Everything you need to check off your bucket list while attending BU
A complete guide to the best school on earth
Whether you’re just starting out or going into your last year, use this comprehensive Boston University bucket list to make sure that you have some of the best times of your life before you graduate and move on to the working life.
Trust me, it’s worth it.
Get involved in one (or maybe two) clubs you’re passionate about
There are over 300 at the University. One club, or sorority/fraternity, or sports team, is all you need to find your group for your college career. Joining 10 at SPLASH and bouncing around is fun at first, but it’s not likely you’ll find your #squad that way. Find something you’re passionate about and connect with others who are equally passionate.
Even if you’re a few years in already, don’t be afraid to join. Some people don’t find their niche until junior or senior year, and that’s okay!
Go to FitRec
Do it. Stop making excuses. FitRec is the nicest gym you’ll have access to for maybe your entire life. My biggest regret was not taking advantage of it. It was always, “tomorrow” and then it never happened. Use one of the two swimming pools, shoot some hoops in the basketball court, run the indoor track, use any of the weight and cardio machines, climb the rock wall, and reward yourself with the smoothie bar or the hot tub after.
You most likely won’t have access to anything like this for a while.
Go to an Allston house party at least once
It’s considered a right of passage at BU.
Mostly it’s something to do during your freshman year, but it’s still fun to have more low-key parties at your friend’s apartments in the GAP once you’ve settled in a bit.
Contrary to popular belief, Allston parties can be classy AF
Study abroad
You may like it or you may hate it, but BU has one of the largest and best study abroad programs around, and you’ll regret not taking advantage of it.
From my visit to Stonehenge when studying abroad at BU in London
Go to the GSU (George Sherman Union) on a regular basis
Take advantage of the Link and the various student activities going on there. You’ll be surprised, a lot of event tickets or food are being given away for free, and you’ll meet some cool people.
Take time for self care. Boston University has consistently been rated the hardest university to go to in terms of grading in the United States. It beats out MIT and Princeton in terms of how hard it is to get an A. But don’t worry – it can be done! However, if you don’t sleep, eat, and take care of yourself, you could be setting yourself up for failure.
Take a nap on the BU Beach
Connect with faculty and staff members
If you’re in a club chances are there is a faculty adviser to that club who you could connect with. If you love one of your professor’s lectures and insights, go to their office hours or email them. Don’t be afraid to talk to the “higher ups”. They often love hearing from students and at a school like BU, you may be connecting with someone of huge influence.
It’s great networking and can and will lead to faculty and staff recommending you for future careers.
Go to a student fair or festival, even if it seems cheesy
To find your favorite extracurricular and make new friends, go to SPLASH. For a crazy messy good time, go to Holi in the spring. Check out some of the smaller fairs, like Interfaith Fair or a benefit fair, like one that was held this past spring for shelter dogs.
Holi happens every spring on the Cummington Mall.
Smaller festivals/ activities fairs can be just as fun. For example, check out this photo from the 2016 Fresh Check day!
I met this pupper at a benefit fair at the BU Beach run by the pre-veterinary and animal lover’s association. We also have visiting therapy dogs during finals.
Go to the Boston University Pub
Perhaps as a pre-game to checking out the local scene. It’s not bad, and it’s a cool place to chill out and make your first stop before heading to bars off-campus, or to just unwind after a long day of classes or work. Plus, you get to drink beer inside a castle – what’s cooler than that?
Take the Pub challenge and see if you can get “knighted” before you graduate. Bonus: You get a free meal with your booze from BU once you turn 21, but of course, you have to be 21 to get in.
Drink in the Pub, located in the gorgeous Castle, and feel like a boss.
Go to a BU/BC hockey game
Even if you don’t like hockey, the chanting and charged atmosphere, plus the chance to take pics with Rhett, is entertainment enough.
Try all of the amazing food on and around campus
We have some of the best dining halls of all colleges in the Northeast, but if you get sick of it, there’s Basho Sushi, Takin’ it to the Street, and Rhett’s Diner for campus dining options; and there’s about a million dining options outside of campus that are right in the heart of things – like Otto’s pizzeria, Pavement Coffeehouse, Mei Mei, O’Leary’s, Tatta, Sunset Cantina, Toto Ramen, Scuzi, and more. There’s no shortage of food in or around BU.
Step on the seal (and take tons of pictures on it) once you graduate
Just make sure not to touch it before graduation, or you’ll be cursed to not graduate within four years! Trust me, once you are finally able to step on it, it’ll feel great.
And remember, this experience will go by faster than you can snap your fingers.
Take advantage of this amazing place while you can.