About Us
As we venture off on spring break this week, we are reminded of just how quickly spring semester soars by. With only a few months of school left, we are quickly approaching what has, for many, become one of the most nerve-wracking weeks of the semester: housing selection. While there’s really no way to avoid the hype that surrounds the process, we believe you do have the power to exit the week (relatively) unscathed. Whether you’re a freshman or junior, here’s how to make it out alive:
Freshmen
Julia Keefe / Gavel Media
- Don’t freak if your friend group doesn’t add up to lucky number eight just yet. Quads, doubles, six-mans and nine-mans are all possible on Lower. But if you really want to solidify the eight, try branching out to other groups or posting on the class Facebook page to see if someone else is in need of a group.
- Don’t feel like you have to block with another eight-man. Despite the rumors, blocking doesn’t increase your chances of getting an eight-man. So if you have another group to block with, great. If not, that’s great too.
- Attend the housing information sessions. Yes, information sessions are “optional,” but the process can be confusing if you enter it with little guidance. Sessions are dispersed throughout upper dorms and Newton and provide valuable tips about what to expect for the week.
- Be prepared if you don’t get the eight-man, because many of you won’t (sorry). Know your plan and stick to it. If the quads don’t work out, is your group going for the six-mans or nine-mans? Knowing ahead of time what your group’s plan is will avoid conflict and drama later on. Work out a plan that everyone agrees to; after all, the most important thing is that you’re all still friends at the end of the week.
- DON’T STRESS OUT. Life goes on if you don’t get the eight-man.
Sophomores
Tori Fisher / Gavel Media
- Start the off campus search early. It seems like each year the search for houses begins earlier and earlier. The good houses go quick, so don’t brush it off until second semester.
- Get a realtor. Realtor’s have access to a number of houses on several different streets. They’re easy to contact and one of the most helpful resources available to ensure you get the house you’ve been looking for.
- Keep on top of subletting. With abroad being a popular option for juniors, many people need individuals to sublet leases for each semester and even summer. The Boston College Facebook pages are a great way to find other groups looking to fill in the lease time.
- Stay organized. Many realtors require a first month’s payment, a security deposit and other payments before the year even begins. With several roommates, it can get confusing divvying up the payments and making sure each person sends in his or her check on time. Staying organized will prevent you from missing important due dates and fees.
- If you want to live on-campus but only have 3 years of housing, appeal early. Even if you don’t have plans for going abroad solidified, it’s nice to know for at least one semester you won’t be living in a box. It will also give you time to find somewhere off-campus if your appeal gets denied.
Juniors
Julia Keefe / Gavel Media
- Figure out your six…sooner rather than later. As most of the senior housing options require six people, it can be tricky to decide on groups, especially if your current house consists of a different number. Things change throughout the year, but having the housing conversation with your friends long before selection starts will save you a lot of grief.
- Plan before going abroad. Spring semester of junior year is a popular abroad time for BC students. Even across the world, students can still enter the housing process through Agora. Just make sure to keep a reminder of the dates and time of your selection before charting off to the Eiffel Tower.
- Explore. Senior housing provides the widest variety of styles, ranging from the Mods, to suite-style housing in Edmonds to the “town-houses” of Vouté and suites at The Gate. Different people prefer different layouts, so check out each building as a group and see which styles you agree would work best.
- Pray for the Mods. Just kidding, sort of.
So let the Housing games begin, and may the odds be ever in your favor (especially for you Newtonites).
