BOSTON: THE COLLEGE TOWN

Boston may be one of the biggest cities in the U.S., but when you’re walking down the street, it could easily be mistaken for a college campus judging by the amount of people in their late teens and early twenties.

Brookline and Allston have been almost dominated by Boston University students, but the college student population does not end there. Boston has a reputation for its education. With schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University, and many others, it is no surprise that students from around the world flock to Boston to get their college degree.

For many students, the college scene in Boston may have been what drew them to the city.

“Deciding to come to school in Boston wasn’t easy for me. I had to leave all my friends and family and basically start over, but the college scene in Boston was a huge appeal for me. I knew I was going to be surrounded by other people my age who had similar ambitions and goals,” said Sonia Jones (SHA ’23).

Living in a city that fosters such a driven academic environment has many advantages, one of them being the connections and networking that living in a city like Boston provides. This city offers an environment where, as a college student, you constantly have new opportunities to challenge yourself and grow.

However, being a college student in Boston has its difficulties as well. Going to school in a city provides very specific advantages, but it also provides very specific disadvantages. Moving to Boston for college not only means that you have to adjust to living on your own for the first time ever, but it also means you have to adjust to living in a city that can honestly feel a bit overwhelming at times.

Between getting used to riding the T, trying to find a way to walk back to your dorm with all your groceries, and accepting the pressures of going to school in a city where it seems like everyone is a genius, it’s easy to forget why you came to Boston in the first place.

The pressures of going to school in Boston are very real, but so are the benefits. The college experience in Boston may look a little different, but nothing can replace seeing Newbury Street covered in snow, going to your first hockey game, or spending the day exploring the city for your new favorite restaurant.

Boston may not be the traditional college town, but it sure is the best one.