I confirm. Accepted a couple of weeks ago. No money yet. Started looking on Craigslist for rooms and it is expensive. $1000 a month for a room!

My stepbro pays $700 excluding utilities, I believe, in that area and he's rooming with two other people.

Oh yeah, it's crazy high COL. I had a friend who lived in Brookline a few years ago, and she paid $1500 base for a teeny studio. Unless you're going without tuition or someone else is footing the bill, having roommates seems to be a requirement.

[Jamesta25]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

[mx23250]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston.

That's reasonable. Is that for a single bedroom unit or is that for a multi-room unit (e.g., 3BR) that you're splitting with others?

[ayl]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

A one bedroom apartment or one bedroom in a shared apartment? If it's the latter, that's still a high cost of living. I don't think it's fair to say we're all "drastically misinformed." Where I live now, you could expect to pay between $350-$500/room in the student areas, sometimes a bit more for the nicer condos/apartments outside the main areas of town.

[Marshmallow]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

can confirm. I live with my SO, and we pay $650 each (which includes all utilities and internet) for a very nice place (try to avoid the scummy realtors, though this is easier said than done.) roommates are always the way to go if you want a nice & affordable place.

obviously if you want to live downtown, that's a different story, and good luck with that. but tbh, living in brighton/cambridge/somerville is the norm for people in their 20/30s in the boston area. people complain about public transit, but it beats NYC any day, and it's really not bad. i will say that i have a thing against the green line in general, but most people just deal with it.

[Marshmallow]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

A one bedroom apartment or one bedroom in a shared apartment? If it's the latter, that's still a high cost of living. I don't think it's fair to say we're all "drastically misinformed." Where I live now, you could expect to pay between $350-$500/room in the student areas, sometimes a bit more for the nicer condos/apartments outside the main areas of town.

you're right, boston housing is expensive. having lived here for a while now, it's easy to just take for granted the higher cost of living... i have had a lot of luck with craigslist, and no realtor's fees, but it takes a lot of time and energy to find something affordable, esp. when what is "affordable" here is still damn high if you're not used to the prices.

[JustHawkin]

Hey I like the green line!

[mx23250]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

A one bedroom apartment or one bedroom in a shared apartment? If it's the latter, that's still a high cost of living. I don't think it's fair to say we're all "drastically misinformed." Where I live now, you could expect to pay between $350-$500/room in the student areas, sometimes a bit more for the nicer condos/apartments outside the main areas of town.

you're right, boston housing is expensive. having lived here for a while now, it's easy to just take for granted the higher cost of living... i have had a lot of luck with craigslist, and no realtor's fees, but it takes a lot of time and energy to find something affordable, esp. when what is "affordable" here is still damn high if you're not used to the prices.

Yeah, I imagine it's doable, just takes getting use to the higher COL and cutting costs as much as you can. I live in a larger city in the midwest and looked for a comparable 1BR unit with similar amenities to what I pay $1000/mo now and it's $3500+/mo in Boston lol

[Marshmallow]

Hey I like the green line!

lol how is it even possible to like the green line? tolerate, yeah sure. but LIKE??!

[JustHawkin]

Hey I like the green line!

lol how is it even possible to like the green line? tolerate, yeah sure. but LIKE??!

Okay, green line outbound sucks, especially around rush hour, or after B's games. but it's so easy to go from Riverside to, well anywhere!

[Marshmallow]

Hey I like the green line!

lol how is it even possible to like the green line? tolerate, yeah sure. but LIKE??!

Okay, green line outbound sucks, especially around rush hour, or after B's games. but it's so easy to go from Riverside to, well anywhere!

what about inbound after sox games?! you're right though about riverside. takes a while, but it'll get you where you need to go for cheap (about $2). i was in the bay area last summer, and going the same distance on bart is like, $10!!!!

[JustHawkin]

what about inbound after sox games?! you're right though about riverside. takes a while, but it'll get you where you need to go for cheap (about $2). i was in the bay area last summer, and going the same distance on bart is like, $10!!!!

OY. How do we feel about biking within Boston/Newton. Doable during school months? or too nasty out?

[Marshmallow]

what about inbound after sox games?! you're right though about riverside. takes a while, but it'll get you where you need to go for cheap (about $2). i was in the bay area last summer, and going the same distance on bart is like, $10!!!!

OY. How do we feel about biking within Boston/Newton. Doable during school months? or too nasty out?

well... i have an avid biking (cycling, whatever) friend who rode all year long. i think boston tried this year for the first time to keep the hubway system open in select locations through the winter months, but personally, i dont think id bike in the winter. it seems very dangerous, especially with all the snow narrowing the lanes. don't get me wrong, people do it, but i just wouldn't.

eta: imo, still dangerous when it's nice out, which will be most of the school year. it rains a fair bit doe, and the amount snow this year has been above-average

[Jamesta25]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

A one bedroom apartment or one bedroom in a shared apartment? If it's the latter, that's still a high cost of living. I don't think it's fair to say we're all "drastically misinformed." Where I live now, you could expect to pay between $350-$500/room in the student areas, sometimes a bit more for the nicer condos/apartments outside the main areas of town.

You can't compare a Midwestern city or a smaller college town with a major coastal city like Boston, it's apples and oranges. If you want to save money, most 20/30 somethings live with roommates. I have two. Comparatively, Boston is much more affordable compared to the likes of DC, New York, San Francisco, LA, and other coastal cities. The student areas (Allston and Brighton) tend to be pretty affordable when compared with the rest of the city.

And when I said "drastically misinformed," I was referring to apartments costing upwards of $1,000 as a baseline.

[Marshmallow]

And when I said "drastically misinformed," I was referring to apartments costing upwards of $1,000 as a baseline.

+1

again, unless you want dat nice 1-bed all to yourself

[Creditisgood]

You all are drastically misinformed. I currently live in Boston and can confirm that you can find a bedroom in a decent apartment for $650-750 per month in the Allston/Brighton neighborhood (close to BC and BU) and Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. While certain areas like Brookline are pricier, there is plenty of affordable housing in Boston. Last year, I paid $600/month for a room in a big house and now pay just over $700 for a decent apartment. Mission Hill is also a more affordable student neighborhood.

Thank you for the info. Will look for Allston/Brighton/Jamaica Plain/Mission Hill places. The best deals might still not be available.
So after I checked on Craigslist and saw only expensive places, I looked into buying a van and I imagined sleeping in a van to reduce COA. Parking the van here and there and showering at a cheap gym. I remember hearing a student doing that. Then I remembered it's Boston, way too cold at night.

[philipthegreat]

JP is a really cool area, then you would have to deal with both Orange and Green lines though *shudder*

[ohhai]

In today. Sent 12/25, complete 1/2, UR 2/14, 2/21. <25% GPA, median LSAT.

[Marquis]

In today. Sent 12/25, complete 1/2, UR 2/14, 2/21. <25% GPA, median LSAT.

Congrats!