Boston College, USA

Established in 1863 by Jesuit priests, Boston College is globally reputed for teaching and research, and routinely ranked among America’s Top 50 universities

FOUNDED IN 1863 by the Society of Jesus, Boston College (BC) is a top-ranked university reputed internationally for teaching and research. The U.S. News & World Report ranks BC #31 in its America’s Best Colleges Rankings 2014 while Forbes ranks it #26 nationwide. The university’s faculty received $60 million (Rs.372 crore) in research grants last year, and its endowment is estimated at $1.9 billion (Rs.11,805 crore). Over the past decade, Boston College students have earned more than 200 prestigious academic scholarships including two Rhodes, four Marshalls, nine Goldwater scholarships, and 162 Fulbright grants.

Sited on a 120-acre campus in the suburb of Chestnut Hill, BC’s eight schools and colleges award more than 4,000 degrees annually in 50-plus fields of study to 14,400 students. Over 94 percent of BC’s full-time faculty of 761 boast doctoral degrees and the faculty-student ratio is an enviable 1:14. Comments William P. Leahy, SJ, president of BC: “Boston College endeavours to educate a new generation of leaders — men and women capable of shaping the future with vision, justice, and charity — with a sense of calling, with concern for all of the human family.”

Boston. Widely acknowledged as America’s most culturally European city, Boston has one of the largest concentrations of college students in the US and a long-established and excellent reputation as a centre of learning and education. With its redbrick, early 19th century townhouses and black, old-fashioned iron lampposts, Boston is a walker’s city, rich with street life. It’s a combination of the ancient and modern — elegant, old office buildings with copper, brass or terracotta abut gleaming postmodern skyscrapers. Boston’s renowned medical and research facilities and vibrant financial district offer students exciting opportunities for practicums and internships.

Campus facilities. The main campus is located in idyllic Chestnut Hill, six miles from the heart of Boston. The 120-acre Chestnut Hill campus features dramatic examples of English Gothic architecture comprising three levels: the Upper Campus, which hosts undergrad residence halls; the Middle Campus houses classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, and student facilities; and the Lower Campus, which includes the Robsham Theater, Conte Forum, and student residences as well as dining and recreational facilities. The university also owns two other campuses — Newton and Brighton.

Boston College’s eight libraries including the showpiece O’Neill Library offer 2.87 million volumes, over 700 manuscript collections, including music, photos, art and artifacts, and 440,000 e-books. Other resources include a language laboratory, Robsham Theatre and the McMullen Museum of Art.

Sports facilities consist of the Alumni Stadium (American football), Yawkey Centre (athletics), Conte Forum (basketball and ice hockey), Newton Campus (lacrosse and soccer), Pellagrini Diamond at Shea Field (baseball), Shea Softball Field, Power Gym (volleyball), Field Hockey, The Bubble (practice area), and BC Boathouse (rowing). In addition, the Flynn complex offers an eight-lane pool, fitness centre, indoor jogging track, basketball, racquetball, squash, volleyball, and tennis courts.

Moreover, there are a number of student clubs and organisations which host cultural and social activities through the year.

Admission. BC is a highly selective university — last year over 25,000 students applied for 2,250 undergraduate places. Although the admission rules doesn’t prescribe a minimum test score, students admitted rank within the top 10 percent of their graduating classes.

The minimum eligibility criterion for admission into BC’s undergrad programmes is completion of Plus Two. Applicants must also submit either of the following standardised test results — SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) I and SAT II subject tests or the American College Test (ACT) with the optional writing exam. Moreover, all foreign students whose native language is other than English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. A minimum score of 600 in the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, or 100 on the internet-based exam is required.

Applicants should submit the Boston College Supplemental Application for Admission and the Common Application together with the $70 application fee no later than January 1. All applications have to be submitted electronically on www.commonapp.org. Supporting documents — official transcripts of secondary school exams, letter of recommendation from the school counselor, two teacher evaluations, the Boston College Writing Supplement, and standardised test result scores — can be sent through snail mail or electronically. Candidates are notified of action taken on their applications by April 15.

For further information contact Boston College, Office of Undergraduate Admission, Devlin Hall 208, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Ph: 001 617-552-3100; Fax: 001 617-552-0798; e-mail: keeley@bc.edu; website: www.bc.edu.

Accommodation. BC offers a wide range of on-campus accommodation. It includes traditional residence halls offering double, triple, and quadruple rooms with common bathrooms on each floor, and suites, and apartments. Students living in residence halls and suites are required to sign up for the full university meal plan while apartment inmates can opt for the flex dining plan. The university also operates an off-campus housing office.

Degree programmes. Boston College’s eight schools and colleges award bachelor and graduate degrees in more than 50 subjects and interdisciplinary areas (see box).

SUMMIYA YASMEEN