Viewpoint: 5 reasons you should attend a college in Boston
It's that time of year again: Undergraduate and graduate acceptances are being handed out.
Choosing the right college can often be an overwhelming decision. If you are applying to colleges in the northeast, there is one city you should really consider over all the others: Boston.
Although it is usually overshadowed by comparisons to New York, if you are accepted to a Boston institution, you may want to throw those comparisons aside and look at the 5 reasons why you can't go wrong attending a college in the home of the Red Sox.
1. You've got variety and resources
There are over 100 colleges in the general Boston area, giving you many options to apply to specific majors ranging from medical to musical. Although all of the colleges aren't in the city proper, commuting from the greater Boston area is accessible by public transport and cheap Uber rides.
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Plus, all the students converge in the city anyway, so once you decide to accept your offer and move to Boston, you have a whole community of students waiting to mingle with you!
2. The city is easily navigable
If you are in the city proper, most of your destinations will be within walking distance. If you are in Cambridge, or another surrounding neighborhood, the commute is bearable because the city is relatively small, meaning you won't have to wake up too early for class or plan too far in advance for day trips and nights out.
3. It's a city atmosphere with a semi-campus feel
If are feeling indecisive and can't figure out if you want a traditional campus scene or a urban location, Boston has the best of both worlds.
Along with it being navigable, which takes away the big, scary city feel, you also have access to multiple green spaces and parks. The Boston Common, Public Garden, Commonwealth Mall and Back Bay Fens are all part of the "Emerald Necklace" designed in the 1800s by Fredrick Law Olmsted to keep parks linked throughout the city of Boston.
In the fall and spring, students play sports, read, have study sessions and tan just like they would on any regular campus setting.
4. Shopping and sports are everywhere
For shopping addicts, the nearly mile long Newbury Street offers local boutiques and popular chains, many of the same shops that you can find in New York but without all the crowds (not that I'm comparing the two).
For sports fans, Boston's sports teams have such a loyal and lovable following that you can't help but be captured by the fan base. Even if you aren't a Sox, Celtics, Bruins or Patriots fan, watching a game at Fenway Park or T.D. Garden is a social scene that makes attending the games worth it.
5. Cuisine (it can be a deal maker for serious foodies)
Sure, every city has their staples and can advertise an array of dining options, but seafood lovers, I've got two words for you: lobsta and chowda! Being close to Maine, the Seaport District in Boston has delicious fresh lobster and you can't miss the creamy clam chowder that's a highlight on menus throughout the city.
The dishes can be rich but if you pair them with one of Boston’s craft beers, like Samuel Adams Boston Lager or Harpoon IPA, they are easily washed down.
Aside from these obvious positives, here’s what some may consider a controversial reason to head to college in Boston: What I’ve learned from attending college in a city that has a heavy focus on community, is the emphasis on safety for college students.
Many students think that closing Boston down at 2am (yes that means bars and public transport) is a con, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. After weeknight parties, it’s easier to wake up for class and weekends can be more productive.
My parents always told me “nothing good happens after 2am” and I accepted that statement as fact after realizing that tromping around a city in the early morning hours probably isn’t the smartest behavior. These time restrictions provide you with a nudge to adulthood.
After all, isn’t part of college to learn responsibility anyway?
Jillian Rinehimer is a senior at Emerson College.
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