Boston College

[stateofmind]

I called today and my application is still being reviewed! UGH! hurry hurry BC!

Haha I know how you feel!! I must have called them at least 5 times >_< yep, I was one of those people

[natsne24]

Is there anyone heard back from BC who submitted an application around 1/15? They said that it would take 3 to 6 weeks and it's already 7th or 8th week. 

[stateofmind]

Good afternoon Drdoom,

 

I believe the overall program is really good.  BC has the only Social Work library in the entire New England area.  The professors are really knowledgeable and resourceful, and the field placement advisors are excellent as well.  Yes, the price tag is quite steep especially when you factor in the cost of living here in Boston.  Although I'm one of the anomalies who has their education fully covered (thanks to the VA since I'm a Veteran), generally speaking most students receive some form of scholarship $ to offset the tuition costs.  If the cost is scaring you, you could opt for the 3-4 year part-time program and pick up a graduate assistantship on-campus that provides some tuition remission as a form of $ compensation + a small monthly stipend.  I have a good friend of mine who's in the part-time program who did just that; however, the thing to keep in mind is that most of these require between 15-25 hrs a week.  Depending on whether you choose the 3 or 4 yr part-time program, you'll eventually be in field placement between 2-3x a week. 

 

As for the safest and cheapest neighborhoods close to campus, Allston/Brighton is a really good neighborhood to live in.  My wife and I live in Brighton right along the B line on the MBTA (a straight shot to campus) and are within a 15 min walk as well.  My wife and I pay approx. $1700 a month in rent; however, depending on the # of roommates you get, you'll most likely be paying around $800 a month for a room.  I would HIGHLY recommend NOT bringing a car into Boston.  So far this winter we've received over 100" of snow which has caused quite a mess for finding parking spots let alone the commute (to say the least).  Should you bring a car, I'd recommend getting MA plates & a resident parking sticker or finding an apartment which offers paid parking.  Generally speaking most paid parking spots can avg. around $150 a month and you would be able to negate having to switch plates & registration to MA.  The town of Brookline is quite expensive, so I'd stay away from there. 

 

Lastly, with respect to the website question regarding roommates, BC has the following website:  https://offcampushousing.bc.edu/  You will need to log-in with your BC credentials.

 

I hope this information helps.

Thanks so much for your insight...this was very informative. Have you already been placed for next year's field placement? I understand that for concentration years you have to intern for 720 hours compared to 500 hours for the foundation year. Do you work part-time? Trying to think of how my schedule will look like next year. I spoke with a rep from field education and she said students usually intern M-W and take classes TR-F. 

 

[nightwolf1129]

Hello stateofmind!

 

I'm glad that you've found this information to be helpful.  I'm currently working with my field advisor on figuring out my next year's field placement.  I'm very interested in working at the VA hospital where I used to work; however, since I'm a macro student (and a majority of Social Work internships at the VA are clinical), they are trying to figure out how this could.  I'm hoping to have my final year field placement by the beginning of April so that I can schedule my classes in the Fall accordingly.  Fortunately I don't have to work part-time or full-time because I'm covered under a VA funded program which provides my wife and I's financial needs. 

 

First year field placements are generally Mon & Tues and classes are Wed, Thurs, and Fri.  All Fall & Spring Social Work classes meet once a week.  What most students do is they try and block their classes on one or two days to give them at least one day off during the work week.

 

Final year field placements are 3 days a week.  Due to the increased workload during your final year, students are given the option of taking up to 2 summer classes between 1st & final year which count as electives for your final year. 

[kurkz]

Is there anyone heard back from BC who submitted an application around 1/15? They said that it would take 3 to 6 weeks and it's already 7th or 8th week. 

 

I applied before that and have yet to hear back. You are not alone!

[kurkz]

How did everyone find out if they were accepted? email or snail mail?

[natsne24]

I emailed them about when I could know whether I'm accepted and they said they sent a letter by a postal service last week. I am looking forward to it but I guess I got rejected, cuz usually schools send an unofficial acceptance notification via email to help students make decision. I submitted my application around 1/15.

[moonbeam2900]

How did everyone find out if they were accepted? email or snail mail?

both. I got an email letting me know ahead of time i was accepted and my letter was coming. the letter came exactly a week after the email

[stateofmind]

Hello stateofmind!

 

I'm glad that you've found this information to be helpful.  I'm currently working with my field advisor on figuring out my next year's field placement.  I'm very interested in working at the VA hospital where I used to work; however, since I'm a macro student (and a majority of Social Work internships at the VA are clinical), they are trying to figure out how this could.  I'm hoping to have my final year field placement by the beginning of April so that I can schedule my classes in the Fall accordingly.  Fortunately I don't have to work part-time or full-time because I'm covered under a VA funded program which provides my wife and I's financial needs. 

 

First year field placements are generally Mon & Tues and classes are Wed, Thurs, and Fri.  All Fall & Spring Social Work classes meet once a week.  What most students do is they try and block their classes on one or two days to give them at least one day off during the work week.

 

Final year field placements are 3 days a week.  Due to the increased workload during your final year, students are given the option of taking up to 2 summer classes between 1st & final year which count as electives for your final year. 

 

Oh, I hope you find a position within the VA soon! I'm surprised they would have difficulty finding you a macro-level position within that setting but I guess that is also dependent on whether or not your field supervisor is a macro-level worker. I have a phone interview tomorrow with the field placement specialist tomorrow. I hope to get a placement in a hospital setting where I am exposed to different skill sets and systems at play. I'm currently in the process of working out my financial aid package. Honestly, it's tough and I have to wait it out to see if BC can offer me more aid, but we'll see

Edited March 12, 2015 by stateofmind

[stateofmind]

How did everyone find out if they were accepted? email or snail mail?

They send out an email notification followed by a hard copy that will come in the mail about a week later. I submitted my application wayy early (10/27). Even so, it took them until last week to get back to me D:. So hang in there!! If you don't hear back from them in a few days, it doesn't hurt to call =).

[Angelicv]

Is there anyone heard back from BC who submitted an application around 1/15? They said that it would take 3 to 6 weeks and it's already 7th or 8th week.

Hi there, I applied late February and received my response 1week ago. I hope this helps!

[Angelicv]

Oh, I hope you find a position within the VA soon! I'm surprised they would have difficulty finding you a macro-level position within that setting but I guess that is also dependent on whether or not your field supervisor is a macro-level worker. I have a phone interview tomorrow with the field placement specialist tomorrow. I hope to get a placement in a hospital setting where I am exposed to different skill sets and systems at play. I'm currently in the process of working out my financial aid package. Honestly, it's tough and I have to wait it out to see if BC can offer me more aid, but we'll see

Hi, just wondering in regards to the financial aid assistance, how do you ask them for more? BC seems amazing but the cost of attending is pretty up there.

[Drdoom]

Hi, just wondering in regards to the financial aid assistance, how do you ask them for more? BC seems amazing but the cost of attending is pretty up there. 

I simply emailed and asked for more.Pretty much thanking them for acceptance, thanking them for the financials that were given, and then asking for more and explaining briefly why I was in need of more assistance.  They awarded me more it wasn't much more but every dollar counts.