Jane in NC
05-24-2009, 09:11 AM
People who are asking my son about college visits are astounded that both Wesleyan University and Boston University are on his list. Talk about night and day! There is a reason: archaeology. Few schools have undergraduate archaeology departments. BU's department is recognized as one of the best for both undergrad and graduate studies.
Unfortunately our arrival at BU came the day after graduation so there were no student led tours. We did attend an information session with admissions (always helpful) then spent an illuminating 45 minutes with the chair of BU's archaeology department.
BU is a large, urban campus which puts a cultural world at a student's doorstep. I see the urban setting as both an advantage and a disadvantage. The campus is essentially long and narrow, set along the Charles River with no where to go now but up. Yet we were pleasantly surprised by the number of brownstones that are part of campus (housing or offices) and trees. This is not just a concrete campus.
BU has roughly 18,000 undergrads, 13,000 graduate/professional students. Yet we were told that classes were taught by professors, although students in larger introductory classes could have a lab or break out section with a TA.
Housing is guaranteed for all four years. Most freshmen are housed in one of two sets of towers on either east or west campus. While we did not see a room, these huge, mostly freshmen complexes look absolutely dreadful to me! (Anyone with more knowledge should please respond!)
It seems that it would be easy for a freshman to get lost at BU. Yet this school remains on my son's radar on the strength of its archaeology department which educates students in theoretical and hands on methodology in the subject. BU has experts and digs in southern Asia, the Mideast, Africa and the Americas. Their field school is located on a Mediterrean island once inhabited by the Romans. Opportunities abound for students who wish to study classical archaeology as well as the latest technology used in the field. Policy and ethical issues are also studied.
What would make the large world of BU more user friendly for someone like my son is the small world of the archaeology department. There is an archaeology club (open to anyone, not just majors) which sponsors field trips and movie nights. But BU also a zillion and one other clubs, intramural sports activities, etc. It would require a student to take some initiative, but I think after that first step is made a student could find his place in the larger university.
Another advantage to BU: close proximity to uncles! My son would be a bus ride away to assorted family members so I know that he would not have a lonely holiday. (Note: this is of no concern to him, just to his worried Mumsy.)
Unfortunately our arrival at BU came the day after graduation so there were no student led tours. We did attend an information session with admissions (always helpful) then spent an illuminating 45 minutes with the chair of BU's archaeology department.
BU is a large, urban campus which puts a cultural world at a student's doorstep. I see the urban setting as both an advantage and a disadvantage. The campus is essentially long and narrow, set along the Charles River with no where to go now but up. Yet we were pleasantly surprised by the number of brownstones that are part of campus (housing or offices) and trees. This is not just a concrete campus.
BU has roughly 18,000 undergrads, 13,000 graduate/professional students. Yet we were told that classes were taught by professors, although students in larger introductory classes could have a lab or break out section with a TA.
Housing is guaranteed for all four years. Most freshmen are housed in one of two sets of towers on either east or west campus. While we did not see a room, these huge, mostly freshmen complexes look absolutely dreadful to me! (Anyone with more knowledge should please respond!)
It seems that it would be easy for a freshman to get lost at BU. Yet this school remains on my son's radar on the strength of its archaeology department which educates students in theoretical and hands on methodology in the subject. BU has experts and digs in southern Asia, the Mideast, Africa and the Americas. Their field school is located on a Mediterrean island once inhabited by the Romans. Opportunities abound for students who wish to study classical archaeology as well as the latest technology used in the field. Policy and ethical issues are also studied.
What would make the large world of BU more user friendly for someone like my son is the small world of the archaeology department. There is an archaeology club (open to anyone, not just majors) which sponsors field trips and movie nights. But BU also a zillion and one other clubs, intramural sports activities, etc. It would require a student to take some initiative, but I think after that first step is made a student could find his place in the larger university.
Another advantage to BU: close proximity to uncles! My son would be a bus ride away to assorted family members so I know that he would not have a lonely holiday. (Note: this is of no concern to him, just to his worried Mumsy.)