The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach – they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Casille is a Denver tutor specializing in SAT prep tutoring, History tutoring, Geometry tutoring, and more. She graduated from Boston College in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geosciences. Check out her review of her alma mater:
VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or safe is the campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike?
Casille: The campus has traditional architecture and is located in the suburbs of Boston on a hillside. The campus has its own bus system, which gets you around the campus and can bring you to nearby hotspots. The T (the Boston metro system) is located right next to campus, giving you easy access to the city. The campus is very safe and the neighborhood surrounding the campus is quiet. There is no need for a bike or a car.
VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Casille: The class sizes tend to be smaller outside of entry-level lecture classes. The professors have office hours and make themselves readily available to students. Academic advisers can be easily reached by scheduling an appointment or attending office hours.
VT: How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Casille: The dorms are all well-kept and make a great place to live. The majority of students live on-campus all four years, though some juniors and seniors do live off-campus. The meal plan is all-inclusive, and the campus has a wide range of dining options – from traditional cafeteria-style food to several different healthy options. The dorms and student organizations organize weekly social activities for interested students.
VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study?
Casille: The business school and the humanities are the best represented on campus. I studied Environmental Geoscience, because of my interest in environmental conservation. My particular area of study was somewhat under-represented.
VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Casille: Meeting friends as a freshman was fairly easy. The Resident Assistants threw events to allow you to meet all the people on your floor. There is no Greek system.
VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus?
Casille: The Career Center is very helpful for the most represented majors. There are many recruiters for students leaving the business school.
VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious?
Casille: There are extensive study areas on campus, from dorm study rooms, which are usually empty or at least quiet, to several different libraries. The study areas in the libraries are quiet and beautiful with several of the libraries located in traditional gothic-style buildings.
VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus?
Casille: The neighborhood around the town is quiet, but a short bus ride away is a local hangout area that includes several restaurants and a convenience store. There are several weekend on-campus options, but it is always an option to enter the city and explore Boston.
VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Casille: The school is a medium-to-small school. The student body is fairly small compared to other colleges, and the class sizes tend to be smaller.
VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Casille: One of my favorite classes was the western cultural traditions seminar I took in my sophomore year. We read A Man For All Seasons, and the following discussions were invigorating, interesting, and fun. The class was particularly great because it was not a subject I tended to be interested in before the class, but the class broadened my horizons and provided me with new interests.
Check out Casille’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
