Boston College: Off the Record - College Prowler

The Author's Introduction

Initially, I didn't like Boston College. My problem was that I arrived on campus freshman year with unreasonable expectations about my college career and my university. I somehow believed that I would instantly become best friends not only with my roommate, but with every other fascinating individual in my adorable and spacious dorm. My classes would be with an eclectic mix of students from all walks of life, and the lectures would be so intriguing that I would barely even need to study. Furthermore, my social life would be wild and crazy, with my amazingly easy entry into the local pubs thanks to the fake ID I would miraculously find laying in the street. The days would fly by with joy and ease. They would be punctuated by student rallies, tailgates, and deep coffee shop conversations with a hunky foreigner named Sven. I would also meet the love of my life and start planning our wedding sometime during second semester.

Obviously, I entered Chestnut Hill expecting the Hollywood version of college life. The truth is that there are more people at BC from the same background than I'd anticipated. Best friendships didn't spring up all over the place, although I did get very lucky in that department. Classes were definitely challenging, and I actually needed to spend long hours at the library to earn good grades. Also, it was certainly an uphill battle trying to maintain a boisterous social life while still underage.

Nevertheless, once the initial shock dissipated, I began to see how much there is to appreciate at Boston College. I know now that BC delivered an important lesson early on: happiness doesn't just automatically happen, and re-evaluating your priorities and adjusting to your surroundings is a mandatory survival skill for any college student, no matter the school.

I recently graduated from BC, and in the end, it was the best school for me to attend. I received the most incredible education and made fantastic friends. I loved my time at BC and I urge all prospective students to read this book and see if BC is what you're really looking for in a college.

Kelley Gossett, Author Boston College

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