Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

The most crucial aspects to know in advance are how to prepare for your application at WU. Your application really stands out if you can state your purpose: The purpose you will bring both as a representative of WU and as a student at Boston College. Understand that you will serve a community at Boston College. If you have to take an English exam, I would strongly recommend to prepare sufficiently and take it as soon as possible to avoid time pressure in case you need to retake the exam. I was lucky to pass the TOEFL test at my first try, but I couldn't have taken it again in the case I hadn't passed. Boston College does not take any applicants if you cannot fulfill their language proficiency requirements. It's furthermore best advised to never miss a deadline and consult the International Office at WU for help if needed with all the paperwork for the visa. As far as the visa is concerned, I would recommend to really take your time with filling out all the forms while being as precise and transparent as possible. You should get your visa appointment as soon as possible after nomination.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation search in the Boston area can be a nightmare. First of all, on-campus housing is not guaranteed for exchange students, In fact, there is a student housing lottery with only 40 available spots for approximately 120 incoming international students per semester. This lottery takes place at the end of June, so I would definitely recommend searching for an off-campus accommodation in advance. It was the case for me that I wasn't accepted into on-campus housing, so I had to start searching for an accommodation on very short notice. I was desperately searching for weeks. I connected with four other incoming exhange students from Boston College via the WhatsApp groupchat, which made things a lot easier, so I would definitely recommend searching for an accommodation together. Boston College has an off-campus housing site on which you can also search for accommodations, but most of them only offer 1-year-leases which I would not recommend choosing. We found an Airbnb in Newtonville in the end, next to the Newton Campus of Boston College. Newtonville and Boston in general are very safe and peaceful. I was never afraid to walk home at night. Our residence in Newtonville was 10 minutes from the Newton Campus of Boston College (walk) from there on, we took the BC shuttle to main campus which took us another ten minutes. In total, it took us around 30 minutes to go to campus. Something I wish I'd known beforehand is that the off-campus housing team and the dean of students council will help with your search for an accommodation. I wish I had consulted them when I was super desperate and convinced I would never find proper housing in Boston (which I did in the end, and everything was perfect). Another thing I had known beforehand is that the area around Boston College is not at all walkable. Be on the lookout for grocery stores and pharmacies surrounding the area in which you are searching for accommodation. Most off-campus students from Boston College live on Foster Street, so I would recommend searching for an accommodation there if you have the opportunity.

3. Academic life at host university

I absolutely loved campus and academic life at Boston College. If you really want to live an American college dream while also focussing on performing in class, then BC is definitely the right fit for you. College culture is amazing - you really get the feeling that you are part of Boston College's campus life and part of the "BC Eagles" as they say. College sports is a huge deal and I absolutely recommend just going with it. Football gamedays in the winter semester are super fun and something you should definitely not miss out on. There are around 130 student-led clubs you can choose from and I would also advise to join a few of them. As a singer, I joined the BC University Choir and that was the best decision I have made. It provided me with so many opportunities to actively create campus life as we once sang the half-time show for one of the football games for instance. The campus is beautiful and offers everything a student needs. Dining halls, a five-floor gym, the football stadium, two beautiful libraries and tech-equipped classrooms and lecture halls. BC fosters a community of ambitious and high-achieving students. It's always academics first, campus life second. Classes at BC are not necessarily harder than at WU, but they are differently structured as participation and small presentations as well as paper submissions play a huge role in their grading. Professors will also know your name and challange you in class. Be sure to participate as much as possible and benefit from the opportunity to create a meaningful connection with your professors. They are super supportive and just want to see you do the effort and grow. Be furthermore advised that most of the students, if not all of them, do their readings in preparation for class. I would say that the learning and growth environment at BC is much more supportive, individual and more like a safe space.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Boston is amazing if you compare it to the rest of the US. The T-line which runs through the entire city of Boston and even has a stop at Boston College is slow on the one hand, but a blessing on the other hand, because it takes you to the most important places in Boston. Boston and the surrounding neighborhoods of Boston are extremely safe. Even as a woman I was never afraid to walk home in the dark. Nevertheless, I would always advise to be cautious. Boston is a great city with a big sports culture at Fenway Park and a lot of historic places to explore downtown. Fenway Park is home to the biggest sports events including baseball for instance and big music events and concerts. If you love any kind of sports, you will love Boston. Boston offers it all. And even if you are not into sports, you will like it because the atmosphere is amazing. Events of all kinds are always around the corner and I would definitely recommend spending time in the city as often as you can. I would recommend benefitting from the various sports options Boston College offers. BC has its own gym students can use and a lot of student clubs offering outdoor adventures at a cost.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester at Boston College was undeniably the best experience I have had in my life so far. It was without a doubt the most transformative, rewarding, and extraordinary four months I have ever spent, and I could not have wished for a better way to internationalize my studies at WU. From the very beginning, my time at Boston College challenged me to grow both academically and personally, leaving a lasting impact on who I am today. Boston College truly is a very special college, distinguished by its unique culture and strong sense of community. The emphasis on sports, arts, and student involvement creates an environment in which students feel deeply connected to campus life. I had the incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a wide range of extracurricular activities, of which joining the University Choir was probably the highlight of my exchange semester. Through the choir, I was able to actively contribute to campus life, including singing the halftime show at a football game in front of over 60,000 spectators, an unforgettable and surreal experience that I will always treasure. Throughout the semester, I met countless inspiring people, both in and outside of the classroom. I formed deep and meaningful connections with students from all around the world, many of whom have become close friends. These relationships, built through shared experiences, conversations, and challenges, were an essential part of what made my exchange semester so special. What made my time at Boston College truly exceptional was the strong sense of purpose that defines the campus culture. Students are encouraged to reflect on their values and to live intentionally, striving to make every day meaningful. This purpose-driven mindset was deeply inspiring and influenced the way I approached both my studies and my personal life. I loved every aspect of my exchange semester, and I will forever reminisce about these memories and cherish my time at Boston College for the rest of my life.