Where did you stay? Courtyard Boston Brookline. Son loves trains and wanted to be sure to take the T (we took it like 6 times - bought a daily pass). While the hotel wasn’t inexpensive, compared with hotels closer in where parking would have been $50 or more, this wasn’t too bad. It was right across from the T. We parked our car and didn’t move it til we left Boston. Hotel was clean, quiet and adequate. I would recommend it.
Where did you eat? Did you try any local specialties? We ate at Zaftig’s Deli in Brookline before we headed out of town. We got there at opening on Sunday and if we’d gotten there 20 minutes later there would have been a rush. It was fun. After the tour we went to Fanueil Hall for dinner (touristy but still fun) and the North End for dessert - we walked from Fanueil Hall and went through the Holocaust memorial on the way (near Pearl Oyster House). We went to Modern Pastry, knowing there’s a competition between Modern, Mike’s and others. Delicious and fun, but be prepared to wait on line.
How did you get there? What’s the best transportation mean to get to-from the campus? We drove to Brookline but took the T to campus, from one end of campus to the other, to dinner and back to our hotel.
What was the campus vibe? It was cold and pouring - so windy the umbrellas were blowing away. So it was hard to get a vibe. That being said, the student who spoke at the info session was great, and the tour guide was enthusiastic. The vibe was good, despite the weather.
What did you think of the dorms? We didn’t really go in. The fact that some are a bit away from classes is interesting - I think it might be hard to choose which dorm you’d want - to be by the classes or out by the fields.
What are some must-see things in or around campus? It was pouring so it was hard to get around. We did take the T, rather than walk, to the dorms that were farther away, just to see how far and we went to the bookstore, which was acceptable but nothing special.
How were the school facilities? Again, with the rain it was a little hard to concentrate. The Hillel seemed huge and impressive.
Did you like it more or less than you thought you would? Why?
I did like it more than I thought I would. I was impressed by the presentation before the tour and the academics.
Did anything surprise you? It’s clear everything is getting more competitive, but the stats for the class of 2022 are insane. Also, city campuses vary - I was surprised at how integrated the campus is into the city - it’s not like Penn or Carnegie Mellon where you’re in a city but in the center of campus you might not realize. It’s more like GW, but GW the campus area is quieter.
When did you visit?
After the holidays for music auditions
Where did you stay? Would you recommend it?
We stayed at Club Quarters Hotel Boston, downtown. It was fine, kind of a European style rustic hotel. But very hicely located.
Where did you eat? Did you try any local specialties?
Well, we were in Boston like 5 days so we ate all over the place. For faster food, I liked Greco which is a Greek food chain we don’t have!
How did you get there? What’s the best transportation
mean to get to-from the campus?
We used the Green Line train! We used all public transit in Boston from the airport.
What was the campus vibe?
Had a similar vibe to lots of larger urban campuses I’ve been on. I like how the train ran through campus.
What did you think of the dorms?
Missed out on a dorm tour.
What are some must-see things in or around campus?
Ok well this isn’t exactly right be campus. But we enjoyed doing a walking tour of downtown area. We did the hop on/off Trolleys. We went to the aquarium. We did the Tea Party Museum which is a reanactment and my senior loved that. Also the Boston Public Library and the area around there is definitely worth a visit. Oh - and wander around Boston Commons!
How were the school facilities?
The music facilities were more rustic than expected. Pianos kind of beat up and out of tune. But the staff/students greeting that day was very nice!
Did you like it more or less than you thought you would? Why?
Well when you are doing music auditions, you like everything just the right amount because it’s so competitive and don’t get over sold on any one program. Yes we liked it! It met expectations.
Did anything surprise you?
We had very cold weather which was really unusual! Also, the school of music at BU is VERY grad school oriented. It’s like 2/3 grad students. Very small UG music program.
Until about 5 years ago BU had a magnificent 5 story bookstore in Kenmore Square. It was essentially a student department store. It was downsized and is now basically a textbook/suppiles/logo stuff store. That downsizing is a bit of a national trend on campuses.
When did you visit? February 21-23 for Junior Preview Day
Where did you stay? Would you recommend it? We stayed at the Westin in Copley. I would recommend it. The hotel was super booked so we ended up with a King bed plus a roll away cot for my S26. The “cot” was actually a proper, thick twin mattress and quite comfortable. The room was large, too, and all of us had plenty of room. The hotel is attached via tunnel to a high end mall, which we didn’t visit, but nice that you could get somewhere without going outside. The hotel’s bar had good snacks and drinks, too.
Where did you eat? Did you try any local specialties?
We ate lunch on campus on the tour day and then dinner at a Korean BBQ place called Naksan and I definitely recommend it. So delicious and so fun. It’s just a few stops past BU on the Green line. Allston is the neighborhood, I think. We also ate at The Bepop for live jazz brunch (food is average but a lively atmosphere with musicians from nearby Berkelee College) and then The Friendly Toast, which was excellent. We also dipped into Tatte bakery and Levain bakery for coffee and snacks. Levain’s cookies are to die for—if you haven’t been, you must. It’s a chain but damn, those are amazing cookies.
How did you get there? What’s the best transportation mean to get to-from the campus?
We flew to Logan from SFO. Took Ubers or the Green line train. The train was super easy to figure out. Son loved that it went through campus. Ubers were plentiful but sometimes expensive.
What was the campus vibe? It was busy and energetic. The weather was very cold (like 27 with a windchill in the teens) but clear so kids were bundled up and moving quickly outside. Everyone walks up and down Commonwealth Ave, and we saw lots of small groups walking together. In the student union, again, lots of small groups gathered for lunch.
What did you think of the dorms?
We didn’t see inside, but walked by the brownstones and Warren Towers. Brownstones were very charming but Warren had restaurants on a ground floor and seemed more social.
What are some must-see things in or around campus?
The Student Union, the new Data Science center, Bay Street with the brownstone buildings, the fitness center. A small Koreatown is located at the end of West Campus, too.
How were the school facilities? Some were new and very modern, others looked older. Not in a bad way, but typical of most campuses I’ve seen.
Did you like it more or less than you thought you would? Why? My son loved BU! He loved the city of Boston, how BU felt like a part of everything, and he felt the energy on campus.
Did anything surprise you? How much my California kid vibes with an east coast city during winter
